Upcoming Webinar: Supervising Gifts & Political Contributions of Investment Adviser Representatives
Although the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) does not currently have any specific rules associated with the giving or receiving gifts or political contributions by representatives affiliated with a federally registered investment adviser, the influencing of others through gifts and political contributions in the context of an investment advisory relationship creates a potential conflict of interest, which must be addressed and mitigated by an investment adviser.
If you are interested in learning more about recent enforcement actions against investment advisers which lacked safeguards related to gifts and political contributions, please consider purchasing a seat for only $59.95 to our upcoming webinar, “Supervising Gifts and Political Contributions,” on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
During this webinar, our speaker, Bryan Hill, will share best practices for supervising gifts and political contributions while reviewing recent SEC enforcement actions against investment advisers, the proposed political contribution rule for investment adviser reps, current rules of FINRA and the U.S. Department of Labor which may apply to some investment adviser representatives and guidance from certain professional accrediting organizations on this subject.
Purchase your webinar seat for $59.95: www.RIA-Compliance-Consultants.com/webinars.
If you are interested in learning more about recent enforcement actions against investment advisers which lacked safeguards related to gifts and political contributions, please consider purchasing a seat for only $59.95 to our upcoming webinar, “Supervising Gifts and Political Contributions,” on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
During this webinar, our speaker, Bryan Hill, will share best practices for supervising gifts and political contributions while reviewing recent SEC enforcement actions against investment advisers, the proposed political contribution rule for investment adviser reps, current rules of FINRA and the U.S. Department of Labor which may apply to some investment adviser representatives and guidance from certain professional accrediting organizations on this subject.
Purchase your webinar seat for $59.95: www.RIA-Compliance-Consultants.com/webinars.
Labels: Gifts, Political Contributions, Webinar
posted by bhill at 11:03 AM
Is Your RIA Supervising the Gifts and Political Contributions of Its Investment Adviser Reps - Learn About the SEC's Proposed Pay-to-Play Rule
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") recently proposed new SEC Rule 206(4)-5 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. According to the SEC, the proposed rule is intended to curtail "pay to play" practices by registered investment advisers that seek to manage money for state and local governments.
This SEC proposal relates to money managed by state and local governments under public programs such as public pension plans for government employees, retirement plans in which teachers and other government employees can invest monies, and 529 plans that allow families to invest money for college. The state and local governments often hire and pay outside registered investment advisers to provide advisory services such as direct investment management or recommendations about which investments to make. The outside registered investment advisers often are selected by one or more trustees who have been appointed by elected officials. The term "pay to play" has been coined because the selection of such trustees can be undermined if elected officials ask investment advisers for political contributions or if elected officials otherwise make it understood that only investment advisers who make contributions will be selected to provide advisory services to the public programs subject to the control of the elected official.
Pay to play practices have been recognized as a significant problem. During the past several years, the SEC has brought enforcement actions in New York, New Mexico, and Connecticut, and likewise, there also have been criminal prosecutions in New York, New Mexico, Illinois, Ohio, Connecticut, and Florida over pay to play schemes.
If you are interested in learning more about recent actions related to registered investment advisers involved in "pay to play" schemes and the SEC's proposed rule to limit "pay to play" practices, please purchase your seat for only $59.95 to our upcoming webinar, "Supervising Gifts and Political Contributions," on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CST.
This SEC proposal relates to money managed by state and local governments under public programs such as public pension plans for government employees, retirement plans in which teachers and other government employees can invest monies, and 529 plans that allow families to invest money for college. The state and local governments often hire and pay outside registered investment advisers to provide advisory services such as direct investment management or recommendations about which investments to make. The outside registered investment advisers often are selected by one or more trustees who have been appointed by elected officials. The term "pay to play" has been coined because the selection of such trustees can be undermined if elected officials ask investment advisers for political contributions or if elected officials otherwise make it understood that only investment advisers who make contributions will be selected to provide advisory services to the public programs subject to the control of the elected official.
