SIFMA Complex Products Forum

The Complex Products Forum is a collaborative event that brings together regulators, distributors, and manufacturers to discuss the issues, challenges, and opportunities related to the sale of complex products to retail investors.

Partner Anna T. Pinedo will moderate a panel entitled “Complex Products: Changing Regulatory Focus.” Panelists will include Sarah Gill (LPL Financial), Laura H. Posner (New Jersey Bureau of Securities), Mike Rufino (FINRA), and Robert N. Sobol (TD Ameritrade). The panel will emphasize the importance customer suitability, financial advisor and investor education and due diligence play in the sale of complex products to individual investors while addressing how the industry prepares for continued regulation of complex products. The following questions will answered by the panel:

• Complexity is a relative term, depending on risk-reward, what products should generally be deemed “complex”?
• Current areas of concern?
• Balancing Act: Can regulatory policy accommodate innovative investment solutions?
• Best practices for reviewing new complex products (suitability assessments, post-approval review, disclosure, compliance risk assessments, etc.)?
• Has the supervisory climate changed?

Partner Jay G. Baris will speak on a panel entitled “Regulatory Enforcement Overview: Complex Products 4.5 Years Later.” This session will address regulation, compliance and responsibility of firms creating and distributing complex investment products to suit the financial needs of retail investors. Topics will include:

• 2016 Exam priorities;
• Enforcement actions – then & now;
• Best Practices for avoiding regulatory intervention and discipline; and
• Emerging Enforcement Trends: Sophisticated data analytics, dedicated task forces, compliance program scrutiny and self-reporting.