Compliance Bricks and Mortar for January 11

These are some of the compliance related stories that recently caught my attention. On the lighter side there has been a bit attention focused on a presidential appointment. Jack Lew, President Obama’s reported pick to replace outgoing Treasury secretary Tim Geithner, has drawn some unusual scrutiny because of his signature. Jack Lew’s Terrible Signature May … Read more »

Suspicious Activity Reports and Private Funds

Over the years, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has required banks, brokers, and other financial entities to officially report suspicious activities of its customers. Investment advisers and private fund managers have managed to sty outside the requirements. In large part, that’s because a fund’s custodial accounts are already subject to the self-policing. since the … Read more »

Warren Back in Washington

The last time Washington saw Elizabeth Warren, she was thrown out of town for her strong advocacy of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act established the CFPB. Warren is credited with creating the CFPB, tirelesslessy lobbying for its inclusion in Dodd-Frank, and worked on implementation of the … Read more »

Aberrational Performance Inquiry of Nabs Another Private Fund Manager

The SEC has once again claimed that its Aberrational Performance Inquiry has identified another miscreant. Once again, I’m skeptical that the SEC is actually using “proprietary risk analytics” to identify hedge funds with suspicious returns. The SEC alleges that Yorkville Advisors overstated the value of the assets in its funds to improve marketability and increase … Read more »