Take Note: Adviser Cases on the Rise

The SEC has been exerting its force with the registered investment adviser community this year. Several enforcement cases made public by the SEC have focused on registered advisers and their principals. The cases themselves vary regarding allegations, but the message is clear – investment advisers with weak compliance programs will pay, literally.

A summary of recent cases is below:

Case NameSummary of AllegationsTotal Fines or StatusKey Takeaway
Barclays Capital Inc.Multiple violations in relation to the integration of the Lehman advisory business in 2008$15,000,000Systemic failures resulted from firm not updating its processes for RIA business; relied upon B/D platform for RIA business
TL Ventures Inc.Pay-to-Play and registration violations; adviser associate made political contributions to elected officials while managing funds of pensions the officials influenced; adviser was unregistered$294,894First Pay-to-Play, Rule 206(4)-5 case brought by SEC
Structured Portfolio Management, LLC (and its two hedge funds)Compliance Rule violations in relation to lack of policies and controls surrounding trade allocations$300,000Case involved trading conflict, but only charged with Rule 206(4)-7 violations
Edgar R. Page and Pageone Financial Inc.Fraud in relation to the acquisition of the firm by private fund manager with multiple undisclosed conflictsCase pendingFirm owner/CCO named; investors were told it was just a solicitor relationship with private fund manager
Westend Capital Management, LLCHedge fund fees were overcharged and misappropriated by a managing member$150,000Firm charged with failure to supervise; firm hired compliance consultant proactively upon discovery
Strategic Capital Group, LLC and N. Gary PriceNumerous principal trading violations; best execution violations; fraud in relation to performance advertising$636,290.50CEO/CCO named; best execution violations regarding fixed income transactions with related B/D (mark- ups)
Paradigm Capital Management, Inc. and Candace King WeirWhistleblower case; numerous principal transactions between affiliates; multiple conflicts undisclosed; whistleblower retaliation$1,700,000Weir President of both RIA and B/D affiliate; Whistleblower was firm head trader; conflicts committee for cross-trades insufficiently disclosed to investors and members conflicted

The above cases highlight how crucial it is for advisers to have customized policies and procedures that are properly implemented to prevent and detect potential compliance violations. The Compliance Rule, Rule 206(4)-7, was named in four out of seven cases.