SEC Amendments to Investment Adviser Marketing Rule
“Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don’t know which half.”
– John Wanamaker
On December 22, 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted amendments to Rule 206(4)-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (Advisers Act). The amended rule replaces both the current advertising and cash solicitation rules. These amendments are intended to reflect market developments and regulatory changes since the advertising rule’s adoption in 1961 and the cash solicitation rule’s adoption in 1979.
The amended rule contains principles-based provisions intended to accommodate developments in the investment advisory industry, including the role of technology. The amended rule also contains tailored restrictions and requirements for certain types of advertisements, such as performance advertising, testimonials and endorsements, and third-party ratings. Compensated testimonials and endorsements, which include traditional referral and solicitation activity, will be subject to disqualification provisions.
Overview of the Amended Investment Adviser Marketing Rule
1. What are the highlights of the latest Rule 206(4)-1 amendments under the Investment Advisers?
- The final marketing rule will treat some communications and activity as advertisements, which are currently not covered in the current rule.
- One-on-one communications that constitute compensated testimonials and endorsements and certain communications that include hypothetical performance information are included.
- On the other hand, advertisements will continue to exclude:
- communications designed to retain existing investors;
- extemporaneous, live, oral communications; and
- information contained in a statutory or regulatory notice, filing, or other required communication.
- The final rule will apply to certain communications sent to clients and private fund investors; won’t apply to advertisements about registered investment companies or business development companies.
- A set of seven principles-based general prohibitions will apply to all advertisements.
- An adviser’s advertisements will now be allowed to include testimonials and endorsements, subject generally to the following conditions:
- required disclosures;
- adviser oversight and compliance, including a written agreement for certain promoters; and
- in some cases, disqualification provisions.
There are partial exemptions for de minimis compensation, affiliated personnel, registered broker-dealers, and certain persons to the extent they are covered by Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under the Securities Act with respect to a securities offering.
- An adviser’s advertisement may include a third-party rating, if the adviser forms a reasonable belief that the third-party rating clearly and prominently discloses certain information.
- The final rule will apply to performance advertising and will require an adviser to present net performance information whenever gross performance is presented, and performance data over specific periods. In addition, the final rule will impose requirements on advisers that display related performance, extracted performance, hypothetical performance, and predecessor performance.
- There are conforming amendments to the Advisers Act recordkeeping rule and Form ADV to reflect the final rule and enhance the data available to support the SEC staff’s enforcement and examination functions.
- In a change from the proposal, the final rule will not require investment advisers to: (i) review and approve their advertisements prior to dissemination; and (ii) provide a schedule of fees in marketing materials.
- Finally, certain staff no-action letters will be withdrawn in connection with the final rule as those positions are either incorporated into the final rule or will no longer apply.
Read More Information on the Final Rule
The new amendments to Rule 206(4)-1 under the Advisers Act are complex and lengthy. With 430 pages of text to analyze, we segmented the content to provide summary overviews of the various topic areas covered under the amended rule. There is a tremendous amount of content to be absorbed by in-house counsels, compliance officers, marketing staff, and others in the investment management business. Below are links to our other summaries of the amended rule, which we hope you will find useful as you consider the effects of the new requirements on your business practices and compliance programs.
- Summary: SEC Adopts Amendments to Investment Adviser Marketing Rule (Section I)
- Definition of an Advertisement Under the Investment Adviser Marketing Rule (Section II)
- General Prohibitions Under the Investment Adviser Marketing Rule (Section III)
- Third-Party Ratings Under the Investment Adviser Marketing Rule (Section V)
- Compliance Reviews, Form ADV Amendments & Recordkeeping Requirements – Investment Adviser Advertisements (Section VI)
