The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have introduced an initiative that will assist broker-dealer chief compliance officers in maintaining compliance controls that work, creating effective communications about compliance risks, and implementing solid compliance programs at brokerage firms. Regional and national seminars will be…
Annette Nazareth, the only Democratic commissioner left on the Security and Exchange Commission’s five-member panel is leaving her post for the private sector. Her departure is the second one in the past month and leaves the panel with three members-all of them Republicans. Roel Campos, also a Democrat, left in…
As discussed in earlier postings, after a court overturned the “Merrill Rule,” which exempted brokerage firms from duties of Investment Advisors Act of 1940, brokerage firms say they will cease “fee based” accounts rather than assume duties to clients mandated my that legislation. However, as predicted, regulators and legislators will…
FINRA, SEC, and state regulators are saying that the “free lunch” investment seminars for senior citizens are actually high-pressure sales pitches, involving fraud and misleading claims about financial products that are not suitable for its elderly audience. A report of these findings will be issued to the public this week.…
“Mr. Chairman, there is no doubt financial fraud aimed at older Americans is real.” This astounding statement was made at the SEC’s Senior Summit by Mary L. Schapiro, the Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the regulatory body formed by the merger of the National Association…
Sentinel Management Group, the Chicago-based money manager that the Securities and Exchange Commission has accused of misappropriating client assets and defrauding clients, is reportedly missing $505 million in its accounts. The National Futures Association found the shortfall during a recent investigation. The missing funds could bring up questions regarding a…
Washington lawyer Peggy Blake, who recently joined Winston & Strawn as a corporate partner, reports her foreign financial services clients are “very optimistic” about the movement afoot at the Securities and Exchange Commission to adopt a mutual recognition regime. Yet, during recent trips to London and Geneva, she found a…
A month ago the SEC rolled out a list of companies officially linked to countries designated by the U.S. Secretary of State as state sponsors of terrorism. The SEC’s published list, which included Halliburton and other large companies, received more than 150,000 Internet hits. It also stirred a firestorm from…
As a review: Instead of charging commissions to sell investments and products to their clients, as do brokerage firms, investment advisors charge a small percentage to advise clients how to invest their money. Wall Street decided this would be a lucrative addition to their business, but did not want to…
Defrauded Enron shareholders recently lost again, this time as victims of federal judges who seem intent on helping Wall Street crooks rather than Wall Street victims. With their case before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Enron shareholders lost yet again when the SEC and Bush Administration, who had indicated they…