Pay to play practices have been recognized as a significant problem. During the past several years, the SEC has brought enforcement actions in New York, New Mexico, and Connecticut, and likewise, there also have been criminal prosecutions in New York, New Mexico, Illinois, Ohio, Connecticut, and Florida over pay to play schemes.
If you are interested in learning more about recent actions related to registered investment advisers involved in "pay to play" schemes and the SEC's proposed rule to limit "pay to play" practices, please purchase your seat for only $59.95 to our upcoming webinar, "Supervising Gifts and Political Contributions," on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. CST.
Labels: Code of Ethics, Political Contributions, Webinar
posted by bhill at 8:41 PM
SEC Proposes Ban of Political Contributions by Registered Investment Advisers Seeking to Manage Public Pensions
Earlier this week, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") proposed a new rule prohibiting "pay to play" practices by SEC registered investment advisers seeking to manage money for state and local governments. The SEC explained that "[t]he measures are designed to prevent an [investment] adviser from making political contributions or hidden payments to influence their selection by government officials." The proposed SEC rule prohibit three primary activities by a federally registered investment adviser seeking to manage public funds: (1) political contributions (2) solicitation of political contributions and (3) use of a third-party to solicit the government.
First, under the proposed rule, an SEC registered investment adviser, including certain executives and employees of the investment adviser, who makes a political contribution to a candidate or an elected official in a position to influence the selection of the investment adviser would be barred for two years from providing advisory services for compensation, either directly or through a fund. However, the proposed rule provide a de minimis permitting an executive or employee of the registered investment adviser to make a contribution of up to $250 per election per candidate if the contributor is entitled to vote for the candidate.
Second, the proposed SEC rule would prohibit a federally registered investment adviser, including certain executives and employees of the investment adviser, from coordinating or asking another person or political action committee ("PAC") to (a) make contribution to a candidate or elected official who can influence the selection of the investment adviser to manage the government's funds, or (b) make a payment to a state or local political party where the registered investment adviser is seeking to provide investment advisory services to the government.
Third, the SEC proposed rule would prohibit a federally registered investment adviser, including certain executives and employees, from paying a third-party to solicit a government client on behalf of the registered investment adviser.
Finally, the proposed rule prevents a SEC registered investment adviser from circumventing these political contribution prohibitions by also banning the investment adviser from making indirect contributions through the use of third-parties such as spouses, lawyers or affiliated companies.
The proposed SEC rule will be subject to a 60 day comment period. RIA Compliance Consultants will keep its readers informed of any developments related to this proposed ruled by the SEC.
First, under the proposed rule, an SEC registered investment adviser, including certain executives and employees of the investment adviser, who makes a political contribution to a candidate or an elected official in a position to influence the selection of the investment adviser would be barred for two years from providing advisory services for compensation, either directly or through a fund. However, the proposed rule provide a de minimis permitting an executive or employee of the registered investment adviser to make a contribution of up to $250 per election per candidate if the contributor is entitled to vote for the candidate.
Second, the proposed SEC rule would prohibit a federally registered investment adviser, including certain executives and employees of the investment adviser, from coordinating or asking another person or political action committee ("PAC") to (a) make contribution to a candidate or elected official who can influence the selection of the investment adviser to manage the government's funds, or (b) make a payment to a state or local political party where the registered investment adviser is seeking to provide investment advisory services to the government.
Third, the SEC proposed rule would prohibit a federally registered investment adviser, including certain executives and employees, from paying a third-party to solicit a government client on behalf of the registered investment adviser.
Finally, the proposed rule prevents a SEC registered investment adviser from circumventing these political contribution prohibitions by also banning the investment adviser from making indirect contributions through the use of third-parties such as spouses, lawyers or affiliated companies.
The proposed SEC rule will be subject to a 60 day comment period. RIA Compliance Consultants will keep its readers informed of any developments related to this proposed ruled by the SEC.
Labels: Pensions, Political Contributions
posted by bhill at 1:50 PM
