- Form ADV Part 2: Why It’s Important and What It Includes
Form ADV is a comprehensive document that includes essential information about your advisory firm. There are three parts, each of which serves a different function and purpose. Form ADV Part 2 covers disclosure requirements for preparing your firm brochure. This brochure, which must be given to each client, includes information about your firm’s business practices,… read more…
- Guide to Form ADV Part 1: Tips for Advisors
Form ADV is a requirement for new registered investment advisors and existing RIA firms. You’ll need to submit your initial filing and follow up with an updated filing each year. Form ADV Part 1 is where you’ll disclose vital details about your firm, including its legal name, the services you offer, and the ownership structure.… read more…
- What Is RegTech and How Can It Help Your Firm?
One of the most significant ongoing challenges advisory firms face centers on compliance. As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, advisors must be adept at monitoring and anticipating compliance trends. RegTech or regulatory technology aims to meet the needs of growing firms by offering innovative, digital-driven compliance and risk management solutions. Ready to grow your… read more…
- What Financial Advisors Need to Know About Email Archiving
Ensuring compliance with regulatory guidelines is an important task for registered investment advisors (RIAs), broker-dealers and other financial professionals. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) set the standards for compliance, including rules for financial advisor email archiving. And understanding your obligations is critical for avoiding compliance infractions. Want… read more…
- Fiduciary Duty Checklist for Retirement Plans
Meeting the fiduciary duties of a retirement plan is important for both advisors and clients. Fiduciaries have the obligation of serving the best interests of their clients. And a fiduciary checklist can help you meet those legal and ethical standards, manage risks and safeguard the financial well-being of your clients. Ready to grow your client… read more…
- SEC Regulatory Filing Deadlines for Financial Advisors
Registered investment advisors are subject to SEC rules, and there are several important regulatory deadlines to be aware of. These deadlines determine when specific forms must be submitted to the SEC to meet compliance requirements. Are you wondering: When is Form ADV due? What’s the deadline for filing annual cybersecurity disclosures? Below is a list… read more…
- Form 56, Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship
Acting in a fiduciary capacity expands your ethical responsibilities to clients, as you must always act in their best interests. Taking on this role can also add to your paperwork, which may already be substantial if you’re a registered investment advisor (RIA). One document you’ll need to familiarize yourself with is IRS Form 56, Notice… read more…
- Compliance Checklist for Your RIA Firm
One of the biggest challenges for registered investment advisors (RIAs) is keeping up with the wide range of compliance rules they must follow. RIA compliance requirements stem from the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 as well as state-level regulations, covering areas like recordkeeping, written policies and procedures, annual reviews and client communications. Advisors also need… read more…
- Financial Data Protection Laws Advisors Need to Know
Financial data protection laws exist to regulate the way that consumers’ information is managed and shared. Some of these laws are applied at the federal level, while others are state-specific. Advisors who offer services abroad may also be subject to financial privacy laws passed by other countries. It’s critical to know which laws you must… read more…
- Who Is Exempt From Registering as an Investment Advisor?
