What are some advantages of working with a dedicated compliance team?
A dedicated compliance firm ensures that your firm is up-to-date with compliance obligations and that your compliance support evolves as your firm grows and its compliance needs change. Working with Compliance Advisor Professionals enables you to be confident in your compliance and prepared for examination so you can better serve your clients.
I’ve received an SEC examination notice. What do I do now?
Don’t panic, but don’t delay; these notices come with tight deadlines for document production. Your compliance consultant should be one of your first calls. They will help to ensure that your documents are organized, complete, and deficiency-free; prepare your key personnel for interviews; and assist in quickly resolving any areas of concern to help your firm have a “clean” exam.
How do I know if my compliance program is actually keeping up with regulatory changes?
Keeping up with regulatory changes can be a full-time job. CAP vigilantly monitors the regulatory landscape for new developments and takes a proactive approach to updating compliance materials. Our consultants also have recurring checklist calls with clients to identify potential issues.
Can you help with SEC or state filings?
Yes. We assist with both SEC and state filings and help keep the process accurate and on schedule. For an annual Form ADV amendment, we prepare a detailed questionnaire, update your disclosures, and coordinate the filing from start to finish. If a material change happens during the year, such as a disciplinary event or new affiliation, we also handle the required interim amendment.
Can you review marketing materials and websites?
Yes. We review marketing materials and websites to help identify compliance concerns before content is published. If you update your website, post performance information, or revise marketing language, we can point out where disclosures, clarifications, or revisions may be needed. Our goal is to help you stay compliant while keeping your message clear and effective.
Do you help with investment advisor registration?
Yes. If you are launching a new RIA, we build your compliance program and guide you through the registration process. This includes your Form ADV, compliance manual, Code of Ethics, and related documents. We also help coordinate IARD access, prepare filings, and respond to regulator comments so you can move forward with clarity.
Do you just give us templates, or is this customized?
Our work is fully customized to your firm. Regulators expect your disclosures and policies to reflect how your business actually operates. If you bill quarterly in advance, your Form ADV and compliance manual should state that clearly. We create documents based on your services, fees, operations, and business model so they are accurate, practical, and better prepared for examination.
Do you provide training for our team?
Yes. We provide practical compliance training tailored to the situations your team actually faces. Topics may include personal trading, outside business activities, advertising reviews, and client complaint handling. The goal is to make compliance understandable, relevant, and easier to apply in daily work.
How early should we start preparing for an exam?
Exam preparation starts with your day-to-day compliance program. If your Form ADV says you review accounts quarterly, your records should show that those reviews are taking place consistently. When your disclosures, policies, and documentation align with your actual practices, examinations are usually more efficient and less stressful.
How involved do we need to be?
You provide the key business details, and we handle the compliance work. If you add a new service, change a custody arrangement, or update your operations, we revise your Form ADV, compliance manual, and related disclosures as needed. You stay involved in important decisions while we manage the execution.
What does CAP actually do?
CAP helps investment advisors manage compliance so they can stay focused on serving clients and growing their firms. Our support includes registration, regulatory filings, ongoing compliance guidance, and SEC exam preparation. If you hire an advisor in a new state, we identify the registration requirements, prepare the filings, and track the process so every step is completed properly. We stay involved to help make sure your compliance program works in practice.
What does working with CAP look like day to day?
Working with CAP is an ongoing relationship. If you onboard a new client type, begin operating in another state, change your fee schedule, or update your services, you can reach out for guidance. We explain what needs to change from a compliance perspective and help you address it efficiently.
What happens if we get selected for an SEC examination?
If your firm is selected for an SEC examination, contact us right away. We help you respond to the document request list, organize materials clearly for exam staff, and prepare for interviews and follow up questions. We also review with you the types of questions the SEC commonly asks so your team can respond with confidence.
What is your approach to ongoing compliance support?
We take a proactive approach to ongoing compliance support. During regular checklist calls, we review real business changes such as new hires, client growth in additional states, and fee billing updates. This helps identify compliance requirements early so issues can be addressed before they become problems. These conversations also help clients stay organized throughout the year.
What makes CAP different from other compliance firms?
CAP offers a consistent team that understands your business and compliance priorities. When questions come up, such as whether an outside activity should be disclosed as an outside business activity, we can provide practical guidance based on your firm’s structure and operations. That continuity helps save time and supports better compliance decisions.
How do we get started?
Getting started begins with a conversation about your firm, your current compliance framework, and the challenges you want to address. From there, we recommend a practical path forward, whether you need registration support, document updates, or ongoing compliance guidance. We then help you move ahead with a plan that fits your business.
If you have questions that weren’t answered here, or to learn more, reach Compliance Advisor Professionals (CAP) at (508) 828-1410, by email at info@complianceadv.com, or contact us online.
