GRC Solutions for Mutual Funds, ETFs, and Other Investment Companies

Our Investment Company Practice supports registered investment companies, as well as their advisers and sub-advisers, board of directors, and service providers to help them build, enhance and add controls to their compliance programs to meet Investment Company Act of 1940 requirements and SEC and industry standards.

We offer objective, innovative, and effective compliance reviews and solutions to prepare registered investment companies, as well as their boards, sponsors, advisers, sub-advisers, and service providers, for the rigors of SEC examinations. We provide solutions to assist firms with managing and mitigating related operational, regulatory, and reputational risks.

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Our solutions

Address financial crimes-related threats and regulatory concerns with our team of former regulators and auditors. Our team can support with independent money laundering reviews for mutual funds and transfer agents, AML compliance program reviews, and more.

We offer broker-dealer chaperoning services to non-U.S. asset managers and broker-dealers that seek to market private funds in the United States without registering as a U.S. broker-dealer.

Strengthen your compliance program with our global team of compliance professionals.

Our consultants can provide training on the many topics mutual funds, ETFs, and other investment companies need to comply with, or you can choose to use any of our online modules to train your staff.

Build cyber and operational resilience across your firm with our team of cybersecurity and technology risk experts.

ACA Foreside can sponsor (apply for, obtain, and maintain) an NSCC membership participant number for domestic funds, collective trusts, and foreign funds. Additionally, we can provide guidance to clients and their transfer agents with respect to administration, implementation, and maintenance of funds’ operational policies and procedures.

Gain clarity on your firm’s ESG requirements and build a strong compliance program with our dedicated ESG advisory practice.

Launching an ETF takes the right partner.  We stand ready to advise you regarding the regulatory, financial, operational and distribution requirements of your exchange-traded funds (ETFs). 

Our Fund Officer model provides a hands-on, tailored approach by placing experienced and independent Fund Officers close to the Fund’s Board of Trustees. They are exposed to multiple administrators, counsel, and advisors, and have valuable industry perspective allowing for a better understanding of best practices.

We distribute over $1 trillion of product for over 200 fund families through our broker-dealers and serve as the legal underwriter for registered funds (mutual funds, closed-end funds, and ETFs) and placement agent for private funds.

Liquidity Risk Management Program Support

ACA’s Investment Company practice is dedicated to supporting our clients in navigating the SEC’s liquidity risk management program rule through educational resources and alerts, benchmarking insight, help with program management and development of policies and procedures, annual assessments, and more.

Maximize your firm’s time and efficiency with our technology-powered managed services. Our team can assist with on- and off-site CCO support and outsourced mutual fund advertising and marketing reviews.

Stay in compliance with the GIPS® standards and investment performance rules with the world’s largest team of GIPS standards verifiers.

We can maintain a private-label broker-dealer on behalf of your firm, allowing you to focus on your core business. Our private label broker-dealer offering provides an opportunity for firms to have ACA Foreside own and manage a broker-dealer branded by you and dedicated solely to you as the client.

ACA Foreside can assist with all aspects of your FINRA licensing needs for both registered and private funds.

Build a scalable and resilient compliance program with our ComplianceAlpha® regulatory technology  platform backed by managed services support.

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Who we work with

We provide solutions for the following types of firms.

Business Development Companies (BDCs)

We provide objective, innovative, and effective compliance reviews and solutions to assist business development companies, as well as their boards, sponsors, and service providers — with preparing for the rigors of an SEC examination.

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)

We provide objective, innovative, and effective compliance reviews and solutions to assist exchange-traded funds with preparing for the rigors of an SEC examination.

Registered Investment Companies

We offer diverse compliance review and compliance services, all scalable to individual client needs.

Variable Insurance Products

We help insurance companies and distributors understand and manage these complex compliance requirements and develop and implement the comprehensive, effective risk-based protocols necessary to meet regulators’ expectations.

Solution Spotlight

Investment company compliance solutions

Our team includes former regulators along with former along with former chief compliance officers and senior compliance managers from prominent financial institutions. Our team helps you to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape while considering the complexity of your firm’s unique compliance requirements.

