Understanding CRM2: Everything You Need to Know About CRM2

Client Relationship Model Phase 2, known as CRM2, is a regulatory framework put in place to improve transparency for Canadian investors. CRM2 regulation requires the creation, distribution, and access to Account Statements, Annual Reports on Charges and Other Compensation, and Annual Investment Performance Reports. Digital Vault solutions (FutureVault) provide confidence to meet CRM2 regulatory requirements and improve operational efficiencies by automating the distribution of CRM2 documentation to investors and clients.

Introduction to CRM2: What is CRM2?

The Client Relationship Model Phase 2 (CRM2) is a pivotal regulatory framework aimed at improving the transparency and comprehension of costs, fees, and investment performance for Canadian investors (clients of wealth management and financial services firms).

One of the main objectives of the CRM2 ruling is to foster a well-informed and proactive client base by mandating clear, detailed documentation on the investment strategies that have been put in place, and importantly, along with their associated expenses from financial firms and financial advisors.

The Evolution of Regulation and CRM2

The CRM2 (Client Relationship Model – Phase 2) framework is a reflection of ongoing efforts by regulatory bodies to enhance transparency and fairness in the financial services industry. This gradual evolution can be viewed as part of a broader global trend towards investor protection and financial transparency but has specific milestones that mark its development within Canada.

Pre-CRM2 Initiatives

Before CRM2, Canadian financial regulations focused broadly on disclosure but often lacked the specificity required to ensure investors fully understood the costs and performance of their investments. In the early 2000s, as global financial markets became more complex, it became evident that a more structured approach was necessary to protect retail investors.

Introduction of CRM

The first phase, known as CRM (Client Relationship Model), was introduced by the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) in the late 2000s. This phase aimed to improve the relationship between clients and their advisors by enhancing disclosure requirements regarding conflicts of interest and the nature of the advisor-client relationship. However, CRM primarily addressed the qualitative aspects of financial advice without providing much in terms of complete transparency of fees and performance.

Phase 2: CRM2 Implementation

CRM2 was introduced to specifically address these transparency gaps by focusing on the transparency of fees and the performance of investments. The implementation of CRM2 was structured in stages:

July 2014: The first phase required enhanced transparency about the services provided by advisors and associated costs. Firms were required to provide pre-trade disclosure of charges and other compensation related to transactions.
July 2015: The next phase introduced requirements for reporting on investment performance. Firms began providing clients with annual account performance reports that showed not only the raw returns but also how much of an impact fees had on these returns.
July 2016: The final phase mandated detailed reports on costs and compensation. Investment firms had to provide clients with annual reports detailing the total fees paid, itemizing management and transaction costs, and showing how fees affect investment returns.

Evolving the CRM2 Framework

Since its full implementation in 2016, CRM2 has been under continuous review. The CSA has periodically assessed the effectiveness of the regulations, soliciting feedback from both industry participants and investors to identify areas for improvement. These reviews have led to discussions about potential further enhancements, such as improving the clarity and standardization of fee reporting and possibly extending the regulations to cover a broader range of investment products and advice models.

Global Influence and Future Directions of CRM2

CRM2 is part of a much bigger, global movement towards greater transparency and consumer protection in financial services, inspired partly by similar initiatives in the UK and Australia. Looking ahead, Canadian regulators may consider aligning more closely with international standards to address emerging issues like the impact of digital advisory services (robo-advisors) on investor experiences and expectations.

The ongoing evolution signifies a commitment to enhancing the integrity and transparency of financial markets, helping create an informed and confident investor base.

Key Features of CRM2 and Required Documentation

Enhanced Transparency

A hallmark of CRM2 is its drive for transparency in showing investors all costs related to their investments. Firms must now produce statements detailing every fee paid directly by the client or deducted from their investments.

Fee Disclosure

CRM2 compliance requires firms to issue annual reports that itemize all investor-incurred charges, encompassing management and advisory fees, among other costs, which influence the profitability of investments.

Performance Reporting

CRM2 mandates the provision of annual performance reports to investors, delineating the account’s value at the beginning and end of the year, contributions, withdrawals, and the monetary impact of fees deducted. This enables investors to gauge the net performance of their investments post-expenses.

Understanding CRM2 Regulations

Regulatory Bodies

CRM2 falls under the purview of regulatory entities like the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) (bringing the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and Mutual Fund Dealers Association (MFDA) under one roof), which ensure financial firms’ compliance with the stipulated documentation and reporting standards.

CRM2 Documents for Financial Firms

Compliance necessitates the creation of critical documents:

Monthly or Quarterly Account Statements: These statements give a snapshot of the account’s holdings, transactions, and current value at the end of the reporting period.
Annual Reports on Charges and Other Compensation: These reports detail all the fees associated with the investor’s account, including management fees, performance fees, and any other costs incurred over the year.
Annual Investment Performance Reports: These reports offer a comprehensive view of the investment performance over the past year, detailing the opening and closing value of the investment, contributions, withdrawals, and the impact of fees on the investment’s performance.

The Enhanced Role of Digital Vault Solutions

Digital Vault solutions, such as FutureVault, have become instrumental in helping institutions and firms navigate the CRM2 compliance landscape, both from a regulatory perspective and an operational one.

FutureVault’s platform offers a secure, centralized repository for all necessary compliance documents, significantly enhancing operational efficiency through automation. Here’s how FutureVault helps firms meet CRM2 compliance a better advisor-client experience:

Automated Distribution of CRM2 Documents: Digital Vaults (FutureVault) automate the delivery and distribution of CRM2 reports, substantially reducing manual resources, time, and the risk of human error. This automation translates into hundreds of saved hours and resources, enabling firms to focus more on client service and less on administrative tasks.
Secure Storage and Access of CRM2 Documents: FutureVault provides a secure, cloud-based, encrypted environment for delivering, retrieving, and storing sensitive financial documents. With robust encryption and access controls, FutureVault supports regulatory and internal compliance policies to enhance privacy and data security. This also helps firms better meet and comply with recordkeeping and document retention requirements.
Streamlined Compliance and Auditing Process: By centralizing the document handling in a single source of truth for all enterprise, advisor, and client documentation, FutureVault delivers massive compliance oversight and streamlines the internal and external audit process. Regulatory bodies can be granted controlled permissions to access and review necessary documents, and the associated real-time digital audit trail, making it easier for firms to demonstrate compliance with CRM2 regulations.
Enhanced Advisor-Client Engagement: With FutureVault’s white-labeled Client Life Management Vault™, institutions and firms can provide seamless access to financial reports for clients, promoting transparency and trust. Not only will clients have 24/7, on-demand access to documents required with CRM2, but they’ll also be able to secure retrieve, access, and share all of the other critical information and documents from their firm and/or advisor.

By integrating Digital Vault solutions like FutureVault, firms and advisors not only streamline their operational delivery of CRM2 reports but also significantly elevate their compliance and client engagement strategies entirely. This creates a clear path to differentiation and creates a moat to maintain, grow, and scale across the enterprise.

Conclusion: Streamlining CRM2 with FutureVault

CRM2 signifies a major advancement in investor protection and transparency within Canada’s financial and investment industry. By requiring detailed documentation and reporting, CRM2 ensures investors have the necessary information to make educated decisions.

Digital vaults play a critical role in CRM2 compliance by providing a secure and efficient way to store, manage, and importantly, automatically deliver required documentation. By automating the generation, distribution, and storage of CRM2 reports, FutureVault is saving firms hundreds to thousands of hours in both back, middle, and front office resources and workflow.

FAQs

1. What specific types of documentation are required under CRM2?

Under CRM2, financial firms and advisors are required to provide investors with several key pieces of documentation to enhance transparency and understanding of their investments. These include:

Monthly or Quarterly Account Statements: These statements give a snapshot of the account’s holdings, transactions, and current value at the end of the reporting period.
Annual Reports on Charges and Other Compensation: These reports detail all the fees associated with the investor’s account, including management fees, performance fees, and any other costs incurred over the year.
Annual Investment Performance Reports: These reports offer a comprehensive view of the investment performance over the past year, detailing the opening and closing value of the investment, contributions, withdrawals, and the impact of fees on the investment’s performance.

2. How do CRM2 regulations impact the fees charged?

CRM2 regulations impact fees by mandating complete transparency regarding any and all fees charged to the investor. This doesn’t necessarily lower the fees but ensures investors are fully informed about what they are being charged for and how these charges affect their investment returns. With this information, investors can make more informed decisions about their investments and potentially negotiate better fee arrangements or choose more cost-effective investment options.

3. How does CRM2 improve investment decision-making?

CRM2 improves investment decision-making by ensuring that investors have access to detailed information regarding the costs and performance of their investments. With annual reports on charges and compensation and investment performance reports, investors can see exactly how their investments are performing and how fees impact their returns. This level of transparency empowers investors to evaluate their investment strategies more effectively, ask informed questions, and make adjustments to their portfolios to better align with their financial goals.

4. What is the role of Digital Vaults in CRM2 compliance?

Digital vaults play a critical role in CRM2 compliance by providing a secure and efficient way to store, manage, and share the required documentation. By automating the generation, distribution, and storage of CRM2 reports, Digital Vaults like FutureVault is saving firms hundreds to thousands of hours of back, middle, and front office resources and document workflow processes.

Digital Vaults ensure that all documentation is kept safe, secure, and accessible to authorized parties, including investors, financial advisors, and regulatory bodies, thus facilitating compliance with CRM2 regulations and enhancing operational efficiency.

