Investment Professionals, Guidelines & Regulations Flashcards
Who’s a Natural Person?
An Individual (a living human being)
Who’s not a Person?
Legal Person
An Individual Age 18- (Minor)
Deceased Individuals
Individuals Declared Legally Incompetent
Who’s an Accredited Investor?
A Person under Regulation D Rule 501 of the 1933 Act who can trade UnRegistered Securities
What are the 5 Requirements to be an Individual Accredited Investor?
A General Partner, Executive Officer, or Director for the Issuer of the UnRegistered Security
A Registered Broker or IA
An Individual who’s a ‘Knowledgeable Employee’ of a Private Fund
An Individual w/ Income of $200K+ or $300K+ Joint for the past 2 yrs & Future
An Individual w/ Net Worth of $1M+
What are the Requirements for an Entity to be an Accredited Investor?
A Firm w/ Equity Investors who are already Accredited Investors
A Firm w/ $5M+ Assets
A Private Business Development Firm
What’s an Investment Adviser (IA)?
A Person who provides Securities Advice as part of a Regular, Ongoing Business and Receives Compensation for such Services
Who are the 4 Individuals that Qualify as IA’s?
Investment Adviser
Financial Planners
Pension Consultants
State-Registered & Federally Covered Advisors
Sport & Entertainment Representatives
What are the 2 types of Registered Investment Advisers (RIA)?
State RIA
Federal Covered Adviser
What are the 3 Requirements for an IA to Register w/ a State?
Investment Adviser
$100- AUM
A Physical Office in the State
Solicits business from 5+ Retail Clients in the State in the past 12 Mths (De Minimis Exemption)
When is a BD, Agent, IA, or IAR State Registration Active?
Noon on the 30th Day after the Application is Filed
Expires Dec 31st at Midnight of each Year
When must an IA Register as a Federal Covered Adviser?
Investment Adviser
$110+ AUM
When is a Federal Covered Adviser Registration Active?
45 Days after the Application is Filed, unless Proceedings commence about Denial of Application
No Expiration, unless Withdrawn, Canceled, Revoked or Suspended by the SEC
What are the 3 Requirements for an IA to be Exempt from Federal (SEC) Registration?
Investment Adviser
Only Client’s are Insurance Firms
All Clients are located in the same State as your Principal Business Office & you don’t give Securities advice
15- Clients in the past 12 Mths & you don’t as an IA or hold yourself out the Public as an IA
When must a Private Fund IA Register as a Federal Covered Adviser?
Investment Adviser
$150+ M AUM
Servicing 100+ Accredited Investors
Issue an IPO for the Fund
Are Venture Capital IA’s required to Register w/ the SEC?
Investment Adviser
No
Where does an IA Register if their AUM is $100-110M?
Investment Adviser
Either w/ a State or as a Federal Covered Adviser
What did the National Securities Market Improvement Act (NSMIA) of 1996 do?
Eliminated the Dual Registration (State & Federal) of IA’s & assigned SEC (Federal) Jurisdiction over all Covered Securities
What’s an RIA Notice Filing?
The Fee that RIA’s must pay to conduct business in a State, if required by the State
What’s Form ADV?
Uniform Application for IA Registration
What are the 4 sections of Form ADV Part 1?
Registration Info
Name
Address
Business Type
Records of any Breaches of Laws
What’s Form ADV Part 2A?
Brochure Rule, Disclosure Statement, or Investment Brochure
An Investment Brochure of the Investment Firm
What are the 4 sections of Form ADV Part 2A?
Client Balance Sheet
Business Practices
Conflicts of Interest
Fees
What are the 2 sections of the Client Balance Sheet within Form ADV Part 2A?
- Custody of Client Funds & Securities
- Collection of Pre-Payment of Fees
$500+ 6- Mths in Advance if State Registered
$1,200+ 6- Mths in Advance if Federally Registered
When must Form ADV Part 2 be provided to a new Client?
2 Days (48 hrs) prior to signing an Investment Advisory Contract
Concurrent w/ signing an Investment Advisory Contract so long as the Client has 5 Business Days to nullify the Contract
Either or
Does Form ADV Part 2 need to be provided to a Client Annually?
Yes if Changes are made
Which 3 Clients don’t need to receive Form ADV Part 2 Annually?
