SEC Exam Sweep Exhibits Advisors Overcharging Clients
From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law:
Registered investment advisors (RIAs) are overcharging clients due to inaccurate fee calculations, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The SEC recently released a risk alert that illustrated problems in regard to how advisory firms disclose their fees and subsequently bill clients. Clients suffered financial harm, according to the SEC, due to overbilling of fees, faulty calculations of break points, and incorrect charges to clients.
The SEC also released a risk alert in regard to robo-advisors, who provide digital advisory services. The SEC issued deficiency letters to numerous robo-advisors due to insufficient compliance programs, misleading performance advertising or ineffective portfolio managements. The SEC claims that robo-advisor algorithms often failed to provide suitable investment advice that was in the client’s best interests. The SEC examined nearly 130 RIAs and determined that the typical advisor charges fees based on assets under management (AUM).
Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, regulatory and disciplinary matters.
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