Webinars

Please join us for our latest complimentary webinar: FINRA Examination Priorities – 2019   As befits the new year, we will host a webinar incorporating highlights of what we see as FINRA’s examination priorities for 2019. The discussion will reflect what we have heard from FINRA and what we have...

Please join us for Investment Advisers: 2018 Year-End Review and Critical Compliance Reminders Year-end can be a stressful time for Investment Advisers, but it doesn’t have to be. Now is the time to inventory outstanding requirements, complete reviews, and finalize documentation. Join NCS Regulatory Compliance for a targeted discussion on...

Year-end can be a stressful time for Broker Dealers, but it doesn’t have to be. Now is the time to inventory outstanding requirements, complete reviews, and finalize documentation. Join NCS Regulatory Compliance for a targeted discussion on year-end compliance for Broker-Dealers. We will provide an overview and best practices for:...

Please join us for Broker Dealers – Year End Financial Requirements Closing the books on 2018, and getting ready for your audit The year–end financial closing process and audit preparation “season” is almost upon us. Some call this the “Season of the Witch”… Do not be caught unawares… It is...

Would you like to know what exceptions our examiners find most often during independent AML testing? Join NCS Regulatory Compliance for an overview of frequent AML testing exceptions and corrective action as well as a targeted discussion on best practices regarding: • The new Customer Due Diligence requirements • Know...

Join Scott Schirick, Partner, Pryor Cashman LLP and Steve Murphy, Vice President, NCS Regulatory Compliance for our latest webinar “Crypto Securities: After the Din” The hype seems to be waning so we are taking this opportunity to assess where the regulated financial world stands with regard to Digital Assets. Was...

Please join us for a robust discussion about the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation ( GDPR ). Many are uncertain if the rule applies to them, particularly if they operate solely in the US. Does it? If it does, what to do? Alexander Major and Franklin Turner, partners and experts...

As investors are increasingly more reliant on their own investments for retirement, there is increasing demand for sound, suitable retirement advice. However, diminished capacity, suitability concerns, and unethical sales practices have raised the issue of servicing seniors and those close to retirement to a new level for regulators. This session...

How effective are you in your compliance role?  Do you maximize your efforts and use available resources to run an efficient compliance program?  Do you recognize compliance concerns before they negatively impact your firm or only after when it may be too late?

Communication is a key element within any firm environment. Nowhere is that more evident than between a firm’s upper management and their Financial and Operations Principal (FINOP). Join us as we bring three experienced FINOPS together to discuss six common and often silent financial compliance pitfalls that await the unwary....

Join us for an in-depth guide to exams, including Branch, 206(4)-7, AML, 3120, 3110 and Market Access.

Private fund advisers face unique regulatory challenges and risks. Private fund managers are also subject to new disclosure requirements and compliance obligations relating to umbrella registration. In order to minimize risk and be prepared for the next examination, it is important for private fund advisers to take action now to address these risks, challenges, and disclosure requirements.

FINRA recently announced its national exam priorities for 2018. These priorities reflect the practices and products FINRA believes present the greatest heightened risks to investors. A number of priorities from last year remain the same as this year, with retail fraud and high risk brokers topping the list.

The SEC's Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations ("OCIE") recently announced its national exam priorities for 2018. This webinar will discuss OCIE’s new priorities for 2018, as well as continuing areas of focus from 2017.

The landscape of digital communications is rapidly changing but the rules pertaining to communications have been relatively static. Rule 2210 spells out the content standards and the subjective lens through which regulators look at how firms correspond with the public. Understanding the Rule, its interpretation, modifications, and, notably, what has not been modified, remains essential to avoiding scrutiny of a firm’s communications policies and procedures by both the Examination and Enforcement departments.

First it was Social Media. Then it was text messaging. As the new year begins, we are witnessing the rapid adoption of collaboration platforms such as Slack, Workplace by Facebook, Microsoft Teams and others within the Financial Services industry. As we’ve seen previously, the regulators will catch up and issue guidance on the compliant usage of these new popular, productivity-enhancing channels, but how will their adoption within a firm impact the role of the CCO?

Our goal is to help investment advisers understand their annual requirements. During this session, we will evaluate compliance with 2017 year-end action items, review compliance with annual testing requirements or 206(4)-7 annual review and discuss trending industry topics and recent SEC priorities including Custody, Form ADV Part 1 new requirements, and past/current exam priorities.

On September 14, 2017, the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”) published a Risk Alert, which identified the most frequent Advertising Rule compliance issues uncovered by examiners during their examinations. By attending this webinar, SEC and state-registered investment advisers can correct their own advertising mistakes before it’s too late.

As the year comes to a close, compliance professionals know it’s time to tie up loose ends. Now is the time to inventory outstanding requirements, complete reviews, and finalize documentation. Join NCS Regulatory Compliance for a targeted discussion on year-end compliance for Broker-Dealers.

The year–end financial closing process and audit preparation season is just around the corner. Decisions are looming on accruals, bonuses, distributions and capital considerations. Soon you should be reaching out and engaging your auditors.

In this webinar, we present an overview of Form ADV Part 1 amendments, discuss new data including asset types, separately managed accounts (SMAs), custodians, and advisory business, and provide a review of books and record changes.

