To the extent your investment adviser firm claims that its principal office and place of business is located in Wyoming and therefore eligible for registration with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regardless of the amount of assets under management since the State of Wyoming does not register investment advisers, you should pay close attention to a recent SEC administrative proceeding. The SEC found that the sole investment adviser representative/owner of the investment adviser firm resided in another state where he maintained a home office and operated as his primary base. The investment adviser representative/owner utilized the Wyoming offices on an infrequent basis and did not generally direct, control or coordinate activities from Wyoming. Consequently, the SEC found the investment adviser firm violated Section 203A of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 by improperly registering with the SEC based upon its misrepresentations that the investment adviser firm’s principal office and place of business was in Wyoming. The SEC ordered the investment adviser to cease and desist, censured the investment adviser firm, fined the investment adviser in the amount of $10,000 and required the investment adviser to establish its principal office and place of business in Wyoming and provide evidence thereof.
Posted by Bryan Hill
Labels: Form ADV, Investment Advisor Registration, SEC, Wyoming Investment Advisor
