Securities Arbitration is not like any other proceeding Background Arbitration is a dispute resolution process, which is an alternative to the traditional lawsuit in court. Rather than have a matter decided by a judge and jury, participants to an arbitration proceeding have their dispute resolved by an impartial panel […]
Primer
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 […]
Regulation CF Equity Crowdfunding
What is Regulation CF? Regulation CF’s crowdfunding rules are in Section 4(a)(6) of the Securities Act. It allows startups and small businesses to use the internet to raise capital through equity investments from a large number of investors. Regulation CF is available for offerings up to $1 million, giving accredited […]
What is FINRA
FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Association, is the successor to the National Association of Securities Dealers and is authorized by Congress to regulate and oversee the broker-dealer industry, insuring that it operates fairly and honestly. It oversees over 4,000 brokerage firms and more than 600,000 brokers across the country—and analyzes […]
OTC Markets
The over-the-counter market is where securities which do not trade on an exchange are traded. Securities traded on the this market are typically from smaller companies that do not meet the listing requirements from the exchanges. The OTC market is the default exchange for some securities, like corporate bonds. Alternatively, […]
Can The SEC Bring Criminal Charges?
While the SEC has extremely broad investigative and enforcement powers, it cannot file criminal charges. It can, and often does, work with the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office to bring those charges. The SEC and the DOJ often work together, with the SEC sending its more […]
What is a Ponzi Scheme
A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment operation where the operator, an individual or organization, pays returns to its investors from new capital paid to the operators by new investors, rather than from profit earned by the operator. Operators of Ponzi schemes usually entice new investors by offering higher returns […]
Can a Non-Citizen Be An Accredited Investor?
There is no residency or citizenship requirement in the definition of an accredited investor. Many entities and individuals are accredited investors. Rule 501 of Regulation D defines the term. For individuals, accredited investors include: Any director, executive officer, or general partner of the issuer of the securities being offered or sold, or any director, executive officer, […]
Can I Take My Client Information When I Leave My Firm?
When changing firms, and moving between two firms that are part of the Broker Recruiting Protocol, can the broker take client account numbers with her. We get that question a lot. Under the Protocol a broker may take only the client name, address, phone number, email address, and account title […]
Responding to a Wells Notice
By Mark Astarita Being the subject, target, or even a witness in an SEC or a FINRA investigation is not a pleasant experience. As I discussed in my column “When the SEC Comes Calling” a financial professional’s involvement in a regulatory investigation or proceeding is extremely serious, and can be […]