SEC-REGISTRATION - AN EASY-TO-ACCESS VITAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION

In order for a UK wealth manager or family office to provide their services to US clients (US Persons) living in the US or abroad, they are required to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the US as an investment advisor (SEC). The registration enables the UK SEC RIA to communicate freely with American clients, travel to the US on business without restrictions, and promote their wealth management services on US soil.

Investment advisors generally are regulated by the SEC or state securities authorities. The SEC typically regulates investment advisors (RIAs) that have assets under management in excess of USD 100,000,000. Investment advisors that do not meet this threshold generally are regulated by the states. The SEC registers investment advisor firms but does not separately register individual representatives of investment advisor firms. The states register investment advisor firms, and many separately register individual investment advisor representatives.

Both the SEC and the states may require certain investment advisors to hedge funds, venture capital funds, and other private funds that are not required to be registered (Exempt Reporting Advisors) to instead file reports with them. SEC Registration Form ADV has two parts.

There is no specific level of skill or training required to become “registered” and the information in the brochures has not been approved or verified by the SEC, any state securities authority, or any other governmental body.

TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT FORM ADV PART 1, PART 2, AND PART 3

Part 1 contains information about the advisor's business and whether the advisor has had problems with regulators or clients.

Part 2 sets out the minimum requirements for a written disclosure statement, commonly referred to as the “brochure,” which advisors must provide to prospective clients initially and to existing clients annually.

The brochure describes, in a narrative format, the advisor’s business practices, fees, conflicts of interest, and disciplinary information. Before you hire an investment advisor, always ask for and carefully read all parts of the Form ADV.

Part 3 - Form CRS

Every firm that offers services to a retail investor must file a relationship summary with the SEC and deliver it to each retail investor. A retail investor is a natural person, or the legal representative of such natural person, who seeks to receive or receives services primarily for personal, family, or household purposes.

The relationship summary is designed to assist retail investors with the process of deciding whether to (i) establish an investment advisory or brokerage relationship, (ii) engage a particular firm or financial professional, or (iii) terminate or switch a relationship or specific service.

On June 5, 2019, the SEC adopted Form CRS and new rules, as well as amendments to its forms and rules, under both the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 (“Advisors Act”) and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”).

ADV Part 1 - Table of Contents

Item 1 – Identifying Information

Item 2 – SEC Registration/Reporting

Item 3 – Form of Organization

Item 4 – Successions

Item 5 – Information About Your Advisory Business

Item 6 – Other Business Activities

Item 7.A – Financial Industry Affiliations

Item 7.B – Private Fund Reporting

Item 8 – Participation or Interest in Client Transactions

Item 9 – Custody

Item 10 – Control Persons

Item 11 - Disclosure Information

Item 12 – Small Businesses

Schedule A – Direct Owners and Executive Officers
Schedule B – Indirect Owners
Schedule D – Additional Information

Schedule R – Relying advisors

DRPs

Signature page

ADV Part 2 - Table of Contents (Content may vary)

1. Cover page
2. Material Changes
3. Table of Contents
4. Advisory Business
5. Fees and Compensation
6. Performance-Based Fees and Side-by-Side Management
7. Types of Clients
8. Methods of Analysis, Investment Strategies and Risk of Loss
9. Disciplinary Information
10. Other Financial Industry Activities and Affiliations
11. Code of Ethics, Participation or Interest in Client Transactions and Personal Trading
12. Brokerage Practices
13. Review of Accounts
14. Client Referrals and Other Compensation
15. Custody
16. Investment Discretion
17. Voting Client Securities, Trade Errors and Class Actions
18. Financial Information

ADV Part 3 - Form CRS - Client Relationship Summary

It's main purpose is to provide retail investors with simple, easy-to-understand information about the nature of their relationship with their financial professional including conversation starters and questions to ask.

Where applicable, each brochure provided to clients must be accompanied by a “brochure supplement” that includes information about the specific individuals, acting on behalf of the advisor, who actually provide investment advice and interact with the client. An advisor must deliver the brochure supplement to the client before or at the time that the specific individual begins to provide investment advice to the client.

THE COMFORTABLE WAY TO GET TO KNOW UK SEC RIAS

AW❖UK enables you to browse through UK SEC RIAs and other pro-American wealth management and service providers. UK SEC RIAs are listed alphabetically. You can locate and thoroughly evaluate the background of the UK SEC RIAs you may want to do business with, as part of the evaluation process before you make any decisions.

Listings are according to the information provided in the SEC registration and the ADV Part 2 and ADV Part 3 on the IAPD website.
London
London
London
London