5. Can CRM2 affect the relationship between investors and financial advisors?

Yes, CRM2 can significantly affect the relationship between investors and financial advisors, generally in a positive way. By requiring detailed disclosures about fees and investment performance, CRM2 fosters a more transparent and trust-based relationship. Investors who are better informed about their investments and the fees they are paying can have more meaningful conversations with their advisors. This can lead to a deeper understanding of investment strategies, more personalized advice, and ultimately, more effective financial planning. Enhanced transparency and communication can strengthen the investor-advisor relationship, building greater trust and confidence.

The Financial Advisor of the FutureVault - Advisor 3.0

The Financial Advisor of the Future: Are You Ready?

The role of the modern financial advisor as we know it is evolving–and for the better.

McKinsey & Company analysts suggest modern financial advisors will become “more like integrated life/wealth coaches who advise clients on investments, banking, healthcare, protection, taxes, estate, and financial wellness needs more broadly.”

No longer limited to investment-only advice, the modern advisor offers a more comprehensive understanding of clients’ financial lives and even well beyond the “financial” relationship.

In fact, many “modern” financial advisors are already there and are already winning over the hearts and minds of their clients by doing so. And frankly, those who are not committed to this or those who are not at the very least rethinking their approach to advice, are putting themselves at a disadvantage.

The $84.4 trillion Great Wealth Transfer–or better yet, Great Relationship Transfer–is here and is certainly a driving force accelerating the financial services industry into a new era of relationships and client service.

What we’re seeing play out in real-time certainly feels like the approach to “advice” we expected (and many would hope) would come one day, where the advisor’s role extends far beyond traditional investment advice: paving the road to success for advisors who embrace a truly comprehensive and embedded approach to multi-generational wealth, health, and client life management.

The Family-Office Service Model

One trend shaping the future of financial advice is the adoption of the family-office service model by modern firms. This model, while historically reserved for the ultra-wealthy, is now being democratized and offered to a broader audience. In the past, the family office service model was used to provide a ‘full suite’ of financial planning services to ultra-high net worth clients. For example, the family office advisor might offer tax planning, charitable distributions, estate planning, and/or succession planning within the network of experts at the firm (such as lawyers, accountants, financial planners, etc.).

Modern financial advisory firms, including Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), are increasingly adopting a white-gloved family office service model for several compelling reasons. This approach is not only redefining the value proposition they offer but also significantly enhancing the experience and outcomes for both the firm and its clients. Here’s an overview of the key drivers and benefits:\

For the Firms and Advisors:

Differentiation in a Competitive Market: Offering a family office service model allows firms to differentiate themselves by providing a high-touch, bespoke service that appeals to high-net-worth individuals and families.
Increased Client Retention: By addressing the comprehensive needs of clients, advisors can foster deeper relationships, enhancing client loyalty and retention.
Opportunity for Growth: This model opens avenues for targeting a more affluent clientele, potentially increasing the assets under management and enabling the firm to grow its market share.
Enhanced Advisor Engagement: Advisors often find greater job satisfaction in delivering comprehensive services that have a meaningful impact on clients’ lives, leading to higher engagement and retention of talent within the firm.

For the Clients:

Comprehensive Wealth Management: Clients receive comprehensive management of their wealth, including investment management, estate planning, tax strategies, and more, ensuring all aspects of their financial life are cohesively managed.
Customized and Personalized Service: The white-gloved approach means services are tailored to the unique needs and preferences of each client, offering a level of personalization that goes beyond standard advisory services.
Time Savings and Convenience: By consolidating various financial services under one roof, clients save time and effort, making wealth management more convenient and efficient.
Peace of Mind: Knowing that all aspects of their financial life are being attentively managed by professionals provides clients with significant peace of mind.
Intergenerational Planning and Support: This model facilitates the planning and management of wealth across generations, ensuring that the wealth transition is smooth and aligned with the family’s values and goals.
Access to a Broader Range of Expertise: Clients benefit from access to a wide range of specialists within the firm, from tax advisors to estate planners, providing a level of expertise that is difficult to match individually.

The shift towards a family office service model signifies a profound evolution in the financial advisory landscape, driven by the desire to offer unparalleled service and value to clients while also securing a competitive edge and fostering growth for the firms and advisors.

The Emergence of Advisor 3.0

With the growth of the family office style and a more integrated, comprehensive approach to advice, more advisors are gradually moving towards this new paradigm that many in the industry are referring to as “Advisor 3.0.” This evolution comes as a response to the growing demands of clients for a more comprehensive, personalized service that addresses all facets of their financial lives.

The Great Relationship Transfer

The significance of the ‘Advisor 3.0’ shift becomes even more pronounced in the context of the Great Wealth Transfer. As baby boomers retire, they pass on more than $84.4 trillion to subsequent generations. This epochal event, which I prefer to term the Great Relationship Transfer, presents a monumental challenge and a golden opportunity: for financial advisors who navigate this transition successfully, there is a competitive edge. By adopting the integrated life/wealth advisory model and meeting the needs of younger clients as well as older ones, these advisors will not only inherit the assets but also the trust and loyalty of the next generations.

Let’s not forget that this also marks a time in history where a significant amount of advice-givers and professionals are exiting the industry, and so the challenges (and opportunities) with advisor succession planning are also largely at play here, too.

The FutureVault Perspective: Client Life Management

Our team at FutureVault firmly believes that the concept of Client Life Management is pivotal to the success of the modern advisor. This approach enables advisors to engage with clients at every stage of their journey, from onboarding through to legacy planning and beyond.

Using a Digital Vault makes financial information, data, and documents central for the client: all their relevant documents, in one safe place. This sets a firm foundation for the client service relationship, as advisors can now address the entirety of the client’s financial, business, and personal life.

It also allows clients to relax knowing their documents, and all of the decisions that go along with them, are safe. Living and working in cluttered spaces can cause stress and anxiety, according to the American Psychological Association. It’s reasonable to suggest financial clutter might operate in the same way.

By addressing the entirety of a client’s financial, business, and personal life (plus keeping it organized and safe) advisors can forge a deeper, more meaningful relationship. This comprehensive engagement strategy serves as a digital moat, enhancing the firm’s competitive position by fostering trust, expanding influence across family members and generations, and ultimately, creating a highly referable business.

The value proposition of adopting a Client Life Management perspective is clear. It allows advisors to become indispensable, guiding clients through life’s complexities with sage advice and integrated solutions. This not only elevates the advisor’s role, it also solidifies their position as a trusted partner across generations.

What is the Long-Term Outlook for Financial Advisors?

The future of financial advisory lies in the ability to build and maintain loyalty not just with the current generation of clients, but with their successors as well. This requires a shift in both mindset and practice as advisors begin embracing a more comprehensive approach to client engagement.

By integrating services that encompass all aspects of a client’s life, health, and wealth – taking care of ‘the little things’ as well as steering them towards major financial goals – advisors can create a sustainable competitive advantage. They listen. They care. Most importantly, they take care of the details, for everything from retirement plans to this year’s taxes. This strategy enables the establishment of deep, lasting relationships that transcend mere financial transactions, fostering loyalty that spans generations.

The Role of Technology and Personalization

Technology plays a crucial role in facilitating this transformation. Advanced digital tools and platforms are now available to enable advisors to deliver personalized, comprehensive service models efficiently and effectively. These technologies give advisors access to actionable insights, data, and valuable information (including their documents) across a wide array of client needs, from tax planning and estate management to medical and healthcare planning.

By leveraging best-of-breed technologies, including Digital Vaults, alongside their human expertise, advisors can enhance their value proposition, offering solutions that are both sophisticated and highly tailored to each client’s unique circumstances.

Conclusion

As we look to the future, it is evident that the role of the financial advisor isn’t just evolving; it has already evolved.

In embracing this new role, advisors will not only ensure their own success but also secure the financial well-being and fulfillment of their clients across generations. The future beckons with promises of deeper relationships, enhanced trust, and unprecedented opportunities for growth.

Are you ready to meet the challenge?

The Great Relationship Transfer - Thinking Beyond the Assets and Wealth

The Great Relationship Transfer: Thinking Beyond Assets

$84 trillion in assets…

That’s how much wealth will be transferred from one generation to the next by 2045 according to Cerulli Associates.

This transfer of wealth – The Great Wealth Transfer – marks the largest transfer of wealth in history.

Yet, there’s so much more at play here than the wealth part.

With this transfer of wealth, comes an evolutionary shift in the framework of advice, financial planning, and how wealth professionals engage with their clients.

Perhaps most importantly, though, is that this transfer of wealth boils down to one key thing; relationships.

Relationships with existing clients and building, nurturing, and investing in relationships with the next generation.

This is exactly why we need to flip our thinking and approach on its head. Leading with wealth seems far too ‘transactional’ given what’s on the line here.

It’s time to shift our thinking from The Great Wealth Transfer to The Great Relationship Transfer.

A relationship-led approach forces us to re-evaluate client engagement strategies and existing service models. This approach advocates for a comprehensive and hyper-personalized multi-generational interaction paradigm, where attention is not solely on the primary wealth holder but extends to younger generations and non-conventional stakeholders.

A 2020 McKinsey & Company report underscores this evolving role of financial advisors, envisioning them as holistic life/wealth coaches who guide clients across a spectrum of needs including investments, banking, healthcare, taxes, estate planning, and broader financial wellness by 2030. This reimagined role places dialogue and education at the heart of financial advisory, highlighting the critical importance of building strong, enduring relationships.

