Investment Products and Trust/Wealth Management

Sales of Investment Products is an attractive business, but it also adds a layer of significant complexity to the compliance program of banks. Brokerage, investment advisory services, trust, and  financial planning are powerful sources of fee income and core products for building long-term customer relationships.  ADI has the experience and expertise to help you chart this fertile but challenging ground. We can sort through the confusion of interlacing banking and securities regulation to find the truest path to compliance.  ADI’s Investment Products Consulting Services are based on experience and demonstrated expertise. We deliver those services in a customized way to meet your needs. We offer a thoughtful approach based on a clear understanding of your situation and objectives. We design a plan of action – spelling out the steps needed to reach your goals. Finally, we work with you to implement that plan.

Investment Product Sales
Competition is keen. Yet, each of these business lines expands the range of compliance challenges of new regulations, different regulatory focus, new lines of reporting, business cultures, levels of fiduciary responsibility, and marketing channels involved.
 

Testing Sales Compliance
ADI provides sales compliance testing services that enable clients to “see” what their customers experience, and to ensure that new or continuing sales activities remain in compliance. 

Our first step is to assess your current situation: What are your goals? How is the sales organization structured? What challenges are you having? Understanding objectives is the start of customizing these services for your needs.

Next, we design a program that will address those needs. Each part of the testing program must be tailored. How many tests should be conducted? What information is needed? How does that information need to be reported to make it most helpful? These kinds of questions and their answers determine whether your testing program is going to deliver value. 

Finally, we implement the program, continuing through the testing itself, reaching conclusions, and working with you to follow through on the recommendations.

Branch Inspections
ADI conducts non-OSJ branch audits that are consistent with the requirements of NASD Rules and your supervisory policies and procedures. Our consultants have the experience and the expertise to work efficiently and with minimal interruption of normal business activity. Throughout this process, we maintain our independence, but also talk with your representatives so that we have all of the relevant information. 

Our reports on the results are clear and focused. We provide a list of matters that need to be addressed, but we also provide insight. This insight is very helpful to clients who want to improve.

Subsequent to the audits, if the circumstances warrant, we can also provide an appropriate team of consultants to design a comprehensive compliance enhancement effort. When you have approved of that plan, we will work with you to implement it. 

Investment Adviser Compliance
Registered investment advisers face an increasingly challenging environment. Regulatory scrutiny, new requirements, and new competition mean it is time for many firms to make a comprehensive review their compliance position. ADI can assess your compliance situation, design a plan for enhancing your program, and work with you to implement that program.

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
This is a relatively new area of compliance for brokers and investment advisers. ADI has deep experience in assisting banks, as well as non-bank financial institutions. We have a team of consultants who can assess your AML compliance program, whether that is done with the objective of a comprehensive rebuilding of the program or annual independent testing.

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Contact us to see how ADI can assist you in managing Investment Product sales compliance.