Investment Firm Clients
Clients for Impersonal Advisory Services
Clients charged a Fee of $200-
Who’s an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR)?
An Individual who provides Investment Advice or Manages Client Profiles, incl. Individuals who Supervise IAR’s
Where do IAR’s need to be Registered?
Investment Adviser Representative
Always w/ the State
Covered under the Registration of the Firm
Are Investment Firm Employees who perform Clerical or Administrative Duties considered IAR’s or Agents?
Investment Adviser Representative
No
What’s Form ADV Part 2B?
A Detailed Description of each of a Firm’s IAR’s
What’s Form U2?
Uniform Consent to Service of Process
What does Form U2 grant State Administrators?
Appoints each State Administrator as the Registrant’s Attorney for Noncriminal Legal Proceedings
What’s Form U4?
Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer
What’s Form U5?
Uniform Termination Notice for Securities Industry Regulation
Who needs to notify the State Administrator when an IAR or Agent Terminates Employment w/ a BD, Issuer, or IA Firm?
Form U5
Everyone
Who needs to notify the SEC when a Federal Covered Advisor Terminates Employment w/ an IA Firm?
Form U5
Only the Federal Covered Advisor
What’s a Schedule H?
Wrap Fee Brochure
An Investment Brochure provided to Clients who are opening a Wrap Account
What’s a Wrap Fee?
Fee + Commission
Who’s a Promoter?
A Person who provides a Testimonial or Endorsement for an Investment Professional
Who’s a Solicitor?
An IAR who’s contracted or employed by an IA to Solicit Business
What are the 4 General Reasons a State Administrator may Cancel an IA’s Registration?
When the IA:
Can’t be Found after a Reasonable Search
Deceased
Failed to Complete Annual CE Requirements
Mentally Incompetent
When may an IA submit a Withdrawal of Registration Claim?
Investment Adviser
When they Cease to Conduct Business as an IA & file Form ADV-W
Investment Adviser
When does an IA Form ADV-W become Active?
Schedule W
30 Days after Filing, unless Disciplinary Actions are Pending
What’s a State Administrators Statute of Limitation to initiate IA Disciplinary Actions after a Withdrawal of Registration?
Investment Adviser
1- Years after Withdrawal
What are the 2 IA Continued Education (CE) Topics?
Investment Adviser
Ethics & Professional Responsibility
Products & Practice
What are the IA CE Requirements for the Ethics & Professional Responsibility Section?
Investment Adviser
Min. 6 Credits
Min. 3 Hrs covering Ethics
What are the IA CE Requirements for the Products & Practice Section?
Investment Adviser
Min. 6 Credits
What’s a Broker-Dealer?
Any Person or Group engaged in the Business of effecting Securities Transactions for Themselves or Others
Can a BD be both a Broker & a Dealer?
Broker-Dealer
No, they can be either a Broker or a Dealer, but not both at the same time
What are the 2 types of BDs?
Broker-Dealer
Clearing (Carrying) BD
Introducing BD
Broker-Dealer
What’s a Clearing BD?
Carrying Broker-Dealer
A BD that executes Client Securities Orders and maintains Custody of Client Securities, Cash & Transaction Records
Broker-Dealer
What’s an Introducing BD?
Broker-Dealer
A BD that accepts Client Securities Orders, but has a Clearing BD to execute Trades and maintain Custody of the Securities & Cash
Broker-Dealer
What are the 2 types of Trades a BD can make?
Broker-Dealer
Agency Trades
Principal Trades
What’s a BD Agency Trade?
Broker-Dealer
When an Agent of a BD is matching a Buyer w/ a Seller & charges a Commission
Broker-Dealer
What’s a BD Principal Trade?
Dealer Trade
When a BD purchases a Security for its Inventory at a Markdown & sells that Security to a Client from its own Inventory at a Markup
Broker-Dealer
Where must a BD Register?
Broker-Dealer
With each State they have:
A Physical Office in
A Retail Client in
What are the 5 Reasons a BD can be Exempt from State Registration?
Broker-Dealer
Execute Unsolicited or Non-Exempt Trades non-occasionally in the State
No Physical Office in the State
Transact Business in the State only w/:
BDs, Issuers, Institutional Buyers, or Financial Institutions
Clients who have temporary Residences (Snowbird Exemption)
Clients who recently moved to the State (limited to 30 Days)
Who’s a BD Agent?
