Advertising by investment advisors can generate significant risk exposure depending upon the advertising materials and circumstances.
Category Archives: Performance Advertising
Performance Advertising for Investment Advisers
February 22, 2012
Although not specifically prohibited, investment advisers should be cautious when using performance data in advertising as the securities regulator may claim that the performance advertisement contains untrue statements of a material fact or is otherwise false or misleading. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has explained that advertisements shall be considered false or misleading depending on the facts and circumstances involved in its use, including:
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) recently issued an order instituting cease-and-desist proceedings against an investment adviser representative for misstating performance numbers on performance reports distributed to clients. According to the SEC’s order, the representative overstated client performance numbers and understated losses on individual portfolio performance reports provide to his clients. The investment adviser representative is now barred from associating with another investment adviser firm and required to pay a civil penalty of $60,000.
