SEC and Revenue Sharing Enforcement

According to its September 6, 2012 press release, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") settled with two Portland, Oregon investment advisory firms for $1.1 million. At issue was whether investors were harmed due to the allegedly hidden revenue-sharing arrangements in place that may have resulted in a less than neutral basis for recommending certain funds. Neither party admitted or denied the regulator's charges. See "SEC Charges Oregon-Based Investment Adviser for Failing to Disclose Revenue Sharing Payments," September 6, 2012.

The issue of revenue sharing is unlikely to go away, especially with multiple regulators paying close attention now. The SEC had said that it plans to ask more questions about the independence, or lack thereof, that characterizes the relationship between professionals who give advice and the brokers and/or asset managers they use. Mr. Marc J. Fagel, Director of the SEC's San Francisco Regional Office, states that there will be a continued focus on "enforcement and examination efforts" related to "uncovering arrangements where advisers receive undisclosed compensation and conceal conflicts of interest from investors."

 The U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") is likewise investigating whether revenue-sharing arrangements are being adequately disclosed. A few months ago, DOL settled with Morgan Keegan and Co. According to published accounts, monies will be returned to nearly a dozen pension plans by Morgan Keegan for having received a fee in exchange for recommendations it made about hedge fund vehicles. Morgan Keegan will also need to disclose whether it is acting as an ERISA fiduciary. See "Morgan Keegan settles with DOL over revenue-sharing accusations" by Darla Mercado (Investment News, April 16, 2012). 

Given recent court activity, more will be said later on by this blogger about when the practice of revenue-sharing could make sense and when there could be problems.

Source: http://feeds.lexblog.com/~r/PensionRiskMatters/~3/yh6hn54hVyY/

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