Regulatory Update

2023 Q1 Regulatory Update: Individuals and Off-channel Digital Communications

May 09, 2023by Tiffany Magri

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In this second of a two-part regulatory update, we review major regulatory actions and fines against individuals in the first quarter of 2023. In this post, we highlight how individuals need to understand the evolving realities of regulatory enforcements and why it’s so important to follow their written supervisory procedures (WSPs) and policies. In part one, we cover the regulatory impacts to firms.

In our previous 2023 Q1 regulatory update, we shared how the first quarter saw regulators get increasingly focused on enforcing the books and records rule. Firms are facing heavier fines and penalties — particularly for off-channel digital communications.

Individual aren’t escaping the scrutiny either.

Get the Q1 2023 Quarterly Regulatory Update.

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The big violations (and fines) of Q1 2023

Hasty social media marketing results in fine and suspension

FINRA fined a registered representative $5,000 and issued a 10-business-day suspension for social media posts on a public Facebook page. The posts included:

  • Performance
  • Investment returns
  • Industry standing
  • Purported successes of the investment club and a separate hedge fund
  • Options-related posts that don’t explain investment risks or warnings that options may not be suitable to all investors

Additionally, the representative failed to obtain approvals for the social media posts through FINRA’s Advertising Regulations Department at least ten days prior to the use of the posts.

CCO on hook for supervisory failures

FINRA fined a CCO $5,000 and suspended her for 40 business days for failure to reasonably supervise the sales practices of two registered representatives. The CCO approved a representative’s recommendation of new variable exchanges to 11 customers. The CCO also failed to investigate red flags indicating that another representative was conducting securities business through an unapproved email account.

Despite being assigned supervisory responsibilities, she did not review or ensure retention of business-related emails despite being advised by FINRA that the representative and office staff were continuing to use the outside email account to conduct securities business.

Firm reportedly fining employees for tarnishing firm reputation

A firm fined $200 million in the SEC’s ongoing off-channel communications sweep exam is reportedly punishing employees responsible for the violations. Ranging from a few thousand dollars to more than $1 million per individual, the penalties are for the misuse of WhatsApp and other messaging applications to conduct off-channel communications for business.

These fines were reported to affect either the employee’s future pay or clawbacks on bonuses already received.

Celebrity sponsorships come with a price

The quarter held several instances of celebrities fined for touting crypto assets on social media without disclosing that they were paid to do so. Penalties and disgorgements range anywhere from $4,000 to $1.5 million.

The SEC has stated that failing to disclose compensation violated Section 17(b) of the Securities Act, which makes it unlawful for any person to promote a security without fully disclosing the receipt and amount of such compensation from an issuer.

Emojis need to be captured and archived

A judge from the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York ruled that certain emojis would be considered financial advice or indicate a return on investment. The court stated that the use of the “rocket ship” emoji (🚀), “stock chart” emoji (📈), and “money bags” emoji (💰) violated security law by misleading the public to expect a financial return on investments in Tweets about NFTs.

Prepare for the rest of 2023

It’s more important than ever for individuals to revisit their fiduciary responsibilities and their firms’ WSPs and policies on digital communications. While it’s understandably important to be able to reach and engage with clients on their preferred channels, individuals need to understand how off-channel communications can create compliance, career and monetary risks.

But that isn’t to say that today’s off-channel communications will forever be off limits. If there’s enough demand from prospects, customers and others within your firm, it may sway your firm’s compliance team to expand their permitted channels. After all, communication trends, habits and technologies are constantly changing.

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Tiffany Magri
Smarsh Blog

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