News

Bates News  |  01-28-21

Bates Welcomes Our New Experts and Consultants

Bates Group is proud to welcome our newest experts and consultants (clockwise from top L):

• Andrew Auslander, CFA, FRM - Financial Risk Management, Bonds, Corporate Lending
• David F. MacNair - AML, Fraud Prevention, FINRA Arbitrator
• Annemarie McAvoy - Financial Crime Compliance, AML and Terrorist Financing, Internal Investigations
• Samuel Turvey - Compliance, Regulatory Response, Arbitration

Events  |  01-20-21

Bates is Proud to Sponsor the NYSBA Women In Law Section 17th Annual Symposium

Bates Group is a proud Bronze sponsor of the New York State Bar Association Women In Law Section (WILS) 17th Annual Edith I. Spivack Symposium “Ready to Lead: Advancing Women Leaders During the Pandemic and Beyond“ and the Kay Crawford Murray Memorial Award program honoring an outstanding attorney who recognizes the value of diversity and mentoring in the legal profession. Day 2 will be held on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 from 12:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Registration is open.

Events  |  01-15-21

Upcoming Webinar: Developing Your 2021 Plan to Address the SEC’s Top Compliance Findings

The SEC Division of Examinations issued a recent Risk Alert, along with remarks by Director Peter Driscoll, identifying common deficiencies from recent examinations related to the obligations on investment advisers required by the Advisers Act. Join this new webinar from Bates Compliance to learn how to strategically and tactically manage and streamline this important compliance information, which the SEC will be scrutinizing in 2021.

Bates Research  |  01-14-21

Significant Changes to Anti-Money Laundering Framework Enacted into Law

The new Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) became law on January 1, 2021, extending the “risk-based” AML approach to regulation and enforcement. AMLA is the most significant update to the Bank Secrecy Act rules since the USA PATRIOT Act in 2001. It incorporates substantial changes to the laws governing the combatting of money laundering and terrorist financing. Read the full article to learn about key final provisions that will lead to many changes in industry rules and practices going forward, and how Bates AML and Financial Crimes can support your.

Bates Research, Compliance and Regulatory Alerts  |  01-08-21

SEC Rewrites Rules on Investment Adviser Marketing

Just prior to the new year, the SEC finalized significant changes to rules and forms governing advertising and cash solicitations under the Investment Advisers Act, replacing both the prior Advertising Rule and Cash Solicitation Rule with a single, broad, “modernized” marketing rule. The new rule also amends investment adviser registration Form ADV and the books and records rule to reflect the related changes. In this article, we detail key provisions of the new rule and how Bates will help your firm navigate and implement this significant rule change.

Bates News  |  12-22-20

SWIFS December 2020 Spotlight on Bates Group CEO Jennifer Stout

Bates Group CEO Jennifer Stout is featured by Southeastern Women in Financial Services (SWIFS) in their December 2020 Member Spotlight.

Compliance and Regulatory Alerts  |  12-21-20

DOL Finalizes Class Exemption for Investment Advisers

On December 15, 2020, the Department of Labor finalized long-considered regulations on investment advice for retirement accounts under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. What does this mean for your firm?

Bates News  |  12-18-20

Bates Compliance Welcomes New Senior Consultant Kent Keister, IACCP®

Bates Compliance is proud to welcome new Senior staff Compliance Consultant Kent Keister. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Keister assists investment advisers, broker-dealers and wealth management organizations in navigating complex issues.

Bates Research  |  12-17-20

Federal Law Enforcement Targets 2300 Money Mules Fueling Fraud in All 50 States

On December 2, 2020, federal law enforcement cracked down on money mules again in a joint operation involving nine federal law enforcement agencies to “disrupt the networks through which transnational fraudsters move the proceeds of their crimes.” Bates reviews the highlights and takeaways from the recent announcement by the DOJ and partner agencies. Read the full article to learn about this nationwide initiative and the variety of scams utilizing money mules targeting your financial firm, customers, and elder clients in particular.

Bates Research  |  12-11-20

Multi-Branch Office Supervision and Compliance – OCIE Details Deficiencies

Last month, OCIE released a Risk Alert urging SEC-registered investment advisers to consider the “unique risks and challenges presented by “employing a business model that includes numerous branch offices and business operations that are geographically dispersed.” Although COVID-19 was not the basis for the alert, the pandemic undeniably added urgency to issues around remote supervision and compliance, pushing the topic higher on the list of areas OCIE is continuing to monitor. Bates takes a closer look at OCIE’s findings and warnings to firms overseeing multi-branch office compliance.