We are already seeing a MASSIVE shift towards this “advisor 3.0” and it is clearly evident in the emergence of new service models across the industry, and notably the delivery of white-glove, family-office offerings, in addition to the shift we’ve seen toward fee-based billing and advice-led models over that of traditional AUM.

Today’s modern wealth professional excels in navigating the complex relational dynamics associated with decisions and behaviors well beyond “finance”, transitioning from traditional advisory capacities to becoming facilitators of meaningful dialogue, understanding, and trust.

This is a very consistent view from our team when it comes to Digital Vaults and how Client Life Management positions the modern advisor to thrive by being relevant and instrumental through the entire relationship with a client – from onboarding and engaging all aspects of a client’s financial, business, and personal life to wealth transfer strategies, legacy planning and establishing relationships with G2 and G3.

This level of value and engagement adds a competitive business alpha — a digital moat strategy — to your firm where you can engender more trust, access additional family members or centers of influence, and develop a highly referable business. It is really about creating an environment where you are building loyalty across a family, across generations.

This is The Great Relationship Transfer.

7 Wealth Transfer Strategies to Win Over the Next Generation - FutureVault

7 Proven Strategies to Win at The Great Wealth Transfer

Understanding The Great Wealth Transfer

The Great Wealth Transfer refers to the intergenerational transfer of wealth and financial assets that is currently underway in the United States, Canada, and other nations, with the baby boomer generation leaving behind (“transferring”) significant amounts of wealth and assets to their heirs (spouses, children, and grandchildren).

Who will benefit from The Great Wealth Transfer?

The heirs and recipients that will benefit from The Great Wealth Transfer will primarily include members of Gen X (those born between 1965 and 1980), Millennials (1981-1996) and Gen Z (1997-2012).

According to Cerulli Associates, wealth transferred through 2045 will total an estimated $84.4 trillion. More than $53 trillion of this amount is estimated to be transferred from households in the Baby Boomer generation, representing a whopping 63% of all wealth transfers.

Perhaps more significant, or alarming, is that more than 70% of heirs to this wealth are likely to fire or change financial advisors after inheriting their parents’ wealth. On the high end, we’ve seen this number be quoted as high as 88%.

This has massive implications for how firms approach all areas of their business, including technology, to engage with and attract the next generation of investors and clients. Not to mention that the majority of advisors are not prepared to engage with the next generation; some of them, not in the slightest.

This impending challenge also presents a real opportunity for firms and advisors to demonstrate their value and cement trust across generations.

How can I prepare my firm, our advisors, and our clients for The Great Wealth Transfer?

The 84.4 trillion dollar question.

Given what we know about The Great Wealth Transfer, including expectations of the current and future generations of clients, there are undoubtedly proven strategies to help prepare firms, advisors, along with clients and family members. These strategies include aligning values and business practices, implementing a Client Life Management digital vault, engaging with the spouse, holding family meetings, and so much more.

Below are seven proven wealth transfer strategies that will help firms and their advisors better engage with clients and family members to win The Great Wealth Transfer.

7 Proven Wealth Transfer Strategies to Win Over the Next Generation

Based on countless conversations with firms, advisors, industry experts and consultants, in addition to reviewing and familiarizing ourselves with surveys and reports, we’ve identified the below 7 tried-and-true strategies to engage with and improve chances of retaining the next generation as clients.

1. (Re)Aligning Business Values, Practices, and Resources

First and foremost, wealth management firms (wirehouses, credit unions, IBDs, RIAs, Family Offices, you name it) and financial advisors absolutely must to take a step back to realign their business values and ensure that they meet the values and goals of this next generation.

There are four critical areas that your firm should be evaluating and re-evaluating on an ongoing basis.

1. ➜ Business Processes
2. ➜ Communication Channels
3. ➜ Engagement and Service Models
4. ➜ Human Resources

Of these four areas, what we’ve found is often very overlooked is human resource allocation.

The question to ask yourselves internally is, “Do we have the right staff and advisors to effectively engage with the next generation?”.

Recently, our team met with a mid-sized RIA, who openly acknowledged that their firm felt they were unequipped to adequately engage with the next generation. As a result, they ended up hiring two young, up-and-coming associate advisors who had much more in common with their younger clients and soon-to-be clients. These next-gen advisors are now responsible for much of the wealth transfer conversations wherever and whenever the next-gen is involved and for any young prospective clients that are interested in working with the firm.

While there may be several examples like the above taking place across the industry, it really still is a topic that needs to be talked about.

In fact, one of the key takeaways from FinancialPlanning.com’s recent research on Wealth Transfer Strategies, highlights the importance of a “fresh face”, stating that firms need to hire young advisors who can appeal to younger clients.

According to the study, only 13% of smaller firms are deploying this strategy, versus 50% of the larger firms. One advisor (from an RIA) referenced in the report said that “not having enough young advisors” had prevented their firm from attracting and serving more young clients.

2. Intergenerational Continuity Planning

An intergenerational continuity plan is a comprehensive financial plan outlining how a family’s wealth will be managed and transferred to soon-to-be heirs and future generations.

This plan provides a detailed roadmap for managing and transferring wealth that aligns with the family’s goals and objectives.

Creating and maintaining an intergenerational continuity plan not only helps to retain assets, but importantly facilitates the transfer of knowledge, expertise, and critical information to family members, and in doing so, to Advisors as well.

It’s really the information, data, and documentation that is foundational to everything and paves the way for pieces of the plan to come together.

This is exactly why having a structured information management plan (and a digital vault, notably) in place and providing family members with access to this information is one of the biggest components of any continuity and succession plan.

Below are the 5 key “steps” or components of an Intergenerational Continuity Plan:

➜ Understand clients’ goals and objectives

➜ Involve key family members (and Trusted Advisors)

➜ Develop the intergenerational plan

➜ Educate clients and the next generation

➜ Monitor, review, and adjust the plan

3. Hosting Multi-Generational Family Meetings

Family Meetings are a tried-and-true approach that plays an incredibly important role in helping advisors create an intergenerational continuity plan while making sure that the plan is maintained.

Family Meetings, when done right, should encourage necessary family members to participate in discussing critical areas such as goals and values, transfer strategies, legacy and estate discussions, family assets and wealth, and more.

The benefits you gain from hosting family meetings speak for themselves:

➜ Retention of relationships and assets;
➜ A better understanding of family dynamics and information;
➜ Building generational trust;
➜ Increasing the value of your practice and preparation for your own succession planning as an advisor

Advisors in financial services and wealth management have a unique opportunity to foster meaningful family discussions and ensure smooth wealth transitions by following the below 6-step “blueprint” to hosting Family Meetings:

➜ Preparation

➜ Creating a safe environment for the family

➜ Establishing the family’s goals and their values

➜ Educate and empower clients and the next generation

➜ Develop the Wealth Transfer Plan

➜ Ongoing documentation and review

As you’ll see, Intergenerational Continuity Planning and Family Meetings have a lot of overlap. To maximize your output and return, these two should be carried out in tandem as part of the overall strategy.

An important consideration and takeaway: Your role as the Advisor in these Family Meetings is not to hijack them or focus on your agenda — you are acting as the family’s Trusted Facilitator. It is your job to facilitate the conversation, to make everyone feel comfortable, and to encourage dialogue and participation from family members that will ultimately serve to help everyone in the family better understand the dynamics that will lead to a successful wealth transfer.

Yes, Family Meetings can be a lot of work. But the reward is invaluable.

4. Engage with the Spouse

Do you or does your firm have any sort of relationship with your clients’ spouses at all?

Unfortunately, the majority would answer no to this question.

The spouse is frequently overlooked and often excluded from the overall financial picture and relationship with the family’s financial advisor. This oversight can be detrimental to the overall well-being of the family’s financial situation — and for several reasons. One of the most critical reasons is that neglecting the spouse’s involvement can result in an incomplete understanding of the family’s financial dynamics and overall goals, leading to incomplete and less-than-ideal planning.

Including the spouse in things such as quarterly or annual meetings and plan, reviews is key for firms and advisors to build trust and maintain long-term relationships with the family. By recognizing the spouse’s role and actively engaging them in the financial planning process, advisors demonstrate a commitment to the family unit, fostering a sense of inclusivity and collaboration. This approach not only helps ensure that all stakeholders are heard and understood but also provides a comprehensive view of the family’s financial objectives, enabling advisors to tailor their strategies more effectively.

When in doubt, look for opportunities to deepen relationships and establish trust. What we’ve seen is that client appreciation events can make for a great way to encourage participation and meet additional family members. Hint: make these events about your clients, not your firm.

5. Engage with and Educate Clients (and the Next Generation)

Fact: Lack of communication and engagement is the number one reason clients leave their Wealth Advisors.

Basic financial literacy and education build trust, lead to financial wellness, and importantly, go the extra distance with the next-gen.

But it’s not just any type of communication and ”education” that clients crave and seek, it needs to be tailored. It needs to be specific and personalized. And it needs to be relevant to them, to their current and future lifestyle.

When it comes to the top advisors and top firms, they’re active — they’re using digital channels to communicate several times a month with their clients and with their prospects.

A really important takeaway here is to think about how your firm is currently communicating with clients and to ask if there is an opportunity for more or rather, better, education that will help clients understand certain topics and then essentially bring them back to you.

