John Ivan

Managing Director

Consulting offers me the chance to combine my experience with the diverse talent of my Oyster colleagues, and tailor efficient, practical solutions for our clients.

John Ivan collaborates with clients on all aspects of broker-dealer and investment advisor compliance and serves as an Expert Witness. John leverages his experience leading both compliance and legal departments for major financial institutions, with a focus on wealth management, brokerage and advisory issues. John served as CCO for Raymond James & Associates, Inc. retail and capital markets broker-dealer, and was head of Compliance for all of Raymond James’ retail and dual registrant businesses including the independent channel. Prior to that, he was Managing Director at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, heading Compliance for its Global Wealth and Retirement Services products and services business. Previously, he was General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Janney Montgomery Scott LLC. John also served in senior compliance and legal roles at Goldman Sachs in New York, and at First Union Securities in Richmond, Virginia.

Expertise

  • Led Compliance for national, full-service broker-dealer and dual registrant’s Retail and Capital Markets and independent channels
  • Led Compliance Integration for acquisitions
  • Designed Target Operating Model and led Compliance department reorganization
  • Enhanced Firm regulatory proactive reputation with overhaul of 4530 Self Reporting process and proactive regulatory business meetings with FINRA, OFR and SEC
  • Rehabilitated Firm compliance reputation with regulators through resolution of firm enforcement and examination matters, and creation of periodic routines with regulators
  • Restructured and enhanced Compliance Department to facilitate strategic business changes
  • Provided consulting solutions for new rules, including Reg BI, Marketing Rule, DOL-PTE, Electronic and Off-Channel Communications
  • Provided consulting solutions for SEC Share Class Selection Disclosure (SCSD) and FINRA 529 Plan Initiatives
  • Retained as industry expert in Supervision Matters in Arbitration and Court
  • Served as Executive Compliance lead on DOL Fiduciary implementation
  • Advised FinTech Firm on AML, Reg S-ID policies as well as other compliance and supervisory issues
  • Led Compliance function for offerings, marketing, secondary market vehicles and referral arrangements
  • Product Platform Expertise: Mutual Funds including ETFs and Alternative Funds, Alternative Investments and Feeder Funds; Managed Solutions – Investment Advisory Programs; Investment Management – Due Diligence, Personal and Institutional Retirement, Capital Markets Structured Notes and Derivatives
  • Partnered with Business and Operations to create Risk Management, Operational/Compliance synergies and New Product functions
  • Overhauled controls including AML/penny stock-microcap fraud and expanded Surveillance to address producing managers, retail complex products and fee-based brokerage

Career Highlights

  • Managing Director – Capital Forensics, Inc.
  • SVP Chief Compliance Officer – Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
  • Managing Director Compliance Executive – Bank of America Merrill Lynch
  • General Counsel/Chief Compliance Officer – Janney Montgomery Scott PLC

Publications & Presentations

Oyster Consulting Thought Content

Publications

  • Off-Channel Communications: How Financial Services Organizations Can Address Regulators’ Latest Target J.S. Held Perspectives, 2023
  • Why FINRA’s 529 Plan Self-Reporting Initiative Matters a Year Later For Participating Firms and For Firms That Did Not Participate NSCP Currents, June, 2020
  • Understanding FINRA’S 529 Plan Share Class Initiative NSCP Currents, February 2019
  • SEC Share Class Selection Disclosure (SCSD) – A New Enforcement Remediation NSCP Currents, March, 2018
  • CAT Implementation Uncertainty Gives Broker-Dealers Strategic Options Investment News, March 2018
  • White Paper: Evolving Role of Compliance Member SIFMA Working Group, March 2013
  • New Suitability Rules Member FINRA Compliance Advisory Group, 2011

Presentations

  • NSCP National Conference Industry Event, October 2023