Regulatory change increases overhead expenses for financial institutions. Regulation Best Interest ("Reg. BI") significantly expands the obligations that broker-dealers owe to retail investors. To assist in navigating these new requirements, the Cabinet produced four new Topic Pages:

Reg. BI was issued as part of a package of new rules and guidance intended to strengthen the obligations that broker-dealers and investment advisers owe to their clients. For additional guidance, see the Reg. BI Topic Page and our recent memorandum.

The two other principal parts of this package are the SEC's interpretation regarding an Investment Adviser's Fiduciary Obligations and the requirement that both broker-dealers and investment advisers send their clients a Form Client Relationship Summary. For additional guidance on this aspect of the rulemaking package, see the Topic Pages on the Investment Adviser Standard of Conduct and Form CRS, as well as our recent memorandum on the subject.

At the same time that it issued the above rules and guidance, the SEC also issued an interpretation of the advisory activities that a broker-dealer may offer as incident to its advisory services without being required to register as an investment adviser. For guidance on this, see the Topic Page on the Definition of Investment Adviser.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.