When you’re discussing this internally, approach it with a general framework of the ‘3 C’s’:

Content that you’re delivering

Channels that you’re communicating on (email, social, text); and

Cadence — how frequent is this communication and does it reflect or align with your client’s goals

If you’re looking for support and technology to empower your comms and marketing engagement, there are lots of partners available to help. Fresh Finance provides a robust library of affordable educational content for events and ongoing communications, and ReachStack provides an easy way to deliver the right content to the right person at the right time.

These programs deliver real impact for existing clients and importantly, for the next generation. Here’s a recent article showing the impact these programs can have for Wealth Management firms.

6. Deliver Tax-Efficient Solutions

Households are expected to transfer ~$85 trillion to their heirs and charities by 2045.

As a result of the massive amounts of wealth transferring and being passed down generations, tax efficiency is becoming increasingly important given most of the wealth is held by older, high-net-worth (HNW) investors and will likely be subject to more expansive taxes in the coming decade.

Firms that can remain on the cutting edge of complex planning and wealth structuring solutions will be invaluable to clients as taxation becomes a more pressing worry. And here’s what this looks like:

➜ Minimizing tax liability: High net-worth families often have a substantial amount of assets and wealth, and without careful planning, a large amount of their wealth could very easily be eroded by taxes. When you’re focused on tax efficiency, you can help families mitigate their tax liability and preserve more of their wealth for future generations.
➜ Maximizing wealth transfer: Effective tax planning enables high-net-worth families to transfer their wealth to heirs and beneficiaries in the most efficient manner. This one really boils down to beneficiaries receiving the maximum benefit.
➜ Preserving family legacy: Wealth transfers involve passing on financial assets AND family legacies, values, and aspirations. By implementing tax-efficient strategies, you can help protect and preserve the family’s legacy for future generations, ensuring their goals and values are upheld.
➜ Enhancing financial security: Really what we’re talking about here is mapping out strategies to reduce tax burdens — meaning families can allocate more resources towards investments, trusts, and other financial vehicles that can generate income and support the long-term financial well-being of the family.
➜ Mitigating disputes and conflicts: Estate planning and wealth transfers can sometimes lead to conflicts and disputes among family members. By incorporating tax efficiency into the overall planning process, advisors can help minimize potential disagreements and disputes that may arise due to unequal tax burdens or inefficient transfer structures.
➜ Complying with legal and regulatory requirements: Tax laws and regulations are complex and subject to frequent changes. Advisors who prioritize tax efficiency stay updated with the latest tax laws and compliance requirements, ensuring that wealth transfer strategies are aligned with legal frameworks and minimize the risk of potential penalties or legal complications.

7. Leverage Best-of-Breed Technology

Having the right tools and technologies in place is a game changer for everyone; the firm, advisors, your existing clients, and especially for the next generation.

When considering best-of-breed technologies to assist with wealth transfer conversations and engaging the next generation, there are a few key things to keep in mind:

Consider technologies that make it easy for the family to access and manage critical information, data, and documents.

Consider platforms that offer mobile experiences (applications). This next generation isn’t just digital-first, they are mobile-first.

Consider how the experience you deliver is seamlessly integrated and connected – every bit of interaction counts.

In fact, a survey and study published by Deloitte found that 51% of financial advisors are thinking about leaving for an organization with better tech tools.

The alarming reality is that 50% of your staff and advisors could hand in their resignation tomorrow all because they do not have access to the best technology, tools, and resources.

Technology matters.

To your Back Office.

To your Advisors.

To your clients.

And you better believe it matters to the next generation.

Investing in best-of-breed solutions isn’t just a “technology” investment — it’s a people, culture, and overall strategic business investment for today and for the future.

Key Consideration: Leveraging a Digital Vault as a Major Piece to Connect the Dots

Having everything centralized in one place is not only a huge time-saving benefit for your clients and their next-gen, but it’s also a massive value to your firm and other trusted professionals.

A well-structured digital vault can serve as a central repository for all of the important documents and information that clients and their families need to access in the event of a change in circumstances, such as the passing of a family member, a liquidity event for the family, or the retirement of an advisor.

We’re really seeing how a secure digital document vault serves as the single source of truth for all data, information, and documents for the family while providing a secure and efficient way to engage and connect with other family members, centers of influence, and trusted advisors (lawyers, planners, accountants, etc).

Imagine the time and money families, your client’s family, can save during the estate settlement process with a structured and secure digital vault, where traditionally, locating critical paperwork and having access to information has been one of the most time-consuming and costly exercises, leading to massive financial burdens.

Importantly, a digital vault goes well beyond a simple document dumping ground of a valuable tool for your clients and their family members. The right digital vault can transform back-office and administrative efficiencies with automation and straight-through processing, as well as help firms overcome books and records challenges to meet regulation, including Rule 17a4 compliance.

Final words

Much can be said here, but we’ll keep it simple: Start the conversation with your clients (likely the parents of the heirs to the wealth) right now and don’t overthink it.

Are you engaging in conversations about the generational transfer of wealth with your firm, with your peers and colleagues, with partners and providers, and importantly, with your clients?

If you’re not, and if you’re waiting on the sideline… then it’s too late. You need to be having these conversations in real time, all the time.

FutureVault Leading Digital Vault and Client Life Management Solution

Client Life Management: Delivering More Value and Building Generational Trust

A scan across the wealth management and financial services industry shows there is a growing movement of advisors looking to differentiate themselves by offering a more comprehensive, private wealth, or family office business structure that deeply embeds their services into (and across) the client’s financial, family, business, and aspirational life.

This represents a shift in business management mindset to focus firm-wide goals towards more comprehensive client engagement and investing financially, culturally, and strategically in the digital client experience. The need for this more encompassing business model of ‘Client Life Management’ is supported by research and reports like Accenture’s Wealth Management: The new state of advice which highlights the rise of newly engaged investors with growing financial advice needs and expectations.

It goes without saying that in today’s modern era of wealth management and financial services broadly, technology plays a significant role. This could not be truer when bringing Client Life Management to the table and actualizing this more comprehensive engagement model both at the firm and advisor levels.

Digital Vaults are one piece of technology emerging as a must-have for all types of firms, scale, and sizes, with their ability to transform financial firms into delivering these modern, high-touch wealth and advisory relationships. Digital Vaults enable financial information, data, and documents to converge in your firm as a single source for the modern professional and client, ultimately providing better insights, deeper engagement, and more value across all stakeholders and family members in the client relationship.

What exactly is Client Life Management and what does it cover?

Client Life Management is emerging as a new category within wealth management, and importantly, representing a new paradigm in the way everyday client information, data, and critical documents are managed, accessed, shared, and advisor services are delivered.

Managed (and delivered) through Digital Vaults, Client Life Management drives deeper engagement and results in more value delivered to clients by extending the value proposition outside of the traditional confines of wealth management to a more comprehensive service model that embodies the key areas of the client’s life and household dynamics.

At the core of Client Life Management is the centralization of data, information, and documents that span across a client’s personal, financial, and business life. It offers a powerful driving force empowering firms and advisors to now confidently center themselves in their clients’ lives through their advisory relationship with them — from prospecting, onboarding, and engaging all aspects of a client’s financial, business, and personal life to wealth transfer strategies, legacy planning, and more.

Client engagement is the new alpha for advisors and firms

According to the recent WealthStack Study along with findings from Franklin Templeton, investing in technology to deliver a unique digital client experience and drive client engagement will pave the road to success for the modern advisory relationship.

The firms and institutions taking this approach and investing financially, strategically, and culturally in client engagement will undoubtedly come out on top. The stakes are high, and the competition is heating up for firms looking to get the “closest” to clients and their family members, especially during the era of The Great Wealth Transfer.

More engagement leads to better conversations. Better conversations lead to quality advice. Quality advice leads to establishing more trust. And trust enables firms and advisors to gain access to more critical information, data, and documents, where understanding the client’s entire life and household dynamics are at play.

What role do Digital Vaults play in Client Life Management and enhancing advisor-client engagement?

Digital Vaults are the ultimate linchpin when it comes to Client Life Management and creating a multi-generational strategy. There’s a huge misconception across the industry about what Digital Vaults are – Digital Vaults are far more than static file storage systems or document dumping grounds, and advanced Digital Vaults extend well beyond being a secure platform for document handling and exchanges to take place.

Digital Vaults are secure, compliant, efficient, and structured platforms for managing, protecting, and automating the delivery of critical information, data, and documents. The information, data, and documents in Digital Vaults empower and drive deeper discussions and actions between firms, advisors, and their clients.

Digital Vault solutions like FutureVault serve as the single source of truth for the client’s life from onboarding, KYC, and planning through to ongoing life planning, legacy, and succession processes that revolve heavily around access and understanding of information, data, and documents.

By having everything centralized in one spot, everyone wins. The home office and compliance teams win, advisors win, and, most importantly, clients and their family members win.

How can Client Life Management create client family loyalty and stickiness across generations to help advisors win The Great Wealth Transfer?

More than 70% of heirs to wealth are likely to fire or change financial advisors after inheriting their parents’ wealth, per Cerulli Associates research. This number has massive implications for firms and advisors.

But there is a silver lining here. This impending challenge presents a real opportunity for institutions, firms, and advisors to build trust across generations by delivering more value and finding creative ways to engage with clients and family members.

This is precisely where Client Life Management and Digital Vaults play a significant role. One of the most effective ways firms and advisors can execute and maintain a multi-generational strategy is by implementing a Client Life Management Vault for family legacy information, data, and documents.

