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Investment Adviser Regulatory Counsel (SEC & State)

SEC Announces New Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) Alert Message Line And Anti-money Laundering (AML) Source Tool For Mutual Funds

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On August 7, 2008, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) unveiled a new Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) Alert Message Line. This hotline may be used by securities firms to voluntarily report the filing of an SAR, bringing the matter to the immediate attention of the SEC. Although placing a call to the SEC SAR Alert Message Line does not alleviate a firm’s obligation to file an SAR or notify law enforcement, the hotline allows firms to bring incidents of suspicious activity to the attention of regulators in an efficient and effective manner. The SEC SAR Alert Message Line is (202) 551- SARS [(202) 551-7277]. Firms may also report suspicious activities or transactions that may relate to terrorist activity to FinCEN’s Hotline, which is (866) 556-3974.

The SEC also announced a new one-stop online reference site to assist mutual funds in complying with Anti-Money Laundering regulations. The AML Source Tool for Mutual Funds provides links to key AML laws, rules and other guidance designed to help mutual funds create and maintain compliance programs that meet the legal requirements pertaining to anti-money laundering. A similar tool was unveiled to the public last year, the AML Source Tool for Broker-Dealers, and has since been a popular resource assisting securities firms in understanding all applicable AML regulations. The Source Tools were initially developed for use by the SEC examiners in the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE), but have proved to be an invaluable one-stop resource for broker-dealers and now mutual funds to access applicable AML requirements in one- easy-to-reference location.

For more information, or to discuss anti-money laundering program regulatory considerations, please contact us at (619) 298-2880.

Alternatively, meet the JLG Team at an upcoming industry conference! We will be presenting at the Ascendant Compliance Conference, IA Week Conference and NSCP National Meeting during September and October 2008. These are excellent forums for you to expand your compliance knowledge. For more information, please visit our website at www.jackolg.com.

Author: Michelle Jacko, Managing Partner, Jacko Law Group, PC (“JLG”). JLG works extensively with investment advisers, broker-dealers, investment companies, hedge funds and banks on legal and regulatory compliance matters.

For more information about this topic and other legal services, please contact us at (619) 298-2880, [email protected] or visit www.jackolg.com. Thank you.

This article is for information purposes and does not contain or convey legal advice. The information herein should not be relied upon in regard to any particular facts or circumstances without first consulting with a lawyer.

About the author

Managing Partner and CEO

Michelle L. Jacko, Esq. is the Managing Partner and CEO of Jacko Law Group, PC (“JLG”), which offers securities, corporate, real estate, and employment law counsel to broker-dealers, investment advise...

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Dharmi is an excellent securities lawyer who understands the law as it pertains to these cases. She is extremely proactive and represents her clients well. I highly recommend Jacko and Dharmi.
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Danielle Martin
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I’ve had the privilege of working closely with this firm in my role as Chief Compliance Officer and I can confidently say they are an exceptional compliance partner. Their depth of experience is immediately evidentand they bring a level of practical knowledge. What I truly enjoy is their ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into plain English, often using real, everyday examples that make implementation far more manageable. They are also incredibly responsive and reliable. In a field where timing matters, their prompt communication and thoughtful guidance have been invaluable. If you’re looking for a compliance attorney who combines expertise, clarity, and professionalism, I highly recommend them.
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Curt Rocca
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Michelle and the team at Jacko Law Group have helped guide through a variety of critical circumstances as we ventured through the uncharted and unfamiliar territory of becoming and successfully operating as an RIA. I have particularly appreciated Michelle's personal involvement and genuine caring about us and our organization. She has been responsive and her counsel has been consistently on-point and helpful. She artfully guided us through our initial filing process and first SEC exam process - which went very well. Very grateful to Michelle and her team.
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Nicholas Di Paolo
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Michelle and her team were excellent to work with, front to back. They helped me to understand the challenges ahead and were always proactive in their consultation through every step of my transition. JLG truly know the wealth management industry very well and did a great job of understanding the challenges unique to my business. Without them, I can confidently say I would not have felt as comfortable through the transition as I did. Fortunately, that's not something that stops there - Michelle and her team have kept in touch to ensure that I'm on top of certain administrative issues, trends, and simply showing me that they care about my business and success. I look forward to continuing to work with them for many years to come.
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Margery Neis
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Dharmi Mehta was extremely helpful when my business partner and I transitioned to a new RIA firm. She and her staff were all very professional. Her guidance during our transition was invaluable. I highly recommend Dharmi and Jacko Law Group.
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Joseph Burwell
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Dharmi and Amandeep were a delight to work with. They assisted me with a claim and stuck with me the entire way through. Dharmi's advice was invaluable, and I was most impressed by her clear and professional communication. From beginning-to-end, both Dharmi and Amandeep kept me well informed. Their entire team are proud of their work and rightfully so. Thank you!
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Faruk Jaffer
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My mentor once told me that a good attorney is worth their weight in gold — and that couldn't be more true of Michelle and Amanda. Their expertise, professionalism, and responsiveness were top notch every step of the way. It's rare to find legal partners who are not only sharp and thorough, but also genuinely invested in your success. I’m grateful for their guidance and highly recommend them to anyone seeking trusted legal counsel.
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everistus etafo
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It is my great Privilege to share my Review of what Atty Dharmi Mehta of Jacko Law Group did for me and by extension for my family. From the first time complimentary conversation we had having spoken to several other Lawyers ,l knew she was the right person for the Job .Because of her background as a former RR ,she was professional,kind, Empathetic,listened and was focused on fighting for me. From a potential of been terminated with cause ,l was able to walk away with a clean U5 with a validation that l did nothing wrong except what was in the best Interest of my clients. I hope nobody ever has to go through what l have Experienced, but if you do ,you want Dharmi Mehta beside you .Rest assured your service Deserve 10 stars but this forum only allows 5. Me and my family are forever grateful and will make sure that any RR who needs an advocate will know about you . Everistus Etafo
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Karen Althaus
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I have worked with Jacko Law Group for 2 different business situations that necessitated an attorney. In both cases, the team was very thorough & competent. Their attention to our situation and the extra effort they put into our case(s) was very much appreciated. I would highly recommend Jacko Law Group!