RIA Compliance and Practice Management Blog

Each week we’re giving you our weekly report highlighting the top compliance news articles from various industry news publications. We have selected the most relevant and important news articles related to registered investment adviser ("RIA") compliance and regulatory issues. This week's recap focuses on top compliance concerns, Form CRS, alternative investment due diligence, and the Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC") share-class focus. Check back each week for the latest list of top stories.

The findings in this blog post come from our annual survey of over 1,350 registered investment adviser ("RIA") firms that was conducted in the first quarter of 2019. This proprietary RIA in a Box study is paired with publicly accessible data provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The goal of our annual study is to understand different options that comprise each firm characteristic, and to determine whether specific characteristics affect the growth, size, or operational efficiency of an RIA firm. In this blog post, we focus on the advisory and total fees charged by RIA firms. Over the past three years, we have expanded our study to include not only the advisory fee charged, but also the total fee charged to client which would is intended to account for underlying investment product or third-party management fees. The focus of this blog post is on the advisory fee charged directly by the RIA firm. We'll take a look at total fees charged in a future blog post.

Each week we’re giving you our weekly report highlighting the top compliance news articles from various industry news publications. We have selected the most relevant and important news articles related to registered investment adviser ("RIA") compliance and regulatory issues. This week's recap focuses on the top RIA compliance concerns, Chairman Jay Clayton's reaction to criticism on Regulation Best Interest ("Reg BI"), and states working with the Securities and Exchange Commissions (“SEC”) on individual regulations. Check back each week for the latest list of top stories.

An RIA Firm's Cybersecurity Compliance Program

Beginning in 2015, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), via its Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations ("OCIE"), has specifically listed cybersecurity as an annual examination priority for registered investment advisers ("RIAs"). In the most recent 2019 exam priority guidance, the OCIE staff noted: "Specific to investment advisers, SEC OCIE will… continue to focus on, among other areas, governance and risk assessment, access rights and controls, data loss prevention, vendor management, training, and incident response.” While these six areas of focus for information security were first enumerated in the SEC’s September 2015 risk alert, they have remained consistently in the spotlight since then.

Each week we’re giving you our weekly report highlighting the top compliance news articles from various industry news publications. We have selected the most relevant and important news articles related to registered investment adviser ("RIA") compliance and regulatory issues. This week's recap focuses on cybersecurity risks, reactions to Regulation Best Interest ("Reg BI"), and technology focusing on compliance. Check back each week for the latest list of top stories.

Each week we’re giving you our weekly report highlighting the top compliance news articles from various industry news publications. We have selected the most relevant and important news articles related to registered investment adviser ("RIA") compliance and regulatory issues. This week's recap focuses on Form CRS, expansion of the definition of an "accredited investor", and new Massachusetts and New Jersey fiduciary rule proposals. Check back each week for the latest list of top stories.

Each week we’re giving you our weekly report highlighting the top compliance news articles from various industry news publications. We have selected the most relevant and important news articles related to registered investment adviser ("RIA") compliance and regulatory issues. This week's recap focuses focuses on reactions to the Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC")Regulation Best Interest ("Reg BI") passing, what the meaning of fiduciary will be moving forward, and the latest in Financial Technology ("FinTech"). Check back each week for the latest list of top stories.

RIA in a Box has been named a WealthManagement.com Industry Award finalist for the forth time, but for the first time in the Technology Provider / Cybersecurity category. Almost 500 nominations were received from over 260 companies in 2019, and 176 organizations were announced as finalists.

The WealthManagement.com Industry Awards recognizes the companies and organization that support and propel financial advisors' growth and success.

Each week we’re giving you our weekly report highlighting the top compliance news articles from various industry news publications. We have selected the most relevant and important news articles related to registered investment adviser ("RIA") compliance and regulatory issues. This week's recap focuses on the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") passing their Regulation Best Interest ("Reg BI") proposal, Form CRS, and the SEC's and the North American Securities Administrators Association's ("NASAA") cybersecurity focus. Check back each week for the latest list of top stories.

Each week we’re giving you our weekly report highlighting the top compliance news articles from various industry news publications. We have selected the most relevant and important news articles related to registered investment adviser ("RIA") compliance and regulatory issues. This week's recap focuses on the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") finalizing their Regulation Best Interest ("Reg BI") proposal, cybersecurity-focused regulatory exams, and the SEC's emphasis on establishing a robust RIA compliance program. Check back each week for the latest list of top stories.