Broker-Dealer & RIA Compliance Support

Broker-dealers and investment advisers operate in a regulatory environment that demands ongoing attention to supervisory systems, policies and procedures, regulatory filings, disclosures, testing, documentation, and evolving regulatory requirements. Effective compliance is not limited to an annual review or preparation for a regulatory examination – it is an ongoing process that must evolve with a firm’s business and regulatory obligations.

The LeGaye Law Group provides ongoing regulatory compliance services to broker-dealers (BDs) and registered investment advisers (RIAs) through a structured Regulatory Compliance Program. Our professionals work with senior management and compliance personnel year-round to help firms implement, maintain, review, and update their compliance programs and address routine regulatory matters as they arise.

Our approach combines regulatory expertise with practical compliance support. The objective is to provide firms with an experienced resource who understands their business, compliance program, and regulatory environment while allowing management to retain responsibility and oversight of the firm’s compliance activities.

Broker-Dealer Compliance Support

Broker-dealers face ongoing FINRA, SEC, state, and other regulatory requirements that affect virtually every aspect of their operations. Our ongoing broker-dealer compliance services are designed to assist management and compliance personnel in maintaining and administering the firm’s supervisory and compliance framework.

Depending on the firm’s business and regulatory needs, our services may include:

• Regular compliance meetings with senior management to address regulatory developments and compliance issues affecting the firm;
• Annual review and testing of internal controls, supervisory procedures, and risk-management processes;
• Periodic review and updating of Written Supervisory Procedures (WSPs);
• Coordination of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) program implementation, review, and testing;
• FINRA and SEC examination preparation and assistance with routine regulatory responses;
• Annual Compliance Meeting materials and compliance training support;
• FINRA Gateway administration, registration monitoring, continuing education needs analysis, and FinPro administration;
• Regulatory filing preparation and monitoring;
• Review of advertising, sales literature, websites, and other public communications;
• Review of gifts and gratuities and other supervisory matters;
• Review and preparation of client agreements, privacy notices, disclosures, representative agreements, intercompany agreements, and other compliance-related documentation;
• Review of selling agreements and other broker-dealer agreements;
• Business continuity, disaster recovery, and succession planning review; and
• Financial and regulatory reporting support, when included in the firm’s engagement.

These services can give management and compliance personnel an additional resource for addressing recurring compliance responsibilities and regulatory issues that arise during the year.

RIA Compliance Support

Registered investment advisers have ongoing obligations regarding their policies and procedures, Form ADV and disclosure documents, Code of Ethics, books and records, advertising, conflicts of interest, privacy, business continuity, registration matters, and annual compliance review.

The LeGaye Law Group provides ongoing compliance support to SEC-registered and state-registered investment advisers. Depending on the adviser’s registration and business model, services may include:

• Regular compliance meetings with senior management;
• Annual review and update of the firm’s Compliance Manual;
• Review and update of the Business Continuity Plan;
• Review and update of the Code of Ethics;
• Coordination and support for the firm’s annual compliance review;
• Review of internal controls and procedures covering gifts and entertainment, client agreements, trading records, personal trading, registration records, advertising, disclosures, privacy, and conflicts of interest;
• Form ADV and brochure review, amendment, and annual update;
• IARD administration and monitoring of registration and renewal requirements;
• Form U4 and other registration-related amendments;
• Testing of Business Continuity Plans, Regulation S-P controls, and other compliance programs;
• Continuing education planning and monitoring, when applicable; and
• Preparation for routine SEC or state regulatory examinations and assistance with related regulatory responses.

For state-registered advisers, ourthe program can also be tailored to the requirements of the jurisdictions in which the adviser and its investment adviser representatives are registered.

Regulatory Compliance Support Throughout the Year

A compliance program should reflect both the regulatory requirements applicable to the firm and how the firm conducts its business. Changes in personnel, products, services, compensation arrangements, technology, advertising, business relationships, or regulatory requirements may require corresponding updates to policies, disclosures, supervisory processes, and regulatory filings.

Our ongoing compliance services are intended to provide firms with a continuing resource for identifying and addressing those issues, rather than waiting for an annual review or regulatory examination to bring them to the forefront.

The LeGaye Law Group also publishes regulatory updates on developments affecting broker-dealers and investment advisers and maintains a regulatory calendar covering recurring industry filing and compliance deadlines. The firm’s current website already supports that positioning through its Legal Alerts and regulatory calendar.

A Practical, Integrated Approach

The LeGaye Law Group combines legal and regulatory experience with hands-on compliance support. This structure enables us to assist firms with routine compliance administration while identifying matters that may require additional regulatory or legal analysis.

Our Regulatory Compliance Program is designed to supplement, not replace, the responsibilities of the firm’s management and compliance personnel. Each client remains responsible for its compliance program and regulatory obligations, while our professionals provide ongoing support, review, coordination, and assistance based on the engagement scope.

Regulatory Examinations and Other Matters

Our ongoing program includes assistance with preparing for routine FINRA, SEC, and state regulatory examinations and with responding to routine regulatory matters within the agreed scope. Matters involving customer complaints, for-cause regulatory investigations, enforcement matters, or significant changes to a firm’s business activities or organizational structure may require a separate engagement or scope of services.