In this webinar, we explore Rule 15c3-5, including;  a brief history of market access and its impact on the market , a discussion on what constitutes market access, a review of Firm obligations to establish, document, and maintain risk management controls, and  dialogue about internal testing requirements & the scope of regulatory exams.

In this webinar, we explore implications of custody in first party transfers, third-party transfers & the use of SLOAs, inadvertent custody: advisers who have custody and do not realize it, SEC No Action Letter requirements and implementation and compliance requirements.

Jim Reese, Acting Chief Risk and Strategy Officer for OCIE, joined both the SEC and OCIE in 1999 as an examiner in the Investment Adviser/Investment Company Program area. In his 18-year career, he has participated on more than 450 examinations and assisted on approximately 50 rule-making initiatives. In this webinar,...

Join us for an exploration into the world of Cybersecurity as we review a Compliance Officer’s Guide to what Regulators expect. Cybersecurity continues to be an area of focus for the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE), and FINRA. Today, financial firms of all sizes are under pressure...

In this webinar, we discuss the latest form of registration – the Capital Acquisition Broker or CAB. We describe the parameters of a CAB, what remains the same for your current Broker-Dealer, what changes from your current Broker-Dealer, what to be cognizant of, and the mechanics of registering with FINRA...

FINRA recently announced its national exam priorities for 2017.  These priorities reflect the practices and products FINRA believes present the greatest heightened risks to investors.  During this webinar, our experts will provide practical guidance and tips to assist your firm in responding to the release of the examination priorities.

The SEC's Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations ("OCIE") recently announced its national exam priorities for 2017. This webinar will discuss OCIE’s new priorities for 2017, as well as continuing areas of focus from 2016.

Our goal is to help broker-dealer firms understand their annual requirements. This annual “check-up” is designed to help you make certain all your “i’s” have been dotted and “t’s” have been crossed. Our discussion reviewed year-end and early 2017 deadlines, required 2016 regulatory requirements, trending industry topics and recent FINRA and SEC priorities including cybersecurity.

Our goal is to help investment advisers understand their annual requirements. During this session we will discuss the following: Evaluate Compliance with 2016 Requirements, Review Year-End and Upcoming 2017 Deadlines, Discuss Trending Industry Topics and Recent SEC Priorities including Cybersecurity, Disclosure Effectiveness, Suitability of Recommendations, Privacy, Code of Ethics and Conflicts of Interest.

The DOL fiduciary rule will have a significant impact on many investment advisers and broker-dealers. This webinar addresses the following questions related to the DOL fiduciary rule: - What investment advice and recommendations are covered under the rule? - What communications are excluded under the rule? - What qualifies as variable compensation? - What are streamlined BICE requirements for level-fee fiduciaries? - What business practices will my firm need to adopt to comply? In addition, we’ll also outline how NCS Regulatory Compliance will work with its clients on DOL compliance solutions.

Our goal is to help broker-dealers and investment advisers understand their annual testing and examination requirements and to discuss other exams or testing firms should consider to prepare for a regulatory examination. Listen to our discussion where we cover the following topics: annual testing and examination requirements for BD and IA firms; new AML testing requirements for IA firms if FinCEN rule imposing AML requirements on IA firms becomes final; other examinations firms should consider; and reasons and benefits for having an independent review.

The 4th quarter is coming!  Broker-dealers, the time will soon be upon you to get your books closed and get ready for your annual financial audit.  Make this your smoothest year yet! Our team of experienced auditors will take you through the audit process and give you the practical advice...

An adviser’s fiduciary duty regarding selection of securities and execution of trades is complex.  Many firms are lacking adequate procedures, controls and oversight when it comes to best execution obligations.  Recent SEC enforcement cases and comment letters raise the issue of best execution as it relates to the selection of...

During this webinar, the panelists will review: – What your clearer can and can not do; – The obligations of a clearer; and – How to respond to FINRA questions about your clearer during an exam.

While outsourcing some of a firm’s operational and compliance functions often makes sense, firms cannot outsource their responsibility to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and to ensure the protection of client information. During this webinar, the panelists will discuss: – Selection and oversight of service providers such as technology vendors,...

Join us for a review of the current anti-money laundering (AML) issues that broker-dealer and investment adviser firms are facing and how they impact your business. Guest Speaker: Susan Berger, Attorney & AML Consultant, Intermittent Advisor to U.S. Treasury Office of Technical Assistance-Economic Crimes Team This session will review: –...

The final version of the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule was released on April 6, 2016. Please join this webinar to hear how it will impact registered investment advisers (“RIAs”), broker-dealer (“BDs”), insurance agents, and financial institutions. This session will cover: – Who is considered a fiduciary under the new rule?...

The SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”) recently announced its national exam priorities for 2016. This webinar will discuss OCIE’s new priorities for 2016, as well as continuing areas of focus from 2015. New priorities for 2016 include: • Public pension advisers – focus on political contributions, gifts...

FINRA recently announced its national exam priorities for 2016. These priorities reflect the practices and products FINRA believes present the greatest heightened risks to investors. For 2016, the letter addresses three primary policy issues that FINRA believes are key points of emphasis for firms in 2016. Those three points are:...

In the ERISA world, old news is becoming new again. Recently, the DOL’s proposed fiduciary rule cleared a big legislative hurdle. Is now the time to prepare for the possible impact on your advisory business? The SEC is also conducting sweep examinations of the retirement-account advice financial advisers are giving...