Unit 1 Flashcards
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 is on what level?
Federal
Uniform Securities Act is one what level?
State
NASAA is the
advisory body of state securities regulators responsible for the content of the exam.
Non-persons:
- A minor
- A deceased individual
- An individual declared mentally incompetent by the courts
3-Prong Test:
- Gives advice to others on securities
- Does so as part of a regular business activity
- Receives compensation for performing this activity
Added to the definition of investment advisor:
- financial planners
- pension consultants
- others who offer investment advice to the definition of investment advisor
such as Sports and Entertainment Representatives → a sports agent who advises his client, the football player, to invest his money in specific securities
Exclusions from the Uniform Securities Act
- Bank
- Lawyer, accountant, teacher, or engineer (LATE)
- Broker Dealer
- Publishers who meet certain criteria
- IAR
- Federal covered adviser
- any other person the Admin excludes
- Any person whose advice is only related to US government securities
“Bank” does not include
a savings and loan institution or foreign bank but does include a savings institution
Note: Exclusion is unavailable to credit unions and investment advisor subsidiaries
The exclusion for LATE is not available when:
any of the professionals have established a separate advisory business *charging a separate fee for advice)
The exclusion for BDs is not available to those offering
wrap fee programs
Publishers must meet the following criteria
- General and impersonal
- Bona fide as opposed to promotional material
- Regular circulation
If the issue is published from time to time, the exclusion is lost
What are the exemptions?
- intra state advisers
2. advisers to insurance companies
What is an intra state adviser?
a. Clients are residents of the state in which their principal office is located
b. Do not give advice with securities listed on any national exchange
c. Other than an investment advisor for any private fund
Those who have no place of business in the state but are registered in another state, provided their only clients in the state are:
- BDs registered under the act
- Other investment advisors
- Institutional investors
- Existing clients who are not residents but are temporarily in the state
- Limited 5 or fewer clients, other than those previously listed, resident in the state during the preceding 12 months (de minimis exception)
- Any others the Administrator exempts by rule or order
Institution
- Included in the term person
- Banks, trust companies, S & L associations, insurance companies, investment companies, employee benefit plans with assets of $1 mil+, and governmental agencies
Retail Clients need
far more protection than institutional ones
If the client should change legal residence to that state, the investment advisor has
30 days to register in that state or discontinue doing business with that client (unless qualifying for the de minimis exception)
An investment advisor or one of their reps who advertises to the public, in any way, the availability of meeting with prospective clients in any location (hotel, country club) in the state is considered to have a
place of business in that state
Exemptions for Private Fund Advisors under Federal Law
- Advisors solely to private funds with less than $150 mil AUM
- Certain non-U.S. advisors with no place of business in the US and minimal AUM (less than $25 mil)
- Advisors solely to venture capital funds (venture capital fund exception)
Private Fund
an issuer that would be an investment company, does not presently propose to make a public offering of its securities
- No more than 100 shareholders and no public offering
Exemptions for Private Fund Advisors under State Law
All investors must be “qualified investors” - $1 mil in assets managed by the investment adviser or a net worth (excluding primary residence) of $2.1 mil
Neither the private fund adviser nor any affiliates are subject to the “bad actor” provisions
Exemption for Foreign Private Advisers
- Has no place of business in the US
- Has less than 15 clients and investors in the US in private funds
- Has aggregate AUM of less than $25 million
- Does not hold itself out to the public in the US as an investment advisor or act as an investment advisor to an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940
Exemption for Investment Advisors to Venture Capital Funds
- Does not offer its investors redemption rights or other similar liquidity rights (except in certain circumstances)
- Represents itself as a venture capital fund to investors
- Is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940
A venture capital fund is a
polled investment where venture capitalists invest their money and pay an advisor to select opportunities meeting their objectives. If these conditions are met, that investment advisor is exempt from registration under federal (and state) law.
Requirements for Investment Advisers is done
on either a federal or state basis - NEVER BOTH
Federal Covered Investment Adviser (Covered Adviser)
- Registered with the SEC
- Under contract to manage an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940
- Not registered with the SEC because they are excluded from the definition of an investment adviser
Ex: the IA whose advice is limited solely to securities issued by the U.S. government or on of its agencies
Large Investment Advisers
At least $100 mil AUM are eligible for SEC registration
But once assets reach $110 mil, SEC registration is mandatory
Mid-Size Advisers
At least $25 mil but less than $100 mil
Must register with the state