The House Financial Services Committee passed Friday a series of financial services bills that would codify actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission on senior exploitation, family offices and another that directs the SEC to study and consider banning payment for order flow practices.
The bills passed the committee en bloc by a vote.
The Financial Exploitation Act of 2021, H.R. 2265, introduced by Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., would codify a SEC no-action letter by amending the Investment Company Act of 1940 to allow a company or agent of the company to postpone a payment or redemption of security, provided they meet certain conditions, when they suspect the request of payment or redemption is the result of exploitation of an elder.
Also passing the committee was the Order Flow Improvement Act, H.R. 4617, legislation by Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., which directs the SEC to study and consider banning or limiting the payment for order flow in the form of exchange rebates or payments from market centers to broker-dealers, conflicts of interest based on PFOF arrangements, and the impact of PFOF on the quality of order execution.
The Family Office Regulation Act of 2021, H.R. 4620, introduced by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., would limit the use of the family office exemption from registration as an investment advisor with the SEC to offices with $750 million or less in assets under management. The bill would also prevent persons who are barred or subject to final orders for conduct constituting fraud, manipulation or deceit from being associated with a family office.
