NASAA Highlights Common Violations by State-Registered Investment Advisors

Posted on October 22nd, 2024 at 1:43 PM
NASAA Highlights Common Violations by State-Registered Investment Advisors

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

State securities regulators took significant enforcement actions in 2023, with many cases stemming from breaches of fiduciary duty and failures to register, according to the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA).

According to ThinkAdvisor, NASAA highlights, that among 16,897 state-registered investment advisors, the leading causes of enforcement actions in 2023 included:

  • Failure to register as an investment advisor or representative
  • Fraud
  • Breach of fiduciary duty and failure to disclose conflicts of interest
  • Non-compliance with existing policies and procedures
  • Violations of suitability rules
  • Fee-related issues
  • Failure to disclose disciplinary actions

The NASAA report emphasizes that most state-registered firms primarily serve retail investors (74%), followed by high-net-worth clients (18.9%). Of these firms, 84.1% offer portfolio management services, and 64.8% provide financial planning services.

State securities regulators oversee firms managing assets under $100 million, and most enforcement actions center on ensuring firms adhere to basic registration and compliance standards.

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

Thank You from the bottom of our hearts for all you have done for us. When we realized this was a very bad investment - we did not know where to turn for help. Then we received your name. When we called you - you were so kind to us and then agreed to help us. For this we are so very grateful. The world would be a much nicer place if there were more people like the two of you in it. We will always remember all the help and kindness you have shown us. Thank you so very very much for everything.

Wayne and Judy S.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

February 26, 2026
The Quiet Crossroads Facing Mid Career Financial Advisors

According to Financial Advisor News, mid life transitions rarely look dramatic in the financial advisory world.

February 26, 2026
FINRA Bars Former Cambridge Advisor After Refusal to Cooperate With Communications Probe

A former advisor affiliated with Cambridge Investment Research has been barred from the securities industry after declining to comply with a regulatory investigation, according to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

February 25, 2026
Advisors Increase Crypto Allocations as Merrill Lynch Warns of Significant Risks

Financial advisors are placing more client assets into digital currencies, even as major firms caution investors about the asset class's volatility and speculative nature.