On July 22, 2019, the federal bank regulatory agencies and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (collectively, the “Agencies”), issued a Joint Statement on Risk-Focused Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) Supervision. The Joint Statement emphasizes their risk-focused approach to examinations of banks’ BSA/AML compliance programs and is the third statement from … Continue Reading
On May 23, 2019, the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) issued a Risk Alert on the importance of storing customer and data in a cloud environment in a secure fashion. Titled “Safeguarding Customer Records and Information in Network Storage – Use of Third Party Security Features,” the risk alert addresses proper cloud … Continue Reading
In March 2019 the SEC’s Office of Compliance, Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) announced it would soon commence its annual “Cybersecurity Sweep” of registered investment advisers and broker-dealers. The reality of daily breaches and hacks combined with the watchful eye of the SEC and other regulatory and enforcement bodies means registrants should recommit to dedicating the … Continue Reading
On August 2, 2017, United States Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) jointly introduced Senate Bill 1717, entitled the “Corporate Transparency Act of 2017” (the “Act”). The Act was referred to the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. The Act would amend Title 31 of the United States Code, to … Continue Reading
Today, the SEC announced the adoption of amendments to several rules under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and to Form ADV, the investment adviser registration and reporting form. Although there is a long lead-in time to get in compliance with the new rules and Form ADV, advisers should consider beginning work now to ensure compliance … Continue Reading
As robo-advisers continue to grow in popularity with investors, especially millennial investors, at least one regulator is taking a closer look. On July 14, 2016, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin issued a policy statement addressing the use by investment advisers under his jurisdiction of third-party robo-advisers. This follows a similar policy statement by … Continue Reading
Sarao, Coscia, and now the Berkshire Power Company, each charged with crimes – spoofing, fraud, false information – relating to commodity trading. Commodity traders likely have incorporated into their compliance regimes the general risk that allegations of criminal fraud could arise. These criminal matters no longer appear to be isolated instances and, instead, counsel for … Continue Reading
In connection with the Press Release announcing a Rule Proposal regarding adoption of written business continuity and transition plans by SEC-registered investment advisers (see our blog post on the topic), the Division of Investment Management also distributed a Guidance Update (No. 2016-04) discussing BCPs for registered investment companies (RICs). RICs have been expected to address … Continue Reading
On June 23, 2016 the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) hosted the Forum on Responsible Innovation in the Federal Banking System in Washington, D.C. Hundreds of industry stakeholders gathered to discuss “Responsible Innovation,” fintech, and the role of the OCC in regulating the financial industry as it evolves. The forum addressed reaction … Continue Reading
During recent months the SEC has made a number of announcements regarding its efforts to enhance and expand its oversight and inspections of registered investment companies and investment advisers. Of significance in this regard was the announcement of plans to hire additional examiners and reassign some existing examiners to expand the staff available for inspections of … Continue Reading
FINRA has sent a sweep letter to selected broker dealers in order to learn more about how firms “establish, communicate and implement cultural values,” and whether those values are guiding business conduct. FINRA conducts sweeps like this periodically in order to gather information that it can then use in focusing its regulatory response to emerging … Continue Reading
On Jan. 11, 2016, the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued its annual Examinations Priorities for 2016 (Exam Priorities), which is available for download here. In the Exam Priorities, OCIE notes that its priorities focus on the same three thematic areas as in 2015 (which we … Continue Reading
FINRA recently released its 2016 Regulatory and Examination Priorities Letter, an annual event which serves to highlight both emerging and existing risks in the financial services industry. The letter serves as a guide to FINRA’s priorities for the upcoming year, and highlights the issues which FINRA deems most important to its regulatory mission at the moment. … Continue Reading
On Dec. 11, 2015, the SEC proposed new derivatives rules for registered funds and business development companies. The proposed rules set limits on portfolio exposure and the requirement that funds maintain derivative risk management programs. It is important to evaluate these proposed limits against existing “stress testing” clearing and portfolio margining models. Derivative traders have 90 … Continue Reading
Fred E. Karlinsky, co-chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Insurance Regulatory and Transactions Practice Group and a shareholder within the Financial Regulatory and Compliance Group, will participate in a webcast hosted by ACC’s Financial Services Committee. Karlinsky will present in the webcast titled “Captive Insurance: Business and US Regulatory Considerations” on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, at 12 … Continue Reading
