All posts by Benjamin T. Marzouk

Benjamin T. Marzouk is based in Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP'a Washington, D.C. office. He advises broker-dealers and investment advisers on compliance with federal and state securities laws, including Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and regulations. Mr. Marzouk's full bio can be found here.

Compliance, Enforcement, Standard of Care

The Death Knell for L-Share Variable Annuities?

November 8, 2016 Benjamin T. Marzouk Leave a comment

On November 2, 2016, FINRA announced fines against eight firms, totaling $6.2 million, related to supervisory failures for sales of L-share variable annuities. FINRA has been focused on L-share variable annuity sales, because they are often sold with long-term minimum income riders, which may be incompatible with the higher up-front fees and shorter surrender periods normally associated with the L-share class. Rather than claim that these products were unsuitable for certain investors, FINRA’s enforcement action alleges that firms did not have adequate supervisory systems in place to monitor the L-share variable annuity sales. Moreover, many of the eight fined firms did not have supervisory systems reasonably designed to identify “red flags” related to the L-share variable annuity sales (e.g., the “red flag” of L-shares sold to senior investors with long-term riders).

Industry experts anticipate further FINRA enforcement actions related to the sale of L-share variable annuities, and many firms have gradually been eliminating L-share classes from their fund lineups in response to this recent regulatory scrutiny.

Regulatory

SEC Inaugural Fintech Forum

November 8, 2016 Benjamin T. Marzouk Leave a comment

On November 14, 2016, the SEC plans to hold its first-ever “Fintech Forum” to discuss technological innovations in the financial services industry. Among other things, the forum will analyze the impact of automated investment advisory programs or so-called “robo-advisers,” and the impact of blockchain on the traditional clearance and settlement of security transactions. The SEC has released its agenda for the forum, which includes panel discussions from industry experts and executives from the leading financial technology firms.

Enforcement, Regulatory

FINRA 5110 Enforcement Action. . . A Harbinger of Things to Come?

November 5, 2016 Benjamin T. Marzouk Leave a comment

On November 3, 2016, FINRA issued an enforcement action against a registered broker-dealer for violations related to FINRA Rule 5110, which requires firms to make certain regulatory filings in connection with the public offering of securities. More specifically, the firm replaced the dealer manager of a real estate investment trust offering, and failed to seek or obtain FINRA approval, instead incorrectly believing that they could rely on the prior dealer manager’s FINRA approval. In addition, the firm failed to have adequate supervisory procedures to monitor the limits on underwriting compensation as required by FINRA Rule 5110. FINRA rarely issues enforcement actions for violations of FINRA Rule 5110, so this action may represent an increased regulatory focus on how firms handle and manage the offering of securities.

Regulatory, Standard of Care

Focus on Senior Investors: FINRA’s Latest Rule Proposals

October 20, 2016 Benjamin T. Marzouk Leave a comment

On October 19, 2016, FINRA filed with the SEC a proposed rule change that would amend FINRA Rule 4512 (Customer Account Information), and adopt new FINRA Rule 2165 (Financial Exploitation of Specified Adults). The proposed amendments to FINRA Rule 4512 would require broker-dealers to make reasonable efforts to obtain the name and contact information for a “trusted contact person” for a customer’s account. In addition, new FINRA Rule 2165 would permit (but not require) broker-dealers to place temporary holds on disbursements of funds or securities from the accounts of certain senior investors, as well as other investors with diminished capacity, when there is a reasonable belief of financial exploitation.

This rule proposal fits squarely within FINRA’s recent focus on protecting senior investors, particularly with FINRA’s recent launch of the “Securities Helpline for Seniors,” and should remain a continued regulatory focus moving forward.

Uncategorized

Benjamin T. Marzouk – Contributor

January 1, 2016 Benjamin T. Marzouk Leave a comment

Ben Marzouk is a financial services attorney who advises broker-dealers and investment advisers on compliance with federal and state securities laws, including Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and regulations. Ben represents registered investment companies and investment funds in regulatory matters and helps clients navigate the complex rules governing capital-raising activities, as well as public and private securities offerings.

With a deep knowledge of the financial services industry, Ben’s regulatory experience also extends to anti-money laundering compliance, crowdfunding, and corporate mergers and acquisitions. Ben also advises broker-dealers and other financial services intermediaries on the distribution of a wide variety of investment products, such as equity stocks, corporate and municipal bonds, mutual funds, insurance contracts, variable annuities, and other alternative investment products.

Before joining Sutherland as an associate, Ben participated in the firm’s Summer Associate program in 2010 where he assisted primarily with financial services matters. He previously worked as an analyst for a global consulting firm where he conducted an analysis as part of a large-scale restructuring of the United States Army’s financial branch.