Industry watchers are keeping a close eye on likely rulemakings this year by the Securities and Exchange Commission that seek to rein in 12b-1 fees as well as custody rule infractions.
In its Regulatory Flexibility agenda, released in June, the agency said it plans to review five rules this year affecting registered investment advisors.
The SEC said its Division of Investment Management is considering recommending that the SEC propose amendments this year to existing rules and/or propose new rules under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to improve and modernize the regulations around the custody of funds or investments of clients by RIAs.
On Friday, the securities regulator brought charges against eight advisory firms for custody rule violations that relate to the audit requirements of the custody rule.
"The custody rule process is well underway," Karen Barr, president and CEO of the Investment Adviser Association in Washington, told me Friday in an interview. "It's not unrealistic" that the agency could put forth a rule in late October or November.
Commenting on the custody rule actions taken by the SEC on Friday, Barr said an exam sweep is often "a sign they're [the SEC is] focusing closely on a rule." IAA has urged the agency to take a "holistic look" at the custody rule, as there are lots of aspects that are hard to comply with.
Amy Lynch, founder and president of FrontLine Compliance, sees the agency tackling 12b-1 fees via a rulemaking on its agenda dubbed fund fee disclosure and reform.
"Both rules [fees and custody] are currently in the works," Lynch told me Friday in an email. The "custody rule may come out first, but fund fees are also important to [the SEC's Investment Management Division] right now. Both rules could come out before year-end."
Melissa Harke, senior special counsel in the SEC's IM division, said Thursday at the annual SEC Speaks conference, held in Washington, that "custody is on the SEC's rulemaking agenda; we are aware of the questions" that the industry has.
The agency's regulation agenda states that it is considering recommending proposed changes to regulatory requirements relating to registered investment companies' fees and fee disclosure.