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Bates News  |  09-19-18

Bates In the Media – Spotlight on Managing Director Bob Lavigne

Bates Managing Director of Compliance Solutions Robert “Bob” Lavigne was quoted by Investment News in its in-depth story entitled “SEC Advice Rule Contains a Huge Hole.” 

Bates News  |  09-14-18

Bates Group Welcomes Financial Services Industry Leader and Consultant Gerald Baker

Bates Group is pleased to welcome Gerald (“Jerry”) Baker, Financial Services Industry Leader and Consultant, to Bates Compliance Solutions. With over 45 years of Financial Services and Compliance experience, Mr. Baker brings a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise, having developed compliance programs and managed Compliance Department functions at major U.S. securities and financial services firms. He provides compliance and supervisory consulting and training, serving clients at financial services firms, trade associations and regulatory organizations.

Bates News, Bates Research  |  09-13-18

New Education Requirements on the Horizon for Broker Dealers and (Maybe) Investment Advisers

FINRA is seeking input on proposed changes to the Securities Industry Continuing Education Program just as the SEC is considering responses to its request for comments on whether investment advisers should be subject to similar obligations. IAA President Karen Barr and NASAA President Joseph Borg have both submitted comments to the SEC. Bates Research has the latest developments.

Bates News  |  09-11-18

Introducing Bates Investor Risk Assessment - Protect Your Firm and Its Most Vulnerable Investors

Bates Group LLC announces the introduction of Bates Investor Risk Assessment (BIRA), a unique breakthrough program to protect broker-dealers and registered investment advisors (RIAs) and their vulnerable clients — seniors and retirees, minors, and those with diminished capacity — while continuing to meet regulatory expectations.

Bates News, Bates Research  |  09-05-18

What’s In A Name? NASAA Weighs In On Regulation Best Interest

The North American Securities Administrators Association (“NASAA”) encouraged the SEC “to make significant revisions to its April 18 Regulation Best Interest and related proposals (“Reg. BI”) before adopting them in order to best serve the interests of investors.”

In NASAA’s comment letter on Reg. BI, NASAA cautioned the SEC to take it slow, be deliberate and, most importantly, to consider “significant improvements” in order to “promulgate final rules that will serve the best interest of investors as the Commission intends.” Bates Research takes a closer look at NASAA’s concerns and its recommendations to the SEC.

Bates News  |  09-03-18

Bates Welcomes New Financial Crimes Managing Director Edward Longridge

Bates Group welcomes Edward Longridge as the new Managing Director of Bates’ Financial Crimes practice. Based in New York City, Ed brings nearly 20 years of distinguished experience as an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Compliance and Financial Crimes leader at major multinational financial institutions.

Bates News, Bates Research  |  08-15-18

Treasury, OCC and FINRA Set the Stage for Fall Fintech Debate

As the summer winds down, regulators are positioning themselves for more oversight of the financial technology sector. On July 30, the U.S. Treasury Department released a national agenda on how it intends to regulate fintech companies, encourage innovation and harmonize federal efforts with state regulators. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency followed up the Treasury report with an announcement that it will begin to accept applications for special-purpose national bank charters for certain types of fintech companies. And on the same day as Treasury came out with its recommendations, FINRA issued a “Special Notice” seeking comment on fintech innovation in the broker-dealer industry. How are these developments going to impact the industry? Here’s a closer look.

Bates News  |  08-14-18

Bates Welcomes New Experts

Bates would like to introduce two of our newest experts, Olie Jolstad and Ed Laskowski.

Bates News, Bates Research  |  08-09-18

SEC Regulation Best Interest: Next Round

As the deadline for comments on SEC Regulation Best Interest draws to a close, echoes from the debate on the Department of Labor (“DOL”) fiduciary rule can be heard in new concerns being raised before the Commission. In a recent speech getting a lot of attention, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce undertook an analysis of the proposed regulation. Bates Research takes a look at that and some other notable recent reactions.

Bates News, Bates Research  |  07-26-18

Eight Recent Developments on Cryptocurrency

Activity around the regulation of cryptocurrency continues apace. Only a short time ago, we reported on Operation Cryptosweep, a coordinated effort by NASAA and state securities regulators to crackdown on fraudulent cryptocurrency-related investment products. Today, we review a number of newsworthy developments that may affect the regulation of a technology that has defied easy categorization and oversight. Bates Research has the roundup: