If you’re a robo-adviser, chances are you want to create a fully “digital” experience for clients that doesn’t involve sending paper documents. For example, you may want to email clients or communicate with them directly through your firm’s online platform. If you’re going to ditch the paper, the SEC expects you to follow its guidance
So, you’ve decided to launch a robo-advisory firm? Understandably, your first considerations are likely tied to the functionality of your product. Perhaps the final testing of your algorithm is complete, and your attention has turned to how clients will use your product. What will your client interface look like? How will client information be collected?
Even though your firm may be registered with the SEC, a state can impose licensing requirements on individuals associated with your firm who (i) have a “place of business” within the state and (ii) fall within the state’s definition of “investment adviser representative” (or “IA Rep”). These requirements should be met before any individuals begin
No matter what form of investment advisory firm you have, completing Form ADV is a necessity. As a reminder, Form ADV is the form used by investment advisers to register with both the SEC and state securities regulators (see our June 12, 2019 post for more detail). Today’s post deals with the particularities
Before your robo-adviser can accept its first client, it must be registered. Like other investment advisers, robo-advisers have two possible initial registration pathways. They either register with the SEC or they register with the state(s) where they maintain a place of business. Due to the additional complexity associated with state registration, most robo-advisers seek to
All investment advisers must provide advice suitable for a particular client based on the client’s financial situation and investment objectives. Traditional investment advisers usually do this after getting to know their clients through conversations and other forms of direct communication. Robo-advisers, by contrast, must accomplish this through other means. Given this universal duty, it’s important
Thanks for taking the time to check out our first of many blog posts designed to help robo-advisers operate more efficiently, reduce business risk, and comply with applicable law.
To start, when we say “robo-advisers” or “you,” we mean registered investment advisers that use technology to provide discretionary asset management services to their clients through