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

Compliance Alert

SEC Announces 2021 Examination Priorities

On March 3, 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Examinations released their FY2021 Examination Priorities. The Priorities continue to focus on protecting retail investors and assessing ongoing and emerging market-wide risks. The 2021 Priorities reflect a significant shift and increased focus on climate and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) related risks and strategies.

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Regulatory Horizon 2021

Five Reasons to Attend ACA Regulatory Horizon 2021 | Navigating Evolving Risks

There is just one week to go until Regulatory Horizon 2021 | Navigating Evolving Risks, our free-to-attend European based conference for financial services firms is running from 2-4 March. We outline five reasons why this event is worth adding to your calendar.

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2021 Regulatory Reminders and Upcoming Deadlines for European firms

A summary of key tasks for compliance teams with a European presence along with a summary of FCA’s priorities during 2021, our analysis of key regulatory developments, and an outline of longer-term trends.

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RiskMutation™: Spearheading the Operational Response to Evolving Business Risks Following COVID-19

Business disruption, cybersecurity challenges and greater compliance burdens are well acknowledged operational challenges facing hedge fund, private equity and investment management industries. We examine how COVID-19 has heralded sweeping changes to the way financial services firms operate.

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EU and UK Flags

ESMA – Increased Focus on “MIFID II Reverse Solicitation” Rules Following the End of the UK Transition Period

A recent ESMA public statement reminds firms of MiFID II rules on “reverse solicitation”. We examine what this means for firms that provide investment services to retail and/or professional clients from locations outside of the European Union.

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Managing Compliance Concerns in the Wake of GameStop Corp. Stock Inflation

Investors have seen stocks soar to extreme heights driven, in large part, by the concerted efforts of participants in an online forum. These developments create a number of significant risks for investment advisers.

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News

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.

ACA's Celebration of Women's Impact from History to Herstory

ACA proudly joins the global celebration of International Women's History Month, commemorating the remarkable achievements and enduring legacies of women worldwide.

Upcoming events