Monthly Archives

December 2016

Risk Alert: OCIE is Scouting Investment Advisory Branch Offices

By | New in Compliance, Risk Alert

December 12, 2016:  The Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced via Risk Alert its new Multi-Branch Adviser Initiative. The initiative is no surprise given that the 2016 Examination Priorities published in January highlighted OCIE’s interest in examining advisers’ supervisory practices over advisory personnel located in branch offices.

OCIE’s interest is prompted by the fact that advisers are increasingly expanding their geographical footprints, staffing personnel in locations far removed from the adviser’s principal place of business. The Staff is worried about the risks of the “out of sight, out of mind” mentality.

Accordingly, OCIE has launched its Multi-Branch Adviser Initiative to examine advisers operating multiple branch offices to ascertain compliance with federal securities laws in view of the additional and unique risks that arise when operating in this manner. Read More