The Securities and Exchange Commission's Division of Investment Management has released guidance on when advisors should start complying with the new Investment Adviser Marketing rule.
In a recent FAQ, the SEC fielded a question on whether advisors can comply with "some of the marketing rule requirements" before the Nov. 4, 2022 compliance date, which is 18 months after the rule's effective date, "but not comply with others."
The SEC responded: "No. An adviser may choose to comply with the amended marketing rule in its entirety any time starting on the effective date, May 4th, 2021. Until an adviser transitions to the amended marketing rule, the adviser would continue to comply with the previous advertising and cash solicitation rules and look to the staff's positions under those rules."
SEC staff, the IM division said, "believes an adviser may not cease complying with the previous advertising rule and instead comply with the amended marketing rule but still rely on the previous cash solicitation rule."
The new ad rule creates a single rule that replaces the current Advertising and Cash Solicitation Rules.
Advisors, the SEC continued in its response, "are reminded that they should review their compliance policies and procedures in light of regulatory developments, including the adoption of the amended marketing rule."
