When must an updated brochure be delivered to existing customers of an investment adviser?

  • You must give a firm brochure to each client before or at the time you enter into an advisory agreement with that client. See SEC rule 204-3(b) and similar state rules.

    Each year you must (i) deliver, within 120 days of the end of your fiscal year, to each client a free updated brochure that either includes a summary of material changes or is accompanied by a summary of material changes, or (ii) deliver to each client a summary of material changes that includes an offer to provide a copy of the updated brochure and information on how a client may obtain the brochure. See SEC rule 204-3(b)and similar state rules.

    You do not have to deliver an interim amendment to clients unless the amendment includes information in response to Item 9 of Part 2A (disciplinary information). An interim amendment can be in the form of a document describing the material facts relating to the amended disciplinary event. See SEC rule 204-3(b)and similar state rules.

    Note: As a fiduciary, you have an ongoing obligation to inform your clients of any material information that could affect the advisory relationship. As a result, between annual updating amendments you must disclose material changes to such information to clients even if those changes do not trigger delivery of an interim amendment. See General Instructions for Part 2 of Form ADV, Instruction 3.

    Here is Instruction 3 from the General Instructions for Part 2 of Form ADV.

    Disclosure Obligations as a Fiduciary. Under federal and state law, you are a fiduciary and must make full disclosure to your clients of all material facts relating to the advisory relationship. As a fiduciary, you also must seek to avoid conflicts of interest with your clients, and, at a minimum, make full disclosure of all material conflicts of interest between you and your clients that could affect the advisory relationship. This obligation requires that you provide the client with sufficiently specific facts so that the client is able to understand the conflicts of interest you have and the business practices in which you engage, and can give informed consent to such conflicts or practices or reject them. To satisfy this obligation, you therefore may have to disclose to client’s information not specifically required by Part 2 of Form ADV or in more detail than the brochure items might otherwise require. You may disclose this additional information to clients in your brochure or by some other means.

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    What is the Brochure Rule?

    The brochure rule states that investment advisers and brokers registered under the federal or state authority must provide a written disclosure statement to their client before transacting with them. This statement contains the basic information about the services offered by investment advisors, their terms and conditions. The brochure rule is one of the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for investment advisers. This rule is contained in the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, it is otherwise carried the rule 204-3.

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    How Does the Brochure Rule Work?

    The rule 204-3 or the brochure rule is legally binding to all investment advisers registered by the state or federal authorities. This rule stipulates that an easy to understand material such as a brochure containing the services, terms, and conditions of an investment adviser must be provided to all clients. It is a full disclosure statement in the written form offered to prospective clients. The rule 204-3 also stipulates the time investment advisers must provide the material. There are two ways to provide a full disclosure statement under the brochure rule, they are through;

    • Giving the client Form ADV Part 2A (brochure) and Part 2B (brochure supplement), or by
    • Giving an actual brochure that contains the same information as Form ADV Part 2A and 2B.

    The basic information that a brochure must contain include the following;

    • Background information about the investment adviser or broker.
    • Service terms, fees charged, and available discounts.
    • Referral fees that clients can enjoy if there is any.
    • The types of services the adviser provides.
    • The type of clients the services are offered to and the minimum dollar amount that can be managed.
    • The discretionary power that the adviser holds over the client's funds or custody over the client's securities.
    • Factors that could cause a change in investment policies during the lifetime of an investment.
    • Other brokers or advisers the adviser is affiliated with.

    Generally, the brochure must contain all the needed information about an investment or advisory service needed by clients.

    Who Should Receive a Brochure

    All the prospective clients of a registered investment adviser is entitled to a brochure. The existing clients must also receive a new brochure annually which contains updates or possible changes that have occurred during the space of one year. According to the brochure rule, all new clients must receive the brochure of an investment adviser at least 48 hours before they enter into a contractual agreement with the adviser. Any adviser that fails to provide the brochure is deemed fraudulent and this act is punishable by the SEC.

    Exceptions to the Brochure Rule

    Although the brochure rule mandates investment advisers to issue a brochure containing basic information about the services they offer and other terms and conditions to prospective, there are exceptions to this rule. Registered advisers do not need to give the following clients a brochure;

    • A client in form of a SEC-registered investment company.
    • A client who will pay the SEC-registered adviser less than $500 in a year.
    • A client that receives only impersonal advisory services from the registered adviser.
    • Certain officers and employees.

    When must an updated brochure be delivered to existing customers of an investment advisor quizlet?

    If a brochure or summary of material changes is required, the delivery date is 120 days after the end of the adviser's fiscal year, not 150 days.

    Which statement is true regarding delivery of the brochure to existing customers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940?

    The best answer is D. Under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the investment adviser brochure must be delivered to clients, at or prior to, entering into a contract to provide advisory services.

    What is the minimum time period specified for which an investment adviser is required to maintain the specific records in physical or electronic format?

    All other records must be maintained by an investment adviser for five years (in the investment adviser's principal office for at least the first two years; they may be kept in an easily accessible place for the balance of the five years).

    What are material changes to ADV?

    A material change includes most items disclosed on the Form ADV Part 2A, such as the registered investment advisor firm's services, investment advisory fee arrangements, relationships with related persons and outside entities, changes to advisory personnel, and changes to the organization.