Custody of Funds or Securities of Clients by Investment Advisers

The SEC released the final version of its new custody rule (.pdf). The Commissioners had announced their approval of the rule on December 17 and then released the final text on December 30. The rule goes into effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. The amendments are designed to provide additional safeguards under … Read more »

SEC Approves New Custody Rule

The Securities and Exchange Commission adopted the proposed Custody Rule for investment advisers originally proposed last May. (See: SEC Releases Proposed Custody Rules for Investment Advisers) As is typical with the SEC, they announced the rule was approved before they made the final version of rule available. The rule amendments will be effective 60 days … Read more »

Review of SEC’s Process for Selecting Adviser Examination Targets

To continue the Madoff dogpile on the SEC, the SEC’s Office of Inspector General released a report criticizing the SEC’s process for selecting investment advisers and investment companies for examination. Review of the Commission’s Processes for Selecting Investment Advisers and Investment Companies for Examination As a result of OCIE never having examined Madoff’s investment firm, … Read more »

Federal Regulators Issue Final Model Privacy Notice Form

Eight federal regulatory agencies today released the final model privacy notice form. It’s supposed to make it easier for consumers to understand how financial institutions collect and share information about consumers. Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, institutions must notify consumers of their information-sharing practices and inform consumers of their right to opt out of certain sharing … Read more »

SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations Gets a Review

The SEC’s Division of Enforcement was not alone in getting a report from the SEC’s Inspector General: Improvements Needed Within the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. The Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations also got a review from the Inspector General: Review and Analysis of OCIE Examinations of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, LLC. For this … Read more »