A well-structured Digital Vault serves as a central repository for all the important documents and information that clients and their families need to access in the event of a change in circumstances, such as the passing of a family member, liquidity events, or the retirement of an advisor.

Having everything centralized in one place is not only a huge time-saving benefit for clients and their next generation, but it is also of massive value for institutions and high-touch advisory professionals.

How else is Digital Vault technology driving Client Life Management and empowering advisors to be more competitive?

Digital Vault technology is a major driving force of Client Life Management and enables firms and advisors to be more efficient and build a digital moat around the competition by addressing and solving many industry-wide challenges.

Notably, Digital Vaults equip the modern firm and advisor with the right tools to securely request, collect, and exchange critical documents from clients, family members, and their network of Trusted Advisors. With document delivery automation capabilities, Digital Vaults like FutureVault are providing massive value for back, middle, and front office teams, improving efficiency and cutting costs by more than 30% by automating the delivery of custodial, tax, and portfolio-related documents.

Next, it’s important to understand client needs and expectations when working with firms and advisors when it comes to their personal data, information, and documents. Clients expect best-in-class security to protect their data and information and that becomes table stakes for any financial advisory business. Clients expect, and assume, that advisors are always meeting regulatory requirements around the protection of their sensitive information and documents; this goes hand-in-hand when working with technology companies. And importantly, clients expect a digital-first experience and interaction where their information, data, and documents are readily available to them, on the go, 24-7.

An often overlooked area is the evolution of the role of the modern advisor. As more and more firms lean toward a family-office or white-glove approach with highly personalized services, especially for HNW and UHNW families, the primary financial advisor is slowly emerging as the family’s most trusted advisor in their life. This has steadily paved the way for additional services and information being managed by the advisor and by the firm. This begs the question, how and where can all of the critical information and documents be kept and maintained? This is where advanced Digital Vault technology that supports householding, entity tagging, checklists, secure document requests, trusted collaborators, and so much more, delivers massive value.

Last but not least, data and information within the documents are what ultimately drive engagement and tell the client’s story. By being able to extract structured and unstructured data from documents to normalize the data and leverage it to drive workflow via advanced Digital Vault solutions, institutions, firms, and advisors, will win when it comes to Client Life Management.

Conclusion: Client Life Management provides a competitive value proposition for the modern advisory relationship

Client Life Management positions the modern advisor to thrive by being relevant and instrumental through the entire relationship with a client – from onboarding and engaging all aspects of a client’s financial, business, and personal life to wealth transfer strategies, legacy planning and establishing their children with structured holistic financial plans of their own.

We will undoubtedly see Digital Vaults continuing to emerge as a must-have piece of the modern advisor’s tech stack and continuing to play an incredibly important role in bringing all areas of the client’s life together and centralized in one spot, for everyone.

Access to information from every level – head office, advisor, client, and family members – can and will ultimately drive the modern relationship in a world where the advisor’s role continues to change. Positioning yourself at the center of your client relationships, by having access to their information, data, and documents, will ensure that you and your clients work together, in harmony, from a trusted position.

This article was adapted from an exclusive article with FutureVault executives and Bill Hortz of the Institute for Innovation Development.

Digital Vaults - The Linchpin of Client Life Management and Multi-Generational Value

Digital Vaults: The Linchpin of Client Life Management and Multi-Generational Relationships

Digital Vaults bring multi-generational engagement (and value) to the table, ultimately serving as a digital moat for institutions and family offices, paving the way for the modern high-touch advisory relationship.

As the role of the modern institution, advisory firm, family office manager, and wealth professional evolves, so does the role of technology and how it’s embedded into internal and external processes, including client engagement and dealing with the next generation.

For high-touch advisory relationships and private wealth clients, in particular, where significant amounts of data, information, and documents are being managed at every interaction, Digital Vault technology is emerging as a clear winner to break away from the competition.

Digital Vaults offer tremendous back office and compliance benefits—table stakes check boxed items when dealing with data, documents, and information across multiple entities, geographies, and generations.

Digital Vaults also bring massive efficiency to the table by delivering robust document handling tools along with deep integration capabilities to automate the delivery of investment statements, performance reports, tax documentation, and more, centralizing everything in one spot for clients.

But most important of all, Digital Vaults offer a new paradigm and relationship engagement model for institutions and high-touch advisory firms and their clients where the outcome leads to more engagement, more meaningful conversations, more loyalty and trust, and more value being delivered across the board.

At the end of the day, it’s very telling where the industry is going. All roads point to the client experience and delivering unique value that creates a meaningful way to engage, connect, and build more trust with clients, and importantly the next generation.

With that in mind, it’s no surprise that Digital Vaults are becoming a winning strategy and a prized possession for the modern high-touch institution and family office.

Client Life Management — A Digital Moat Strategy in 2024 and Beyond

According to the recent 2023 WealthStack Study along with findings from Franklin Templeton, investing in technology to bolster and deliver the most unique digital client experience and drive client engagement will pave the road to success for the modern advisory relationship.

As we further embrace what the market is telling us, it’s evident and clearer now than ever that firms and institutions taking this road and investing (financially, culturally, and strategically) in the client experience, will undoubtedly come out on top.

Digital Vaults will continue to play an incredibly important role in bringing all areas of the client’s life (financial, business, personal) together and centralized in one spot for the firm and for the advisor. This is and will continue to happen by connecting and centralizing all of the critical information, data, and documents via integration and APIs into one secure location. Think of estate plans, financial plans, private investment statements, monthly statements, performance reports, and more.

As the modern institution and better yet, modern wealth professional altogether evolves and moves to play an increasingly engaged role in the lives of clients across all facets (business, financial, personal), how, where, when information is housed and managed becomes significantly even more important.

Client Life Management represents a new paradigm in how everyday information, client information, is managed, accessed, and delivered, to clients, to their family members, through their COIs, and to their network of Trusted Advisors, and vice versa. This paradigm shift is coming like a freight train and will undoubtedly transform modern advisory firms and modern family offices to the forefront of leading the charge.

Multi-Generational Conversations — Winning the Great Wealth Transfer

Perhaps more significant, or alarming, is that more than 70% of heirs to this wealth are likely to fire or change financial advisors after inheriting their parents’ wealth. On the high end, we’ve seen this number be quoted as high as 88%.

This has massive implications for how institutions and firms approach all areas of their business, including technology, to engage with and attract the next generation of investors and clients. Add into the mix that the majority of advisors are not prepared to engage with the next generation; ouch.

On the flip side, this impending challenge presents a real opportunity for leading institutions, firms and advisors to demonstrate their value and cement trust across generations.

This is precisely where Client Life Management and Digital Vaults can play a role. One of the most effective (and efficient) ways firms and advisors can execute (and maintain) a multi-generational strategy is by implementing a Client Life Management Vault for family legacy information and documents.

Having everything centralized in one place is not only a huge time-saving benefit for clients and their next-gen, but it’s also of massive value for institutions and high-touch advisory professionals.

Delivering More Value — The Heart of Modern Client Relationships

Digital Vaults are quickly becoming the backbone, or rather the centerpiece of modern wealth and advisory relationships, as information, data, and documents converge to a single source of truth, ultimately providing better insight, deeper engagement, and more value across all stakeholders.

Key Findings from the 2023 WealthStack Study: How Technology Is Driving the Growth of Wealth Management Firms

The 2023 WealthStack Study unveils how technology is propelling the growth of wealth management firms and reshaping their strategies, with a major emphasis on firm-wide productivity, deepening client relationships, and overall client experience.

Last year, WealthManagement.com inaugurated the WealthStack Study, a survey of financial advisors, C-suite executives, and other professionals across the industry to better understand wealth managers’ views on technology and the impact technology has on core operations, including client servicing and communication.

Overall, the study reveals that firms and advisors are seeking solutions to help them build and strengthen client relationships, while also making their firms as efficient and effective as possible. In other words, growth seems to be the main driver for an investment in new innovations and technologies.

Below is a summary of the 2023 WealthStack Study, highlighting the following sections:

➜ The top reasons for investing in technology
➜ The primary considerations when looking at technology investments
➜ The three ‘types of firms’ when it comes to making technology investments
➜ Lessons from the ‘Innovators’
➜ Looking ahead to 2024

The top reasons for investing in technology

The 2023 WealthStack Study reveals clear ‘winners’ when it comes to the top reasons for investing in and implementing technology.

The top three (3) reasons for investing in technology include:

73% of respondents indicated that they are investing in technology to improve overall firm-wide efficiency and productivity;

57% of respondents indicated an investment in technology that will deepen client relationships and improve communications with existing clients;

54% of respondents indicated that they are making technology investments to continue providing services that are aligned with evolving client needs and expectations.

In addition to the three primary drivers for technology investments, other significant reasons for investing in technology include:

➜ To acquire new clients in new markets (39% of respondents)
➜ To differentiate the services being delivered by their firm (36% of respondents)
➜ To build relationships with Centers of Influence (COIs) (25% of respondents)

Primary considerations when investing in technology

Improving the overall client experience was the clear front-runner and the number one consideration for firms and advisors when assessing and investing in technology.

Other important considerations when analyzing and assessing technology include:

➜ Improving productivity
➜ Improving profitability
➜ Improving client communication

While other considerations such as data privacy, security, and compliance are always factored into the buying decision, these areas are considered table stakes and must-haves.

Delivering value through technology

Some technology solutions deliver more (perceived) bang for the buck than others. When survey participants were asked which technology solutions delivered the best return on investment (ROI), there were, once again, clear front runners. Financial planning, portfolio management, customer relationship management (CRM), and client engagement/communication tools are believed to yield the best return on investment.