Understanding who is exempt from registering as an investment advisor can be important for those entering the financial advisory field. The Dodd-Frank Act and SEC regulations outline specific exemptions for private fund advisors, venture capital advisors and certain foreign advisors. Exemptions also apply to various professionals and entities, including lawyers, accountants, teachers, brokers and dealers,… read more…
- Potential Consequences of Breaching Fiduciary Duty
Breaching fiduciary duty can lead to significant penalties, impacting both financial advisors and their clients. Fiduciary duty mandates advisors to act in the best interest of their clients, and violations can result in severe legal and financial repercussions. Penalties for breach of fiduciary duty include hefty fines, restitution payments and potential imprisonment. Understanding the severe… read more…
- Financial Advisor Marketing Compliance Checklist
Financial advisor marketing compliance involves adhering to regulatory guidelines while promoting financial services. Firms must align their marketing efforts with rules set by the SEC, FINRA and state regulators to avoid potential violations. This includes accurate advertising, proper disclosures and compliance with testimonial and endorsement regulations. In December 2025, the SEC issued a risk alert… read more…
- Financial Advisor Social Media Compliance Checklist
Social media can be a powerful way to market your advisory business and connect with your ideal client base. Whether you leverage multiple platforms or just one to promote your brand, it’s important to keep compliance in sight. Knowing what you can – and can’t – post can help you avoid potentially costly fines and… read more…
- Compliance and Risk Trends for Financial Advisors in 2026
Failing to meet compliance guidelines can be costly for your business. The SEC has the authority to impose fines on broker-dealers and investment advisors who fail to comply with recordkeeping rules and other compliance requirements. Your brand reputation may also suffer, potentially costing you clients. It can be challenging for busy advisors to keep up… read more…
- How Much E&O Insurance Costs for Financial Advisors
Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance is designed to protect you from liability claims related to the advice you offer your clients. While the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) does not require registered investment advisors to have E&O insurance, some states do. If you’re required to have coverage, or you simply want to protect your business,… read more…
- SEC Email Compliance Rules for Financial Advisors and RIAs
Email marketing is a great opportunity to connect with clients and nurture stronger relationships. You can blast out the latest news and updates about your firm, share helpful investment tips or offer your opinions on recent market happenings. SEC email compliance rules govern what you can and can’t do when sending email newsletters to clients.… read more…
- Website Compliance Rules for Financial Advisors
A professional website is an instrumental part of a successful financial advisor’s marketing plan. As investors increasingly turn to the internet to search for financial advisors, having an established online presence can be invaluable. Sixty-seven percent of advisors rely on their website as a marketing tool, according to the 2025 Raymond James RIA Annual Benchmarking… read more…
- Client Confidentiality for Financial Advisors
Financial advisors have a responsibility to keep client information confidential. This responsibility is laid out by professional organization ethical standards, as well as by law. Financial advisors can only share client information without the client’s permission in limited circumstances, and must take steps to ensure that client records are safe from outside eyes. Confidential information… read more…
- What Are Regulatory Assets Under Management (RAUM)?
Regulatory assets under management (RAUM) represent the total market value of investments that a financial institution manages for its clients, calculated according to guidelines set by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). RAUM can indicate much about a firm’s size, scope and regulatory standing. It’s also important to note that RAUM and AUM are calculated… read more…
- What Is SEC Form PF?
One of the most important aspects of running an advisory business is ensuring that your firm complies with state and federal regulations. That includes knowing which documents you’re required to submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission. SEC Form PF is a requirement for investment advisors who manage private funds. It’s important to understand when… read more…
- Understanding IRC Section 212 and Advisor Expense Deductions
As an advisor, you might give clients tax advice but it’s also important to know how to handle your business’s tax filing. The Internal Revenue Code includes provisions that allow you to deduct certain expenses related to operating your business. Claiming deductions can help you reduce your taxable income for the year, though it’s important… read more…
- What Is Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI)?
In 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI), redefining standards of professional conduct for broker-dealers and associated persons. The standard, which falls under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, requires broker-dealers to follow the best interests of their clients when recommending securities or investment strategies that involve securities. Adhering to… read more…
- What Are Reportable Securities for Financial Advisors?
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) imposes certain rules on registered investment advisors governing ethical behavior. Rule 204A-1 of the Advisers Act outlines minimum standards for establishing an advisor code of ethics, including the treatment of reportable securities. Ensuring these standards are met is critical for remaining compliant with federal regulations. SmartAsset’s Advisor Marketing Platform… read more…
- How to Find Compliance Solutions for Financial Advisors
Financial advisors may need to find compliance solutions to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements, mitigate legal risks and maintain trust with clients and regulatory authorities. To find a solution, you may start by looking for firms with a track record in providing comprehensive compliance solutions that are tailored to regulatory requirements, or seek recommendations from… read more…
- What Are the IAR Continuing Education Requirements?
Investment adviser representatives (IARs) who provide financial advice to clients now have to complete annual continuing education in a growing number of states. As of early 2026, 22 states plus Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands have implemented rules requiring IARs to perform 12 hours per year of continuing education focused on ethics, products… read more…