Karen is a Bates Consulting Expert with over 30 years’ experience as an employee and manager in the Compliance and Business Controls departments of a large full-service broker-dealer and investment adviser, which also offers self-directed brokerage and investment advisory services. She has more than two decades experience drafting and reviewing full service and self-directed broker-dealer policies, written supervisory procedures, and operating procedures (collectively “WSPs”). Karen brings broad knowledge and experience of not only the key supervisory requirements of broker-dealers, but also a deep understanding of how to organize and draft WSPs. She has the expertise to help identify and address potential gaps, and draft and organize WSPs in a manner that is easy to navigate and consume.
Karen has conducted gap analyses on WSPs applicable to various business models, drafted and consulted on WSPs across a wide variety of topics, and implemented structural changes to WSPs to effect greater ease of access and comprehension.
Bates Group, Consulting Expert, 2024 – Present
Bank of America/ Merrill Lynch, New York, NY, 1993 – 2024; Merrill Wealth Management, Senior Business Controls Manager, Business Controls Manager, Policies and Procedures, 2019 – 2024; Merrill Wealth Management, Senior Compliance Manager, 1996 – 2019; Senior Compliance Manager, Global Wealth and Investment Management Compliance Policies and Communications, 2009 – 2019; Private Client Compliance Advisory Services, 2003 – 2009; Private Client Compliance Policy & Regulatory Exam Liaison Group, 2000 – 2003; Private Client Branch Office Examiner, 1996 – 2000; Private Client Branch Office Assistant, 1993 – 1996
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Creighton University, Omaha, NE
FINRA Series 7, 8, 63 (formerly held)