Regulation, Legal & Compliance

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SEC retreats on crypto: Dismissals signal strategic shift in enforcement
ALTERNATIVES MAR 31, 2025
SEC retreats on crypto: Dismissals signal strategic shift in enforcement

Regulator folds on three more cases.

By Matthew Sellers
Former OneAmerica broker suspended, fined for plundering hundreds of clients' nonpublic information
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS MAR 28, 2025
Former OneAmerica broker suspended, fined for plundering hundreds of clients' nonpublic information

Finra says the former rep from Indiana transferred names, Social Security numbers, and other information associated with more than 1,300 customers to his personal email accounts.

By Leo Almazora
Judge dismisses investor suit against Barclays over unregistered VXX securities
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE MAR 28, 2025
Judge dismisses investor suit against Barclays over unregistered VXX securities

Federal court stops action over unregistered securities claim.

By Matthew Sellers
Trump SEC pick Paul Atkins grilled by Democrats in early political test
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE MAR 27, 2025
Trump SEC pick Paul Atkins grilled by Democrats in early political test

The prospective chair of the agency has pledged to shed conflicted interests and "return common sense to the SEC."

By Bloomberg
Finra moves to boot Alpine Securities, same firm that claims the regulator can’t
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS MAR 27, 2025
Finra moves to boot Alpine Securities, same firm that claims the regulator can’t

'If I were on the side of Alpine Securities, I’d put all my eggs in the federal court,' one attorney said.

By Bruce Kelly
Advisors seek transparency on DIY investing as Robinhood faces investigation
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE MAR 26, 2025
Advisors seek transparency on DIY investing as Robinhood faces investigation

'I feel like they have created an addictive gaming culture, which is not healthy for investing.'

By Andrew Cohen
Sen. Elizabeth Warren presses Trump SEC Chair nominee Atkins ahead of confirmation hearing
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE MAR 25, 2025
Sen. Elizabeth Warren presses Trump SEC Chair nominee Atkins ahead of confirmation hearing

Paul Atkins pledges to address potential conflicts as the Democratic firebrand's open letter, along with filings around his financial interests, raises questions.

By Leo Almazora
Judge accused of bias in discrimination case by ex-life insurance employee
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE MAR 24, 2025
Judge accused of bias in discrimination case by ex-life insurance employee

My employer was biased – and the judge and magistrate are being unfair says ex-employee

By Matthew Sellers
Finra hits RIA buyer NewEdge with $1 million penalty over Muni bond trades
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS MAR 24, 2025
Finra hits RIA buyer NewEdge with $1 million penalty over Muni bond trades

The market for municipal bonds is notorious for being opaque and filled with difficult to price securities.

By Bruce Kelly
SEC workforce to get decimated as hundreds take buyout offers
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE MAR 24, 2025
SEC workforce to get decimated as hundreds take buyout offers

Up to 700 employees have reportedly accepted the Trump administration's $50,000 incentive, raising questions about the agency's ability to function in the future.

By Leo Almazora
Cambridge hit with $15M penalty over conflicted fund recommendations
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE MAR 21, 2025
Cambridge hit with $15M penalty over conflicted fund recommendations

SEC complaint charges RIA with fiduciary breaches over client assets invested in mutual funds and money market sweep funds that created millions of dollars in revenue-sharing payments to broker dealer appropriate.

By Leo Almazora
SEC unveils Marketing Rule guidelines around private investments, performance reporting
ALTERNATIVES MAR 20, 2025
SEC unveils Marketing Rule guidelines around private investments, performance reporting

New guidance addresses some areas of ambiguity for investment firms, but they may require a revamp for some materials.

By Leo Almazora
Ex-Wells Fargo advisor fined over $50,000 fund transfer requested by client with dementia
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE MAR 20, 2025
Ex-Wells Fargo advisor fined over $50,000 fund transfer requested by client with dementia

Finra settlement says the advisor failed to inform his former employer about the client's condition until after he resigned.

By Leo Almazora
SEC accuses RIA firm, owner of violating settlement in multi-year fraud
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE MAR 18, 2025
SEC accuses RIA firm, owner of violating settlement in multi-year fraud

Commission says that fund and its investors lost $1.6M as a result.

By Steve Randall
Stifel loses another hefty arbitration case – this time to ex-advisors
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS MAR 17, 2025
Stifel loses another hefty arbitration case – this time to ex-advisors

This dispute centered on a group of Stifel Financial advisors who left the firm two years ago to an RIA.

By Bruce Kelly
Is FINRA on the ropes?
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE MAR 13, 2025
Is FINRA on the ropes?

The current legal battle with a broker-dealer, Alpine Securities, is the latest challenge for the industry regulator.

By Bruce Kelly
Citing 'egregious conduct,' Finra panel awards Stifel clients a stunning $132.5 million
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT MAR 13, 2025
Citing 'egregious conduct,' Finra panel awards Stifel clients a stunning $132.5 million

“The arbitration panel really threw the book at Stifel,” according to one plaintiff’s attorney.

By Bruce Kelly
Compliance officers not immune from the market's manic behavior
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT MAR 11, 2025
Compliance officers not immune from the market's manic behavior

Changes in regulations are keeping compliance officers busy. Here's how they are keeping up.

By Gregg Greenberg
Roll back Gensler-era rules, private funds industry urges SEC
ALTERNATIVES MAR 11, 2025
Roll back Gensler-era rules, private funds industry urges SEC

A new policy proposal from the Managed Funds Association lays out requests to reduce disclosure requirements and offer legal clarity on crypto ownership, among other priorities.

By Leo Almazora
Finra not folding its tent any time soon: attorney
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS MAR 11, 2025
Finra not folding its tent any time soon: attorney

Meanwhile, Finra’s fines against the brokerage industry declined in 2024.

By Bruce Kelly