MyComplianceOffice Blog

It's been almost one year the Consumer Duty came into force, setting higher and clearer standards for consumer protection across the financial services industry. 31 July 2024 will be a milestone date, marking not just the anniversary of the Duty but also implementation for closed products and the first Board Report due date.

Failing to adequately manage Material Non-Public Information (MNPI) remains a high-risk area for compliance, as evidenced by recent actions in the United States, the United Kingdom and across the globe for issues including insufficient insider trading compliance policies, market abuse and failure to effectively manage insider information.

Staying on top of the latest regulatory developments in the financial services industry to maintain compliance and stay ahead of potential risk poses significant challenges for firms of all sizes. However, it can be particularly complex for smaller firms, where factors like limited resources and reliance on manual processes can make an already complicated endeavor even more difficult to manage.

Presented by the Practising Law Institute in conjunction with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC Speaks 2024 provided insights and updates on the agency’s current priorities and initiatives from Chair Gary Gensler, Commissioners, and senior staff from divisions across the agency.

First and foremost, Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs) are held to a standard of fiduciary duty by the SEC. As defined by the SEC, RIAs must act in the best interests of their clients, should not engage in activities that are in conflict with the interest of the client, and must provide a full disclosure of all material facts to clients and prospective clients.

To prove that they are able to meet these standards, RIA firms must have solid compliance programs in place.