Three different ‘types’ of firms

Interestingly, the WealthStack Study reveals that there are three ‘types of firms’ when it comes to making technology investments.

Group 1: Innovators

This group consists of firms that proactively invest in technology to differentiate themselves in the market and provide the best possible client experience.

Group 2: Operators

Operators invest in technology largely to improve operations and increase internal efficiency.

Group 3: Laggards

Lastly, laggards are the firms that have indicated they did not prioritize technology or leverage it effectively, and so, as the name suggests, are lagging the market when it comes to technological advancements.

Here’s what we found very interesting, and telling with respect to the impact that technology has on today’s firms, operations, growth, and overall success. Innovators — those ahead of the curve when it comes to technology — indicated that they are VERY satisfied with their technology decisions and the return on their technology investments (as indicated by 63% of Innovators).

Additionally, the primary reasons for investing in technology differ among the ‘types’ of firms, with Innovators and Operators being more in growth mode and looking to deepen relationships as their top reason for investing in technology. Laggards on the other hands, are clearly behind the eight ball, with a major focus and emphasis on seeking new clients as their primary reason for making technology investments.

At the end of the day, the conclusion to draw here is that technology is no longer a nice-to-have. It has become a fundamental component of modern wealth management and is baked in the external and internal processes of every firm, advisor, and client.

Lessons from the ‘Innovators’

Navigating technology in a wealth management firm can pose challenges, given the ever-evolving landscape of needs, tools, governance, regulation, and client expectations.

The one-third of firms that invest in technology to set themselves apart and deliver an unparalleled client experience (the Innovators) have successfully benefited from leveraging technology to its full potential. In this success, there are certainly valuable lessons for the other two groups.

The first lesson shared is that leveraging technology demands a commitment to process improvement. Technology holds the potential to significantly boost efficiency by curbing costs, saving time, and minimizing errors in firm operations. However, this transformation is dependent on all team members embracing a fresh perspective on how the firm functions and being open to adopting new approaches to their work.

Next, is that becoming adept with technology requires embracing the unfamiliar. The initial stages of engaging with new technologies may be difficult, however, maintaining a mindset receptive to understanding and potentially incorporating new technologies can position a wealth management firm as a leader rather than a follower—or in this case, a Laggard.

Thirdly, technology challenges you to stand out. A major shortcoming among wealth management firms is their homogeneity; most firms are indistinguishable from one another.

Looking ahead

The future ahead is bright, and it certainly involves more technology.

More than nine in ten respondents (91%) plan to adopt and invest in new technology in the next year, most commonly client engagement, attraction, and retention solutions (cited by 36% of respondents). The second most cited solution likely to be added addresses cybersecurity (cited by 32% of respondents).

According to respondents, technology budgets are also on the rise from last year with 68% of respondents reporting their firms’ technology budgets will increase in 2024.

And finally, what would a survey be without any mention of AI? Well, according to respondents, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will have the biggest impact on the wealth management industry in the next five years, as cited by 82% of respondents.

FutureVault and the Client Life Management Vault

Here at FutureVault, we remain bullish on all things client engagement and the digital client experience. It’s precisely why we’re pioneers of the client-facing digital vault, the Client Life Management Vault, as a new value paradigm for firms and their advisors.

As we continue to look to the market, it’s evident and more clear now than ever that firms and advisors who invest in (financially, culturally, and strategically) the client experience, will undoubtedly come out on top. Digital Vaults will play an incredibly important role in bringing all areas of the client’s life (financial, business, personal) together and centralized in one spot for advisors.

Digital Vaults have become such a critical component in the overall advisor tech stack and have shifted from being a back-office and document handling utility to equipping firms and advisors with a value-add tool that can help drive engagement and better conversations with their clients by helping them manage their own information, data, and documents.

Security and protection (of information assets), access and availability, structure and efficiency, and overall ease of use of doing business are all core components of modern Digital Vault solutions.

From the Advisor’s perspective, Digital Vaults streamline heavy paper-driven processes by automating the delivery of documentation to improve operational efficiency and to demonstrate and meet compliance. These ‘tasks’ are table stakes, and by removing the friction, Digital Vaults enable advisors to spend more time doing what they love doing; providing advice and servicing their clients.

Digital Vaults really offer a win-win-win value proposition for the firm, advisor, and client. At the end of the day firms are looking for ways to better engage and build relationships and more trust with clients, Digital Vaults can be a linchpin in the client engagement and multi-generational strategy for firms by enabling firms to have better, more meaningful, and deeper conversations with their clients.

About the survey

The 2023 WealthStack Study surveyed ~400 respondents (completed submissions) of financial advisors, C-suite executives, and other wealth professionals, with most respondents coming from RIAs and IBDs. See the breakdown below based on firm type, as published by WealthStack.

The 2023 WealthStack Study was produced by WealthStack and Wealth Management IQ (WMIQ). Sponsors for the study included SS&C Black Diamond, Bill.com, and Sage.

Vendor Management Due Diligence Guide 2023

Vendor Due Diligence Guide: Evaluating Technology Vendors in 2024

From Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and Family Offices to Credit Unions and Community Banks, it’s important to have a well-defined technology vendor due diligence process in place to meet compliance and ensure you are investing your dollars where they count.

As demand within the financial services and wealth management industry increases and client expectations continue to evolve, C-level executives and advisors have turned to third-party service providers to handle certain functions or services, some of which are required for advisors to comply with regulations when providing their services.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently proposed a new rule and rule amendments under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to prohibit registered investment advisers (RIAs) from outsourcing certain services and functions without conducting due diligence and monitoring of the service providers.

The recent updates to regulations require advisors to meet certain due diligence requirements before hiring a service provider to perform certain advisory services or functions. Advisors must also regularly monitor the performance of the service provider. This rule applies to advisors who outsource certain “covered functions,” which are services or functions that are necessary for the advisor to comply with Federal securities laws and that, if not performed or performed improperly, could significantly harm clients.

These functions may include investment guidelines, portfolio management, investment advice-related models, indexes, trading services, and of course, technology and software. While outsourcing can be beneficial for firms, advisors, and their clients, it can also cause harm to clients if the advisor outsources a function or service without proper oversight.

Below are several reasons why having a well-defined and structured vendor due diligence process (or checklist) for the technology providers — and other third-party providers — that you work with is incredibly important for your firm in 2023.

To ensure compliance: Firms and institutions have a responsibility to comply with regulations, and using technology vendors that do not meet regulatory requirements can expose the firm or institution to legal and financial risks.

To protect client/household data: Firms and institutions handle sensitive client information and data, and it is important to ensure that third-party technology vendors have sufficient information security measures in place to protect this data.

To protect the firm’s reputation: Using technology vendors that do not meet industry standards or that have a history of security breaches can damage the firm’s reputation.

To protect the firm’s financial interests: Using unreliable or insecure technology can lead to costly disruptions and downtime, which can negatively impact the firm’s financial performance.

To ensure vendor stability: Conducting due diligence on third-party technology vendors can help the firm or institution assess the vendor’s financial stability and long-term viability. This is important because the firm or institution will be relying on the vendor to provide ongoing support and maintenance for their products or services.

What is vendor due diligence?

Vendor due diligence (VDD) is a comprehensive platform, features, and security screening of a potential third-party vendor, including technology vendors, before forming a partnership or committing to a contractual obligation. The assessment identifies whether a prospective vendor can meet and exceed the expectations of your firm’s requirements and ensure that there is a process in place to address any and all potential concerns and risks associated with a potential partnership or relationship.

A Guide to Evaluating Third-Party Vendors

There is no questioning that in recent years technology has become a deeply embedded and fundamental part of financial services and wealth management firms. It’s no longer just a nice-to-have, but an essential component of any firm’s overall value offering and its day-to-day operations.

To say the least, technology and modern financial services go hand-in-hand.

However, ensuring that your firm partners with the right technology provider is a different story; one that can either provide your firm with a massive advantage or disadvantage.

Here are some fundamental questions and steps you should consider when assessing a potential relationship with a third-party technology service provider:

1) Data Protection and Security

One of the most critical areas of assessment when undergoing the due diligence process with a third-party vendor is Data Protection and Data Security. Any technology vendors, including your digital vault platform and document management solution, that will be in possession of enterprise and clients’ personally identifiable information should prove the steps they take to ensure the safety of such data.

The easiest and most effective way to ask for this proof is to request a SOC 2 Report. This is incredibly important to showcase and demonstrate to clients and regulators that you take the security of client data seriously and you have examined all vendors’ processes and procedures related to data security.

Remember, your firm can have the tightest cybersecurity measures in place, but you are only as strong as your weakest link – it’s always in your best interest to confirm that the technology provider you select is one that becomes a trusted partner; by your firm, by your clients, and by regulators.

Here at FutureVault, we proudly provide a copy of our SOC 2 Type II Report to the firms that we work with (with our most recent report being issued by Ernst & Young in September 2022). If any vendor you are deciding to work with refuses to provide a copy of its SOC 2 report or takes their time in providing you with this proof, that is a 🚩massive red flag 🚩 and likely means that you’re better off running for the hills.

2) Information and Data Ownership

To ensure smooth transitions and avoid potential problems in the future, it is important to get a clear understanding of the ownership and transferability of client data on a technology vendor’s platform before signing a contract with them. Specifically, you should confirm whether or not you will be able to take your data with you if the contract expires. If the process for transferring data from and to another vendor is unclear or difficult, you may want to consider alternative solutions.

