Compliance

For roughly 40 years, the SEC has clashed in a "regulatory tug-of-war" with Congress over regulation of borrowers of conduit bonds, which historically have higher default rates than traditional munis, said Paul Maco, a lawyer at Bracewell & Giuliani LLP.

Big businesses' mixed feelings about their large bank partners are especially obvious when the conversation turns to proposed reforms of money-market funds, which corporate treasurers say could increase the power of "too big to fail" banks.

In a new survey, the CFP Board revealed just how pervasive the financial abuse of seniors has come to be. At the same time, the board is seeking new standards to help seniors - and all consumers - better understand which self-described financial advisors are truly out to serve their best interests.

In the first of what the SEC hopes will be many more such awards, a whistleblower has received $50,000 for his or her help in stopping a multi-million dollar fraud. More money may be forthcoming for the individual if other, related cases move forward. The first award comes about a year after the whistleblower program began operating.

The federal regulator said it has identified the first recipient of a ‘whistleblower’ award, intended to help curb fraud in the securities industry. But the recipient and the case involved were not identified.

In a surprise move, incoming National Association of Personal Financial Advisors Chairman, Ron Rhoades, said that because of a compliance violation by his firm he will not be assuming the helm of the advocacy group on September 1 as anticipated.

The SEC announced fraud charges and an emergency asset freeze against a Denver-based company and two Colorado residents for allegedly carrying out a $15.7 million Ponzi scheme that dragged in more than 120 investors nationwide.

FINRA says the brokerage didn't have enough controls in place to detect that Jared Weinryt had breached his $116 million trading limit as he made overnight bets on so-called futures.

RIA in a Box's registration maintenance service focuses on turning down an RIA's panic level from surprise regulatory visits.

Wells Fargo & Co. agreed to settle charges that its brokerage and a former vice president sold securities it didn't understand to municipalities, non-profit organizations and other customers.

As sales of ETFs boom, the SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy has released an investor bulletin on the investment vehicle.

Here's something for the estimated 72 million 401(k) participants to look forward to at the end of this month: On Aug. 30, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration participant fee disclosure rule, dubbed ERISA 404(a)(5), will go into effect.

Independent financial advisors are strong supporters of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in his presidential bid, a new survey has found.

FINRA has reconstituted its board of governors, adding three new members and re-appointing three others.

Money-market fund companies obtained permission to support 155 of their funds during the financial turmoil of 2007 and 2008, and six more funds got the same go- ahead since the crisis, according to a list provided to Congress by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Market timing and late trading scandals in 2003 led to a substantially more demanding regulatory environment. This has included the adoption of a rule requiring funds to designate a compliance officer and implement a comprehensive program for complying with federal laws and regulations on investment fund operations.

The last decade has been rough for the mutual fund industry. This means boards of directors must have the tools for overseeing compliance and take on the oversight.

On August 10, 2012, The Securities and Exchange Commission Friday charged a Florida-based investment manager and his firm for failing to provide SEC examiners with records of a mutual fund advisory business that invested in NASCAR-related stocks.

FINRA levied almost $40 million in fines in the first half of the year and will likely doll out as much or more through the end of the year.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board released a proposal Thursday aimed at increasing protection for retail investors who trade municipal bonds online.