FINRA Regulatory Notice 25-05, issued on March 14, 2025, proposes consolidating Rules 3270 and 3280 into a single rule—tentatively titled Rule 3290—to streamline and reduce unnecessary burdens regarding associated persons’ outside activities. The comment period for this proposal ends on May 13, 2025. Key Points of the Proposal Feedback For […]
Compliance
SEC Announces Agenda, Panelists for Roundtable on Crypto Trading
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Crypto Task Force has announced the agenda and panelists for its April 11 roundtable, “Between a Block and a Hard Place: Tailoring Regulation for Crypto Trading.” “Hearing the public’s concerns and… SEC Press Release
Extension of Form PF Amendments Compliance Date
The Securities and Exchange Commission, together with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), extended the compliance date for the amendments to Form PF that were adopted on Feb. 8, 2024. The compliance date for these amendments, which was originally March 12, 2025, has been extended to June 12, 2025. Form […]
Advisers Settle SEC Charges for Acting as Unregistered Brokers
SEC Takes Action Against VCP Financial and Investment Advisers for Regulatory Violations Investment Advisers Caught Selling Pre-IPO Investments Without Proper Registration The SEC has announced settled charges against three investment adviser representatives—Tamir Shabat, Danny Z. Spiegel, and Joseph J. Orlando, Jr.—for operating as unregistered brokers while selling membership interests in […]
An SEC Subpoena, FINRA OTR. 2025 Update.
By Mark J. Astarita, Esq. Understanding the implications of an SEC subpoena is crucial for those involved in securities law. WHILE BROKERS OFTEN BECOME upset or even angry when they are named in customer arbitration; nothing strikes fear in the hearts of licensed individuals as much as receiving an […]
What Happens If I Ignore an SEC Subpoena?
Anyone who follows our blog or website knows one thing. The SEC Enforcement Division is getting tougher on financial firms. They are also getting tougher on investors and issuers. When you are served with an SEC subpoena, you know that they are not fun to deal with. But you must deal […]
SEC Division of Examinations Announces 2025 Priorities
2025 SEC Examination Priorities: A Comprehensive Overview for Investors and Registrants The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has unveiled its examination priorities for 2025, setting the agenda for monitoring compliance and mitigating risks in U.S. capital markets. This annual update informs investors, registrants, and financial institutions about the key focus […]
SEC Adopts Rule to Update Definition of Qualifying Venture Capital Funds
SEC Adopts New Rule Increasing Threshold for Venture Capital Funds The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has adopted a new rule that updates the dollar threshold for a fund to qualify as a “qualifying venture capital fund” under the Investment Company Act of 1940. This rule raises the threshold to […]
Twenty-Six Firms to Pay More Than $390 Million Combined to Settle SEC’s Charges for Widespread Recordkeeping Failures
On August 14, 2024 the SEC announced settlements with 26 broker-dealers, investment advisers, and dual registrants for failures in maintaining and preserving electronic communications. Mark Astarita, a securities defense attorney with Sallah Astarita & Cox, LLC, commented, “We have been telling firms for over a year to review their policies […]
SEC Proposes Joint Data Standards Under the Financial Data Transparency Act of 2022
Streamlining Financial Data: SEC Proposes Joint Data Standards In a significant step towards enhancing financial data transparency, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed joint data standards under the Financial Data Transparency Act of 2022. This move aims to establish technical standards for data submitted to various financial regulatory […]