Broker-Dealer
An Individual who’s employed by a BD to represent them in effecting Securities Transactions
Broker-Dealer
Can a BD Agent work for multiple BDs?
Broker-Dealer
Yes, but only if all of the BDs are Owned & Controlled by a Parent BD
Broker-Dealer
What happens to an IAR or Agents Registration, when an IA Firm or BD loses its Registration?
They have 2- Yrs to Re-Register before they have to retake the Securities Exams
What’s an Issuer?
Any Person who Issues or Proposes to Issue a Security
Who’s an Agent of an Issuer?
An Employee of an Issuer who sells Securities
What’s an Issuer Transaction?
A Transaction in which the proceeds of the Sale go to the Issuer
What’s an Issuer Primary Offering?
An Issuer Transaction involving New Securities
What’s Form S1?
Issuer Registration Statement under the 1933 Act
What are the 5 sections of Form S1?
Registration Statement
Amount of Securities Offered
Min. & Max Offering Prices
Max Underwriting Discounts & Commissions
Notice of other States who’ll also receive this Form S1
Adverse Filings
What are the 3 methods of Registration available to Issuers?
Registration By Coordination
Registration By Notification
Registration By Qualification
What’s Registration By Coordination for Issuers?
When an Issuer Registers a Security Offering w/ a State Administrator at the same time as the SEC
What 6 Records accompany an Issuer Registration By Coordination?
Form S1 (Registration Statement)
Form U2 (Consent to Service of Process)
Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws
Issuer Indentures
3 Copies of Security Prospectus
Underwriter Agreement
When is an Issuer Registration By Coordination Active?
Whenever the Federal Registration becomes Effective
So long as:
State Registration has been on File for 10-20 Business Days
Form S1 (Registration Statement) has been on File for 2+ Business Days
What’s Registration By Notification for Issuers?
A faster Registration method where a Blue-Chip Firm that’s Federally Registered provides Records & Pays a Fee to the State Administrator to Sell a Security in a new State
What 4 Records accompany an Issuer Registration by Notification?
Form S1 (Registration Statement)
Form U2 (Consent to Service of Process)
Statement of Eligibility for Filing
Security Prospectus
What’s Registration By Qualification for Issuers?
When an Issuer plans to Sell a Security (that isn’t an IPO) in a single State & they aren’t Eligible for Registration By Notification
What are the 10 Records that accompany an Issuer Registration By Qualification?
Form S1 (Registration Statement)
Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws
$$$ Paid to Promoters & Non-Issuers (over the past 3 yrs & Future)
Issuer Balance Sheet & Income Statement
Issuer Description of their Capitalization & Long-Term Debt
Issuer Indentures (over the past 2 yrs)
Security Prospectus
Issuer Info about Officers, Directors & their History of Earnings
Issuer Info on Shareholders w/ 10%+ Ownership
Utilization of Issuer Proceeds
When is an Issuer Registration By Qualification Active?
30 Days after the Filing Date
What happens if someone other than the Issuer will Benefit from a new Security Offering?
Additional Records must be provided:
Person’s Name & Address
Amount of Securities being Offered
Reason for the Security Offer
Rank the Issuer Registration Methods from Most Difficult to Least Difficult.
Registration By Qualification
Registration By Coordination
Registration By Notification
What’s an Issuer Stop Order?
When a State Administrator or Federal Court halts an Issuers Registration
What are the 5 Reasons a State Administrator can issue a Stop Order?
Willfully violating the Uniform Securities Act (USA)
Failing to pay Application Fees
Filing a Materially Incomplete, False, or Misleading Application
The Issuer is Unqualified for the chosen Registration Type
The Security has a Stop Order in effect from another State Administrator or Federal Court
When is it Not Acceptable for a State Administrator to issue a Stop Order?
30 Days after a Registration Effective Date using Info known by the Administrator during the Registration Filing
What are the 3 Reasons an Agent of an Issuer can be Exempt from Registration?
Sell Exempt Securities
Sell Securities in an Exempt Transaction
Sell the Securities to Existing Directors, Officers, or Employees of the Issuer and receives no additional compensation
What’s an Exempt Security?
A Security Exempt from Federal, State, and/or Local Registrations
What are the 10 types of Exempt Securities?
Bank, Trust, or Credit Union Securities
Commercial Paper
Federal Covered Securities
Gov. Securities
Insurance Firm Contracts (excl. Variable Contracts)
Municipal Notes & Bonds
Non-Profit & Charitable Firm Securities
Public Utility Firm Securities
Railroad & Common Carrier Securities
Retirement Plan Securities
What’s an Exempt Transaction?
Transactions Exempt from Federal, State, and/or Local Registrations that generally don’t involve the Public
What are the 6 types of Exempt Transcations?
A Sale of a Pre-Organization Subscription (w/ 10- Subscribers & no Commission)
Non-Issuer Transaction
Private Placements (to 10- persons within 12- mths)
Rights Sale
Some Transactions w/ Financial Institutions, Fiduciaries, & Insurance Underwriters
Unsolicited Non-Issuer Orders
What’s a Non-Issuer Transaction?
Secondary Transaction or Transaction between Investors
An Exempt Transaction in which the proceeds of the Sale don’t go to the Issuer
What’s a Private Placement?
A Transaction that may qualify as Exempt & is governed by Regulation D of the 1933 Act that’s sold Privately
When’s a Private Placement Exempt from State & Federal Registration?
State Exemption: 10- Accredited Investors Annually
Federal Exemption: 35- Non-Accredited (Sophisticated) Investors Annually
Who’s a Non-Accredited (Sophisticted) Investor?
A Non-Accredited Investor who has substantial knowledge of Finance who signs an Investment Letter denoting this
What’s a Rights Sale?
An Exempt Transaction that permits an Investor to maintain a proportional Share in a Firm when the Firm issues new Shares
What’s an Unsolicited Order?
An Exempt Transaction in which a Client contacts an Investment Professional and requests to buy/sell Securities
What’s a Surety Bond?
A Bond that an Investment Professional must hold as a source of Funds to cover future Legal Fees from Lawsuits pertaining to Discretionary Accounts
What are Books & Records related to Investment Professionals or Firms?
The NASAA Model Rules about the Records that an Investment Professional must Maintain, Store, and immediately Produce
What Format can Books & Records for Investment Professionals be stored in?
Electronic Storage
Micrographic Media (Microfiche or Microfilm)
Paper or Hard-Copy
What are the 3 Cybersecurity measures that Investment Professionals must ensure for Electronic Storage of Books & Records
Limit Access to an Administrator (its Examiners & Representatives) & Authorized Personnel
Maintain & Preserve from Loss, Alteration, or Destruction
Reasonably ensure that any Non-Electronic Original Record stored on Electronic Media is Complete, True, & Legible
What are the 5 types of Investment Professional Books & Records?
Customer Accounts
Correspondence (Excl. Emails unrelated to Advisory Activities)
Financial Books
Partnership Papers
Trade Memoranda
How many Years of Books & Records must Investment Professionals Store?
- BD Requirement: Min. 3 Years
1st & 2nd Years in Short-Term (Accessible) Storage
3rd Year in Long-Term Storage - IA Requirement: Min. 5 Years
What’s a Business Continuity Plan (BCP)?
A Plan to ensure that Personnel & Assets are protected and able to function quickly in the event of a Disaster
What are the 4 Priorities of a BCP?
Business Continuity Plan
Define & Mitigate Firm Risks
Determine how Risks affect Operations
Implement Safeguards & Procedures
Initiate Continual Testing & Reviewing of the Plan
What’s a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP)?
A part of a BCP that details how a Firm can resume IT Operations after Disaster
Business Continuity Plan
What’s a Succession Plan?
Replacement Planning
A part of a BCP that’s overseen by a Board of Directors & CEO to prepare for passing Leadership roles down to Employee(s)
Business Continuity Plan
What’s a Security?
A Fungible or Tradable Financial Instrument managed by a 3rd Party to raise Capital or earn a Profit in Public & Private Markets
What are the 6 Items that aren’t Securities?
Collectibles
Commodity Futures
Condominium used as a Personal Residence
Currency
Fixed Insurance Products
Retirement Plans
What’s a Covered Security?
Federal Covered Security
A Security w/ a Federally imposed Exemption from State Registration that is equal in Seniority or Senior to the Listed Exchange Securities
What’s a Guaranteed Security?
A Security insured by an Entity