Regulation, Legal & Compliance

Displaying 11054 results
House committee approves auto-IRA legislation
RETIREMENT PLANNING SEP 10, 2021
House committee approves auto-IRA legislation

Two Democrats joined all Republicans on the panel in opposing the measure, which is designed to expand workplace retirement savings and would impose a tax on businesses that don't set up plans.

By Mark Schoeff Jr.
Fund industry wants lower fees for document delivery
MUTUAL FUNDS SEP 09, 2021
Fund industry wants lower fees for document delivery

The Investment Company Institute says 25 cents per emailed document is excessive and hurts investors. Broadridge, a fintech firm that sends most proxies and other material to fund shareholders, asserts its system reduces costs for investors.

By Mark Schoeff Jr.
Coinbase threat demonstrates Gensler's focus on taming crypto
ALTERNATIVES SEP 08, 2021
Coinbase threat demonstrates Gensler's focus on taming crypto

The agency has said that it will sue the exchange if Coinbase lets customers earn interest on their digital tokens.

By Bloomberg
Britney Spears’ father files petition to end conservatorship
RETIREMENT PLANNING SEP 08, 2021
Britney Spears’ father files petition to end conservatorship

The pop star’s attorney calls the court filing a ‘vindication’ of her efforts to regain independence.

By InvestmentNews
House Ways and Means Committee to vote on auto-IRA legislation
RETIREMENT PLANNING SEP 07, 2021
House Ways and Means Committee to vote on auto-IRA legislation

Under the legislation, which could become part of the $3.5 trillion budget bill working its way through Congress, employers that don't offer a retirement plan would have to establish an auto-IRA or 401(k) for their workers.

By Mark Schoeff Jr.
SEC marketing rule causes advisers most compliance concerns
ALTERNATIVES SEP 07, 2021
SEC marketing rule causes advisers most compliance concerns

Even though advisers don’t have to comply with the rule for more than a year, it ranked as the hottest compliance topic, according to a survey; cybersecurity and climate change/ESG were other areas worrying advisers.

By Mark Schoeff Jr.
Investor advocate comes off the sidelines, gets into the regulatory game
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE SEP 03, 2021
Investor advocate comes off the sidelines, gets into the regulatory game

Even before drawing her first government paycheck, Barbara Roper has influenced how the SEC under Gary Gensler is approaching Regulation Best Interest.

By Mark Schoeff Jr.
Former lawyer to pay $42 million for life insurance fraud
RETIREMENT PLANNING SEP 03, 2021
Former lawyer to pay $42 million for life insurance fraud

Defendants in the long-running case have been ordered to pay restitution to more than 200 plans. Assets were allegedly siphoned from benefits payments to buy property and used for other personal expenses.

By Emile Hallez
Fund managers feel heat as SEC cracks down on inaccurate ESG labels
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE SEP 03, 2021
Fund managers feel heat as SEC cracks down on inaccurate ESG labels

For several months, SEC examiners have been demanding that money managers explain the standards they use for classifying funds as environmental, social and governance-focused.

By Bloomberg
SEC charges crypto exchange BitConnect with $2 billion fraud scheme
ALTERNATIVES SEP 02, 2021
SEC charges crypto exchange BitConnect with $2 billion fraud scheme

The regulator sued five BitConnect promoters in May for their roles in promoting the scheme by creating testimonials on YouTube, sometimes multiple times a day.

By Bloomberg
SEC's Gensler orders review of funds' ESG disclosures
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE SEP 02, 2021
SEC's Gensler orders review of funds' ESG disclosures

The agency is considering more stringent disclosure requirements for investment funds amid concerns that some fund managers are making unfounded ESG claims.

By InvestmentNews
Pierce wins small-firm seat on Finra board
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE SEP 01, 2021
Pierce wins small-firm seat on Finra board

Paige Pierce, chief executive of Bley Investment Group, emphasized updating the Finra rulebook during her campaign. Timothy Sheve, chief executive of Janney Montgomery Scott, and James Crowley, chief executive of Pershing Advisor Solutions, also were elected to the board.

By Mark Schoeff Jr.
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend joins DOL in retirement advisory role
RETIREMENT PLANNING SEP 01, 2021
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend joins DOL in retirement advisory role

The former lieutenant governor of Maryland has been one of the driving forces in that state's forthcoming auto IRA program.

By Emile Hallez
Regulators scrutinize ESG more closely as greenwashing explodes
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE SEP 01, 2021
Regulators scrutinize ESG more closely as greenwashing explodes

Researchers have raised questions about the credentials of money managers who claim they are marketing funds designed to address the climate crisis and social injustice.

By Bloomberg
Repeat RIA offender charged with fraud
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE SEP 01, 2021
Repeat RIA offender charged with fraud

The SEC says Dean Tellone and his California firm hid information from mortgage investors.

By InvestmentNews
Wells Fargo risks regulatory action over pace of restitutions
WIREHOUSES AUG 31, 2021
Wells Fargo risks regulatory action over pace of restitutions

Regulators are privately signaling that they're still not satisfied with the bank's progress in compensating victims and shoring up controls.

By Bloomberg
SEC inquiry into online brokers could redefine recommendations
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE AUG 31, 2021
SEC inquiry into online brokers could redefine recommendations

The agency could be on the path toward clarifying whether online trading platforms are giving investment advice. The examination will also consider potential conflicts of interest between brokers and investors.

By Mark Schoeff Jr.
Ex-Wells Fargo exec fights SEC on fake accounts
WIREHOUSES AUG 31, 2021
Ex-Wells Fargo exec fights SEC on fake accounts

Carrie Tolstedt, who was a senior vice president at the bank, cited her constitutional right against self-incrimination more than 100 times in a response filed to an SEC complaint claiming she misled investors.

By Bloomberg
SEC fines multiple firms for cybersecurity lapses that exposed client data
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT AUG 30, 2021
SEC fines multiple firms for cybersecurity lapses that exposed client data

The agency fined 8 firms, including Cetera and Cambridge, a total of $750,000 for inadequate policies and procedures to protect customer information.

By Mark Schoeff Jr.
Finra fines former LPL rep over forged signatures for annuities
RETIREMENT PLANNING AUG 30, 2021
Finra fines former LPL rep over forged signatures for annuities

Two clients complained to LPL about annuity contracts that differed from the ones they agreed to purchase, according to the regulator.

By Emile Hallez