RIA Compliance Program Review | Oyster Consulting

“CCO – Behind the Scenes:” Oyster Stew Podcast Mini-Series

September 17, 2020

Join Oyster Consulting’s Jeffrey Hiller in his new podcast mini-series, CCO – Behind the Scenes, as he shares his vast experience as both a CCO for several global investment firms and Senior Counsel for the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. Jeffrey literally helped write the book on modern regulatory compliance. Being CCO is more than just checking boxes. […]

CCO Behind the Scenes – Episode 2

September 9, 2020

Join Oyster Consulting’s Jeffrey Hiller in his new podcast mini-series, CCO – Behind the Scenes, as he shares his vast experience as both a CCO for several global investment firms and Senior Counsel for the SEC’s Division Join Oyster Consulting’s Jeffrey Hiller in his new podcast mini-series, CCO – Behind the Scenes, as he shares his vast experience as […]

CCO – Behind the Scenes Episode 4

September 7, 2020

In this episode of CCO – Behind the Scenes, Jeffrey Hiller talks about what “Tone at the Top” means, and why it’s important to embed the Compliance Department within the firm. Listen as, during these short discussions, Jeffrey shares his real experiences and lessons learned during his vast experience as both a CCO for several global […]

5 Common Compliance Mistakes

August 18, 2020

When I was a regulator, we would meet each week to discuss the cases being considered for Enforcement referrals. It was surprising how often the same types of cases would come before us. These were not always headline grabbing, but they were avoidable items that came up over and over again. I thought it might […]

Preparing for Modern Regulatory Exams

August 5, 2020

The pandemic has changed how firms operate as offices close and staff work from home. Regulators have also had to change their examination practices to accommodate these changes. In this episode, Oyster Managing Director Ed Wegener, a former SVP and Midwest Regional Director of FINRA, shares his insider views on: the changes in the regulator’s […]

Understanding Risk-Based Regulatory Exams

July 30, 2020

For registered financial services firms, regulatory exams in the past have instilled the gamut of emotions from annoyance to anxiety, to outright fear. Fortunately, much of this could be mitigated with a better understanding of the exam process, the necessity for robust risk assessments, and by nurturing the firm’s relationship with it’s regulatory contact. […]

Protect Your Profits through Compliance, Communication and Education

July 28, 2020

When it comes to compliance, your revenue stream is only as strong as your regulatory and client relationships. Making a million in revenue means very little if you pay a $500,000 fine. How do you protect that revenue? Compliance: Follow the rules and regulations and watch closely to ensure your employees do the same. A […]

To Disclose or Not to Disclose – Is a PPP Loan “Material?”

May 26, 2020

PPP loans, which are intended to support company payrolls during the COVID-19 shutdown, have been a source of great debate in the Registered Investment Advisor space. Are they material? If my RIA applies for and receives a loan, do we have to disclose it as a material event on our Form ADV Part 2A? The […]

More States Adopt Disbursement Hold Regulations to Protect Senior and Vulnerable Adults

April 30, 2020

As the population dynamics in the Unites States moves towards an unprecedented number of baby boomers entering their retirement years, federal and state regulators and FINRA have enacted regulations, examination priorities and enforcement efforts to protect the assets of senior and vulnerable adults. In 2020, the states of New Jersey (April 12th), West Virginia (June […]

Reg BI and Form CRS: Compliance Still Expected by June 30, 2020

April 2, 2020

SEC Warns that “firms should continue to make good faith efforts around operational matters to ensure compliance by June 30, 2020” With so many firms changing how they serve their retail clients during the COVID-19 outbreak, the SEC issued a Public Statement on April 2nd related to Regulation Best Interest (“Reg BI”), and the Form […]

Risk Assessments – Keeping Your Firm Focused

April 1, 2020

Oyster CEO Buddy Doyle and Polly Cordle discuss the importance of risk assessments, especially in today’s volatile financial situation. Included are best practices for creating and maintaining risk assessments, regulatory reporting around risk, and how Oyster Solutions Software makes maintaining and reporting risk assessments easy. Understanding the risk of your organization is the key prioritizing your controls. […]

Form ADV and Form PF Relief: Understanding the SEC’s Exemptive Order

March 23, 2020

The SEC provided an exemptive order this week in response to the COVID-19 event. In limited circumstances, Investment Advisors and Exempt Reporting Advisors will have an additional 45 days from the original deadline to complete and submit their annual filings or material changes. Procrastinators need to understand that there are specific circumstances requirements to meet […]

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Buddy Doyle