Now is the time for each registered investment adviser to begin preparations for IARD renewals for the investment adviser firm and its investment adviser representatives. Registered investment advisers must make sure that they always remain properly registered. If you are an SEC registered investment adviser, you must make sure that your investment adviser is notice filed in all required states. If you are a state registered investment adviser, you must make sure your investment adviser is properly registered in all required states.
Generally, registration or notice filing is required at the firm level if an investment adviser has a place of business in the state or if it exceeds the state’s de minimis exemption. However, investment advisers must review each state’s notice filing or registration requirements prior to conducting business in a state. Investment adviser representative licensing is always handled at the state level. Investment adviser firms must review and determine that all investment adviser representatives are properly licensed prior to conducting business in a state.
Although proper registration, notice filing, and licensing should be reviewed and monitored on an ongoing basis, during the annual renewal process all investment advisers are highly encouraged to review their existing registration or notice filing status and each investment adviser representative’s licensing status to determine if the investment adviser and its investment adviser representatives are properly registered, notice filed, or licensed (as applicable).
All registered investment advisers should also review the state requirements to see if branch office registration is required and, if it is, investment advisers should confirm that all branch office locations have been properly registered. As of Monday, October 13, 2025, investment advisers can begin to submit post-dated Form U5s and Form BR Closing/Withdrawals via the IARD and/or Web CRD. All post-dated forms must be dated 12/31/2025.
Here is a brief summary of some of the upcoming dates that your investment adviser should be aware of as it begins to prepare for the annual renewal process for your investment adviser firm and your investment adviser representatives:
- 10/13/2025 – Firms may begin to submit post-dated Forms U5 and BR Closing/Withdrawal
- 11/3/2025 – Firms may begin to submit post-dated Forms ADV-W. All forms must be post-dated 12/31/2025.
- 11/8/2025 – IARD and Web CRD are unavailable as Preliminary Renewal Statements are generating.
- 11/10/2025 – Preliminary Renewal Statements and reports are available for viewing and printing.
Click Here for the Full IARD Renewal Program Calendar
Making necessary and early preparations for the annual renewal process can help streamline the event. Preliminary Renewal Statements must be paid, in full, by Monday, December 8, 2025. Depending on your method of payment, it may take at least two days for your payment to post to the IARD account. Because of this delay in funds posting, your funds should arrive no later than Wednesday, December 3, 2025, to ensure the money is posted to your IARD account by December 8. If your investment adviser firm fails to pay its renewal fees in full, your investment adviser firm’s registration or notice filing status and investment adviser representatives’ licenses may be terminated effective December 31, 2025.
An investment adviser that fails to properly renew its registration may face fines or further disciplinary actions for not being properly registered.
If your investment adviser needs assistance with the renewal process or determining if it is properly registered, RIA Compliance Consultants can assist you. We can also assist with preparing and filing the Form ADV annual update amendment when the time comes.
Click Here to View Our 2026 IARD Renewal & ADV Annual Amendment Services
Disclosure: This post and the slides are for general educational purposes only and should not be considered advice to the reader. A client relationship is not created by merely reading this post and/or slides. For additional information or specific guidance, the reader should consult with his or her compliance professional for advice tailored to the reader’s specific circumstances. The contents of this post and slides may become dated, and RIA Compliance Consultants, Inc. will not necessarily provide an update to the slides.
Posted by RCC
Labels: Annual Amendment, IARD, Renewals
Tagged: Form ADV Annual Amendment, Renewals