Compliance solutions can include:

  • Adviser and fund policy and procedure customization and development
  • Mock SEC reviews
  • Rule 38a-1 compliance program reviews
  • Enhanced annual adviser compliance program reviews that is specific to Company Act requirements for advisers/sub-advisers
  • Customized focus reviews (e.g. liquidity risk management program, intermediary fees, cross trades, cybersecurity, valuation)
  • Compliance and internal audit testing support
  • Sub-adviser due diligence reviews
  • SEC inspection support
  • Mutual fund distributor reviews and financial intermediary oversight reviews (e.g. FINRA rule 3110, 3120)
  • Independent Consulting Mandate

By the numbers

Our market share

80%

of the top 100 mutual funds (as noted in the Mutual Fund Directory March 2020 ranking data)

Latest compliance insights

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SEC Charges RIAs + Broker-Dealer Firms for Failure to File + Deliver Form CRS

The SEC announced that 27 firms violated the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the Exchange Act, failing to file and deliver customer relationship summaries to their retail investors in a timely manner.

Article
  • SEC
  • Distribution
  • Compliance
London at night

FCA Clears the Way for Potentially Greater UK SPAC Issuance

With a growing European SPACs market and the UK's goal to make London more attractive to compete with other markets around the world, we outline key considerations for firms ahead of new SPACs listing rules coming into force on 10 August in the UK

Compliance Alert
  • Compliance
  • Brexit
  • Managed Services
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Achieving Differentiated Support for Private Equity Firms

Fundraising and compliance challenges are expected to increase for private equity firms in the second half of 2021 into 2022. We speak with Private Equity Wire about why support that blends practical and regulatory advice is becoming critical.

Article
  • Compliance
  • ComplianceAlpha
  • ESG
  • Cybersecurity
  • RegTech
  • Mirabella
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FINRA Amends Rules 5122 and 5123 Filing Requirements to Include Retail Communications that Promote or Recommend Private Placements

On July 15, 2021, FINRA issued Regulatory Notice 21-26 to announce new amendments to Rules 5122 and 5123. Under the revisions, broker-dealers must file retail communications that promote or recommend private placement offerings subject to the rules’ filing requirements as of October 1, 2021.

Compliance Alert
  • Performance
  • Compliance
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Finding Leverage - How Debt Investors are Tackling the Challenge of ESG

With an abundance of optimistic growth projections centered around credit markets, 2021 is predicted to be a banner year for portfolios weighted in private debt. But just how easy is it to incorporate ESG criteria into a private debt portfolio?

Article
  • ESG
  • Compliance
London at night

FCA Business Plan 2021/2: A New Era in Financial Services Regulation in the UK?

The FCA’s Business Plan for 2021/22 is now live, reflecting a major shift in policy objectives and a top to bottom review of the FCA’s own objectives and priorities. We outline the key changes and challenges identified, and what they mean for firms.

Compliance Alert
  • Compliance
  • ESG
  • FCA
  • Managed Services
  • Brexit
  • Mirabella

News

Highlights From the 2024 ACA Conference

As the curtains close on the ACA Conference 2024, the echoes of transformative dialogue and insightful revelations resonate, shaping the trajectory of GRC in financial services.

Cybersecurity Benchmarking Survey Lists Top Concerns and Preparedness Among Respondents

Our annual survey in partnership with NSCP reveals that investment firms overlook AI as a cybersecurity risk and remain wary about SEC cybersecurity enforcement and compliance with new rules

ACA Group Launches Dedicated Practice Group Providing GRC Solutions for Wealth Managers

ACA Wealth sets a new standard in GRC support for wealth managers, providing unmatched expertise and comprehensive solutions to address evolving regulatory requirements.

Upcoming events

Curing Compliance Insomnia: Top 5 Compliance Challenges Keeping You Up At Night

Ever-changing regulation, the threat of an impending exam, and worrying about whether your reps are texting clients are among just a few of the compliance concerns wealth managers face daily. Join us as we address the top 5 compliance challenges for wealth managers and how to mitigate them.

Webcast