News & Events –

Join Bates Group leaders Jennifer Stout, Ira Hammerman, David Birnbaum, and Hank Sanchez at the 2023 FINRA Annual Conference, May 16-18 in Washington, D.C.

AI and algorithms have wide usage but bring unique risks to organizations, including compliance risks due to potential bias, discrimination, and data breaches. The FTC issued guidance in April 2023 to help manage these risks and protect consumers.

Bates Regulatory and Internal Investigations Managing Consultant Lindsey Dean, CPA, CFE to speak at the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation’s Enforcement Division Staff Conference, Wednesday, May 10, 2023 in San Diego, CA.

Join Bates at the IBDC-RIAC Risk Management Conference May 7-10, 2023, at the beautiful St. Regis Hotel in Park City, Utah. Our colleague Ira D. Hammerman will be featured on the panel “A look at the SEC’s and FINRA’s 2023 priorities and guidance for IBDs and RIAs on how to navigate regulatory scrutiny.” Bates is a proud sponsor of the conference.

In a recent Staff Bulletin, SEC staff clarified care obligations for broker-dealers and investment advisers towards retail clients. Both the Reg BI and fiduciary standards share the same principles and responsibilities towards retail investors, narrowing the differences between the two.

The Money Transmission Modernization Act (MTMA) was created to modernize the money transmission industry by allowing for comprehensive standards and requirements that reduce regulatory burden and encourage innovation, and improved consumer protections that allow for less confusing rules across states. In this article, we look at the three key benefits of the MTMA, as well as the current attitude of state legislatures toward its adoption.

Meet Bates Senior Executive Advisor Jennifer Stout and Managing Director Paul Lambert at SIFMA’s Private Client Conference, May 3-5 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Bates is proud to sponsor the Southwest Women in Financial Services (SWIFS) 2023 Spring Symposium, May 2, 2023 at Raymond James headquarters in St. Petersburg, FL.

FINRA and the SEC are increasingly focused on manipulative trading practices, such as wash sales and front running, due to an uptick in these violations and the regulators' use of advanced data analytics to detect potential market abuses.

Bates is a proud Diamond Sponsor of the FSDA Industry Outreach Program "2023: Unmasking Market Opportunities." April 21, 2023 at the Boca Raton Marriott at Boca Center. Register today to join Bates CEO Jennifer Stout , Chair of the program, at this re-scheduled program.

OFAC has recently made updates to its website designed to make it easier for users to find guidance on specific industries, use the reporting system, stay current on policy updates, and access OFAC's sanctions database quickly and efficiently.

Bates Compliance Managing Directors Kurt Wachholz and Hank Sanchez will be speaking on panels at the NSCP Interactive Compliance Lab - April 18, 2023 at Fordham School of Law in NYC.

Download this illustrative and detailed chartbook featuring U.S. economic and capital markets analysis for 2022. From Bates Group Director Greg Kyle and President Ben Pappas.

On March 27, 2023, the SEC Division of Examinations issued a Risk Alert focused on compliance deficiencies found in examinations of newly registered advisers. The Division said these advisers may face unique risks, particularly as to conflicts of interest, and cautioned them to review their policies and procedures, disclosures, and marketing practices. The Division also explained—perhaps as guidance for these new registrants—that their examinations were “an opportunity for early engagement between advisers and the staff.” Bates has a brief summary of this new Alert and what it could mean for your firm and clients.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) engages in rigorous examinations of financial institutions to ensure that they follow all applicable laws and regulations, have effective compliance management systems in place, and provide meaningful consumer protections. Bates Group offers independent consumer compliance reviews to help protect your business and customers.

In response to the threat from cyber actors “who use constantly evolving and sophisticated tactics, techniques, and procedures to cause harmful cybersecurity incidents,” the SEC proposed a new set of comprehensive rules intended to mitigate that risk. The proposal is consistent with the White House’s recent announcement of a new comprehensive National Cybersecurity Strategy and the annual FBI report on cybercrime trends based on 2022 data. Bates has the details.