3) Organization Size and Depth

For small RIAs with 10-20 team members, outsourcing key functions can be a useful way to manage “key man risk”, where the departure of an important employee could disrupt the business. However, this strategy is only effective if the vendor has a team of skilled professionals who are familiar with your firm and can support your business on an ongoing basis. If you are relying on a single contractor, you are not fully mitigating key man risk. It is important to consider the size and stability of the vendor’s service team to ensure that they will be able to support your needs for the duration of your partnership.

4) Contract (Re)Assignability

When evaluating potential vendors, it is important for RIAs to consider the assignability of the contract in the event of a merger or acquisition. In the event that your RIA is acquired by a larger organization, you will want to ensure that there is a clear process in place for transferring the vendor contract to the new owner. This will help to ensure a smooth transition and prevent any disruption of service. It is advisable to clarify this process early in negotiations with the vendor to avoid any issues in the future.

5) Pricing Mechanics

When choosing a technology vendor, it is important to understand the various pricing options and methods that are available. These may include pricing based on assets on the vendor’s platform, assets under administration or management by the firm or institution, number of accounts, number of users/licenses, and contract length. It is advisable to clarify any questions about pricing during negotiations, such as whether a longer contract will result in a discounted rate. Understanding how your firm can reach different price breakpoints will help you make informed decisions about the vendor and pricing structure that best fits your needs.

6) Integrations with Other Technology and APIs

In the wealth management and financial services industry, it is essential for technology vendors to offer seamless integrations with other systems. When a vendor claims that their system can integrate with your existing technology stack and other third-party solutions, it is important to understand exactly what this means.

Is data able to flow smoothly between systems in both directions, or are there limitations on the flow of data? Before signing a contract with a vendor, it is crucial to consider the importance of integration with other components of your front and back office and to clarify any questions about integration to ensure that the vendor’s system meets your needs.

An incredibly important factor when assessing the integration capabilities of any technology vendor is to consider the reliability of their APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). APIs allow different systems to communicate and exchange data with each other, and it is important to ensure that the vendor’s APIs are trusted and reliable. Inadequately designed or maintained APIs can lead to errors and disruptions in service, which can have serious consequences for your business.

Note: This is not a comprehensive list of due diligence questions for vendor discussions and should be considered as a starting point to help your firm better understand the types of questions and areas you need to consider. To ensure compliance with the latest requirements, it is recommended that RIAs consult with their compliance officers/consultants and/or an attorney.

Third-Party Vendor Due Diligence Recordkeeping

Under the new rules and amendments, firms are required to maintain accurate and thorough records of their due diligence process for third-party vendors. A secure, cloud-based digital document vault is essential for storing and archiving vendor records, including SOC 2 reports amongst other critical types of documentation.

FutureVault’s compliance/corporate Vault allows firms to store and protect sensitive enterprise and compliance-related documentation in a tamper-proof format (WORM), satisfying document retention requirements (including Rule 17a-4) and streamlining external, on-demand audits by regulators.

We recommend that our partners/customers store a copy of our recent report in their Corporate Vault to ensure compliance and have it readily available for regulatory bodies such as FINRA, SEC, and IIROC, amongst other regulatory agencies.

Having a single, secure source of truth for all enterprise, back office, front office, and client documents can provide your firm with confidence, assurance, efficiency, and peace of mind.

As we always say, what happens in the Vault, stays in the Vault.

You deserve peace of mind knowing that your enterprise and client documents are kept safe and secure, at all times.

Two Impending Challenges for Financial Services

Two Impending Challenges Facing the Financial Services Industry

The (entire) financial services industry is faced with two impending challenges that will undoubtedly hit institutions, advisory firms, and advisors like a freight train if they remain unprepared or so choose to ignore them.

Both issues deal with the aging population and significantly impact both the current and the future state of wealth management—along with what it means to provide not only an elevated (digital) client experience but an experience that is optimal for your clients and to protect their future.

It’s critical for firms and wealth professionals to not only acknowledge the significance of these issues but also to work closely with industry peers and solution providers to overcome their challenges.

The Aging Population & Dementia Are on the Rise

Let’s talk statistics.

Over the next decade, U.S. demographics are projected to transform. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the entire Baby Boomer generation will be over the age 65 by 2030, which also means that 1 in every 5 Americans will be of retirement age. As an institution and especially as a wealth advisor, how will you protect your senior clients?

Additionally, according to the World Health Organization, Dementia sufferers are projected to rise in numbers to an alarming 78 million by 2030 and 139 million by 2050.

We know first-hand that wealth management firms and financial advisors are beginning to feel the stress of whether their aging clients are beginning to show early signs of Dementia or not.

The stark reality is that Advisors are not equipped to make a proper assessment and nor should they be. However, to make things worse, many of the current systems and methods used to protect clients, their information assets (Documents), and importantly their financial assets, are instituted as reactive measures.

A proactive step for both senior clients and for those showing signs of Dementia would be to establish a Trusted Contact. While your client may have an existing power of attorney (POA), a Trusted Contact serves as an extra resource for prompt and decisive action in cases of diminished financial capacity or potential fraud.

What is a Trusted Contact?

A Trusted Contact is a contact designated by your client, granting them the authorization to communicate on your client’s behalf, covering the following:

1. Confirming your client’s current contact details.
2. Discussing your client’s mental or physical health status.
3. Addressing activities or potential signs of financial exploitation.
4. Handling other allowable circumstances under the law.

It’s crucial to distinguish that Trusted Contacts do not act as representatives with the same authority as individuals holding POA or Durable POA.

Your client can choose any person who is at least 18 years old to be their Trusted Contact. Encourage them to select someone not already authorized to handle their affairs or receive information. Typically, Trusted Contacts are family members or close friends—individuals your clients trust and who are likely to be familiar with their current situation, as opposed to financial advisors or those with power of attorney (POA).

It’s vital to have both a Trusted Contact and someone with POA because, unfortunately, 90% of elder abuse cases involve family members or close associates. Remind your clients to keep this information up-to-date if circumstances change.

Regulatory Obligations: Trusted Contact Persons (TCPs)

FINRA Rule 4512(a)(1)(F) (Customer Account Information) requires firms, for each of their non-institutional customer accounts, to make a reasonable effort to obtain the name and contact information of a Trusted Contact Person (TCP) age 18 or older. FINRA Rule 4512 also describes the circumstances in which firms and their associated persons are authorized to contact the TCP and disclose information about the customer account.

Similarly, in July 2021, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) introduced new guidelines that now require registrants to take reasonable steps to obtain the name and contact information of a Trusted Contact Person (TCP). This TCP would be someone advisors could alert if they have concerns about a client’s ability to make financial decisions or suspect their client is being exploited. This TCP would help advisors protect a client’s financial interests and assets. It’s important to note that a Trusted Contact Person does not have the authority to make transactions on a client in question’s account.

Protecting Your Clients with Trusted Advisor (Contact) Permissions in FutureVault

However, technology, such as Digital Vault solutions, exist to protect client information and documents, while enabling clients and Advisors to provide secure and trusted access to family members and third parties as a way of not only keeping confidential information safe but also sharing it with the right individuals, at the right time (and for the right amount of time via time-bound permissions) should they need access to critical information.

Dementia is incredibly difficult for everyone involved; including financial advisors and fiduciaries. Tackling this issue at hand proactively checks off assurances and provides Advisors with the confidence they need to continue providing sound advice.

The Great Wealth Transfer

The second very real and impending issue facing the industry is the intergenerational transfer of wealth, also known as The Great Wealth Transfer.

This mass movement of wealth transferring to younger generations is going to massively shake up the entire industry. Perhaps one of the most alarming factors impacting traditional wealth management firms is what we know about The Great Wealth Transfer with a reported more than 70% of heirs looking to fire or change financial advisors after inheriting their parents’ wealth according to Cerulli Associates.

For Financial Advisory firms and RIAs, Broker-Dealers, Family Offices, Credit Unions, Banks, you name it, it simply means this; digital capabilities are no longer a “nice-to-have”—they are emerging as a central value proposition for the new generation of investors.

Here are three important considerations to help Advisors prepare for the Great Wealth Transfer:

Implementing a robust, client-focused, digital-first strategy is a must;

Financial (and digital) literacy is fundamental for everyone involved including the next generation;

Firms and Advisors must look for opportunities to deepen client relationships by providing value to spouses and family members.

For firms looking to grapple and “win” The Great Wealth Transfer, here are seven tried-and-true strategies that the top-producing firms and advisors are leveraging to retain generational relationships and assets.

One of those strategies is an investment in best-of-breed technology that appeals to current clients and the next generation. Above all, what we’re continuing to notice and see play out is the Digital Vault becoming the linchpin in estate, succession, legacy, and wealth transfer conversations and situations with clients.

Overcoming Impending Challenges

With respect to both impending issues, the aging population and dementia, along with The Great Wealth Transfer, having the right systems, tools, and technologies in place, can and will equip firms and advisors to confidently address these challenges head-on while remaining competitive, and importantly, winning the heart, mind, and wallet of the consumer.

A Digital Vault platform like FutureVault is fundamental to the collection, preservation, maintenance, and protection of critical information and documents — enabling advisors and the firms/institutions that support them to “keep their house in order” while ensuring that an exceptional client experience is delivered at every intersection of client interaction.

