Tr?id=566623520170033&ev=PageView&noscript=1

SEC Warns Financial Advisory Firms Regarding Conflicts of Interest Tied to Compensation

Posted on August 16th, 2022 at 2:37 PM
SEC Warns Financial Advisory Firms Regarding Conflicts of Interest Tied to Compensation

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sent a warning to financial advisory firms that they must go above and beyond solely disclosing conflicts of interest related to employee pay programs in order to avoid regulatory scrutiny.

According to a recent SEC staff bulletin, the SEC is seeking to dissuade firms from taking a “check-the-box” approach to achieve compliance as advisors are being held responsible for identifying, disclosing and potentially eliminating conflicts of interest. The SEC additionally noted that financial advisory firms should closely monitor conflicts of interest that may develop from employee compensation because pay incentives may motivate an advisor to put their own interests ahead of their clients.

According to the SEC bulletin, firms also ought to avoid “compensation thresholds” that disproportionately increase pay via “incremental increases in sales of certain products or provision of certain services.” The bulletin additionally instructed firms to monitor sales and recommendations provided to clients when advisors are approaching thresholds for firm recognition.

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

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, advisors, sec

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

 


It was really fun seeing you fight for us. You have an amazing way of thinking out of the box.


 

Beth M.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1791918358 Law
October 13, 2026
LPL Financial Faces Investor Claims Tied to Former Broker's Outside Activities

LPL Financial faces at least nine pending investor claims involving former El Paso, Texas broker Michael C.

1791818498 Law
October 12, 2026
SEC Targets Companies in Alleged $15 Million Social Media Investment Fraud Schemes

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged entities behind two alleged investment fraud schemes that raised more than $15 million from investors through WhatsApp, Facebook and other online platforms.

1791578435 Law
October 9, 2026
PIMCO Faces Heavy Losses on Philadelphia Office CMBS

Pacific Investment Management Co.