SEC Rule 17a 4 Requirements - FutureVault

Understanding SEC Rule 17a 4: Everything You Need to Know About Rule 17a-4 Requirements

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) plays a very critical role in ensuring the integrity and transparency of the securities market. One regulation provisioned by the SEC is SEC Rule 17a4, commonly referred to as ’17a-4′.

Rule 17a-4 establishes specific requirements for recordkeeping and retention by brokerage firms and other financial institutions. In this article, we’ll provide a comprehensive overview of SEC Rule 17a-4 requirements, outlining its significance, key provisions, and compliance obligations, along with how technology like FutureVault is proactively helping institutions and Broker-Dealers confidently meet Rule 17a4 requirements.

Introduction to SEC Rule 17a-4
Importance of SEC Rule 17a-4
Key Provisions of SEC Rule 17a-4 (a) to (m)
What is WORM Compliant Storage?
Compliance Obligations under SEC Rule 17a-4
Technology Solutions for SEC Rule 17a-4 Compliance
The Future of SEC Rule 17a-4
Rule 17a-4 FAQs

1. Introduction to SEC Rule 17a-4

SEC Rule 17a-4, formally known as “Retention of Records Relevant to Audits and Reviews“, was enacted by the SEC to ensure the preservation and accessibility of brokerage firm records. Rule 17a-4 applies to all Broker-Dealers registered with the SEC, including those engaged in securities trading, clearing, and self-regulatory activities. The rule aims to protect investors’ interests, facilitate audits and investigations, and maintain market stability.

2. Importance of SEC Rule 17a-4

SEC Rule 17a-4 is significant for a variety of reasons, importantly, for the two below:

First, Ruel 17a 4 enables regulatory bodies to conduct comprehensive audits and examinations to ensure compliance with federal securities laws. By mandating the retention of records, the SEC can evaluate the accuracy and integrity of financial statements, trade data, and client information, which ultimately serves to improve investor protection.

Secondly, Rule 17a-4 serves as a deterrent against fraudulent activities. The preservation of records provides a reliable source of evidence in case of investigations into potential market manipulations, insider trading, or other unlawful activities. It promotes transparency and accountability within the financial industry, safeguarding the integrity of the market.

3. Key Provisions of SEC Rule 17a-4

SEC Rule 17a-4 imposes specific requirements regarding the preservation and accessibility of records. The rule consists of three key sections (a to c) along with additional supporting sections that outline the obligations for recordkeeping.

Below is an overview and summarization of each section from (a) through to (m).

Record Retention Periods (Section 240.17a-4(a))	Under this section, brokerage firms are required to retain certain records for specific periods. These records may include trade confirmations, account statements, purchase and sale documents, and associated communications. The retention periods range from three to six years, depending on the nature of the record.
Media and Format Requirements (Section 240.17a-4(b))	This section of the rule outlines the acceptable media and formats for record storage. Brokerage firms must maintain records in a non-rewriteable, non-erasable format, ensuring that they remain unaltered and tamper-proof throughout the retention period. This requirement aims to prevent unauthorized modifications or deletions that could compromise the accuracy and integrity of the records.
Accessibility and Indexing (Section 240.17a-4(c))	To facilitate efficient retrieval and review, Rule 17a-4 mandates that records be readily accessible. Firms must be able to promptly produce requested records in a legible and organized manner. Moreover, the rule requires firms to create and maintain an index of the records, enabling quick identification and retrieval.
Verification of Records (Section 240.17a-4(d))	This section emphasizes the importance of verifying the accuracy and completeness of records. Brokerage firms are responsible for establishing and maintaining reasonable systems to verify the quality and reliability of their records.
Record Preservation (Section 240.17a-4(e))	Under this section, brokerage firms must take necessary steps to preserve records in a manner that ensures their integrity, durability, and accessibility throughout the required retention period.
Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) Storage Requirement (Section 240.17a-4(f))	Section 240.17a-4(f) introduces the Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) storage requirement. It states that certain records, including original books and records required to be preserved, must be stored in a non-rewritable, non-erasable format to prevent alteration or deletion. The WORM storage technology provides an added layer of security and integrity to the preserved records. An official FINRA press release stated that many firms had failed to maintain electronic records in this format when they fined 12 firms over *14 million dollars* due to a lack of proper protection from record alterations. A recent amendment provisioned by the SEC states that Digital Audit Trails are an alternative to WORM storage and firms can forego WORM if they demonstrate and invest in audit trail technology. FutureVault provides both WORM + Audit Trail capability providing the most cost-effective and effective solution.
Time for Production of Records (Section 240.17a-4(g))	This section specifies the timeframes within which brokerage firms must produce requested records for audits, investigations, or examinations conducted by regulatory bodies. Firms are expected to comply promptly and provide the requested records in a timely manner.
Record Location (Section 240.17a-4(h))	Section 240.17a-4(h) relates to data and documentation residency and requires brokerage firms to maintain records at a designated location within the United States or have the records readily accessible from such a location.
Furnishing Copies of Records (Section 240.17a-4(i))	Under this section, brokerage firms must be able to furnish legible, true, and complete copies of requested records upon request by the SEC or other designated regulatory bodies.
Temporary Substitutes for Original Records (Section 240.17a-4(j))	In certain circumstances, firms may create temporary substitutes for original records, but they must ensure that these substitutes accurately and completely reproduce the original records. The temporary substitutes should be readily retrievable and must meet the requirements specified by the rulefor their preservation.
Indexing (Section 240.17a-4(k))	Brokerage firms are required to create and maintain an index of their records. The index should provide sufficient detail to allow for quick and easy identification and retrieval of specific records.
Record Maintenance (Section 240.17a-4(l))	This section emphasizes the need for brokerage firms to establish and enforce policies and procedures to ensure the proper maintenance and preservation of records in accordance with SEC Rule 17a-4.
Definitions (Section 240.17a-4(m))	Section 240.17a-4(m) provides definitions for various terms used in SEC Rule 17a-4 to ensure consistent interpretation and application of the rule’s provisions.

4. What is WORM Compliant Storage?

Section 17a4(f) of SEC Rule 17a4 references and provisions WORM Storage, which stands for ‘Write Once, Read Many’. WORM storage mandates that firms maintain and preserve electronic records exclusively in a non-rewriteable, non-erasable format so that critical documentation cannot be tampered with once created, meaning that data is immutable once stored. Data can be written to the storage a single time, and afterwards, no one can change that data in any way.

5. Compliance Obligations under SEC Rule 17a-4

Compliance with SEC Rule 17a-4 is not optional; it is a legal obligation for brokerage firms. Failure to adhere to the rule’s requirements can result in severe penalties, including fines, suspensions, or even revocation of registration.

To satisfy compliance and meet 17a-4 requirements, firms must implement robust recordkeeping practices and consider adopting a secure digital vault solution to ensure the secure storage and retrieval of records.

6. Technology Solutions for SEC Rule 17a-4 Compliance

Given the growing complexity and volume of data and documentation, technology is increasingly playing a critical role in helping firms meet SEC Rule 17a-4 compliance.

Firms should leverage advanced recordkeeping systems, such as electronic document management platforms and cloud-based storage, to securely store and manage records. These solutions offer features like encryption, access controls, and automated indexing, streamlining the compliance process and reducing the risk of non-compliance.

Digital Vault solutions like FutureVault help institutions and firms confidently meet SEC Rule 17a-4 requirements by providing secure storage, advanced encryption, and user-friendly interfaces that enable organizations to organize, index, access, and retrieve records in accordance with SEC regulations. By leveraging the Vault (FutureVault), firms can streamline compliance efforts and ensure the integrity of their books and records.

7. The Future of SEC Rule 17a-4

As the financial industry continues to evolve, SEC Rule 17a-4 is expected to adapt to emerging technologies and changing market dynamics. It is very likely that the SEC will continue to introduce amendments to address challenges posed by digital assets, distributed ledger technologies, and growing cybersecurity risks.

It should go without saying that it is absolutely critical for brokerage firms to stay informed about any updates or amendments to SEC regulations and adjust their compliance practices accordingly. Additionally, partnering with the right technology partner(s) can and will help your firm stay on top of any and all amendments that may consequently impact overall business operations and client engagement activities.

8. FAQs

Q1. What is the purpose of SEC Rule 17a-4?

SEC Rule 17a-4 aims to establish recordkeeping and retention requirements for brokerage firms, enhancing investor protection and facilitating audits and investigations.

Q2. Which firms must comply with SEC Rule 17a-4?

SEC Rule 17a-4 applies to all Broker-Dealers registered with the SEC, including those engaged in securities trading, clearing, and self-regulatory activities.

Q3. What are the consequences of non-compliance with SEC Rule 17a-4?

Non-compliance with SEC Rule 17a-4 can result in penalties, including fines, suspensions, or revocation of registration.

Q4. What technology solutions can help achieve SEC Rule 17a-4 compliance?

Technology solutions such as Digital Vaults, like FutureVault, provide effective means for brokerage firms to achieve SEC Rule 17a-4 compliance. These platforms offer secure storage, advanced encryption, and user-friendly interfaces that assist in organizing and indexing records according to SEC requirements.

Q5. How can brokerage firms ensure ongoing compliance with SEC Rule 17a-4?

Brokerage firms can ensure ongoing compliance with SEC Rule 17a-4 by implementing robust recordkeeping practices, leveraging technology solutions like Digital Vaults, regularly conducting audits, and staying informed about updates or amendments to SEC regulations.

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