GRC Solutions for Mutual Funds, ETFs, and Other Investment Companies

Our Investment Company Practice supports registered investment companies, as well as their advisers and sub-advisers, board of directors, and service providers to help them build, enhance and add controls to their compliance programs to meet Investment Company Act of 1940 requirements and SEC and industry standards.

We offer objective, innovative, and effective compliance reviews and solutions to prepare registered investment companies, as well as their boards, sponsors, advisers, sub-advisers, and service providers, for the rigors of SEC examinations. We provide solutions to assist firms with managing and mitigating related operational, regulatory, and reputational risks.

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Our solutions

Address financial crimes-related threats and regulatory concerns with our team of former regulators and auditors. Our team can support with independent money laundering reviews for mutual funds and transfer agents, AML compliance program reviews, and more.

We offer broker-dealer chaperoning services to non-U.S. asset managers and broker-dealers that seek to market private funds in the United States without registering as a U.S. broker-dealer.

Strengthen your compliance program with our global team of compliance professionals.

Our consultants can provide training on the many topics mutual funds, ETFs, and other investment companies need to comply with, or you can choose to use any of our online modules to train your staff.

Build cyber and operational resilience across your firm with our team of cybersecurity and technology risk experts.

ACA Foreside can sponsor (apply for, obtain, and maintain) an NSCC membership participant number for domestic funds, collective trusts, and foreign funds. Additionally, we can provide guidance to clients and their transfer agents with respect to administration, implementation, and maintenance of funds’ operational policies and procedures.

Gain clarity on your firm’s ESG requirements and build a strong compliance program with our dedicated ESG advisory practice.

Launching an ETF takes the right partner.  We stand ready to advise you regarding the regulatory, financial, operational and distribution requirements of your exchange-traded funds (ETFs). 

Our Fund Officer model provides a hands-on, tailored approach by placing experienced and independent Fund Officers close to the Fund’s Board of Trustees. They are exposed to multiple administrators, counsel, and advisors, and have valuable industry perspective allowing for a better understanding of best practices.

We distribute over $1 trillion of product for over 200 fund families through our broker-dealers and serve as the legal underwriter for registered funds (mutual funds, closed-end funds, and ETFs) and placement agent for private funds.

Liquidity Risk Management Program Support

ACA’s Investment Company practice is dedicated to supporting our clients in navigating the SEC’s liquidity risk management program rule through educational resources and alerts, benchmarking insight, help with program management and development of policies and procedures, annual assessments, and more.

Maximize your firm’s time and efficiency with our technology-powered managed services. Our team can assist with on- and off-site CCO support and outsourced mutual fund advertising and marketing reviews.

Stay in compliance with the GIPS® standards and investment performance rules with the world’s largest team of GIPS standards verifiers.

We can maintain a private-label broker-dealer on behalf of your firm, allowing you to focus on your core business. Our private label broker-dealer offering provides an opportunity for firms to have ACA Foreside own and manage a broker-dealer branded by you and dedicated solely to you as the client.

ACA Foreside can assist with all aspects of your FINRA licensing needs for both registered and private funds.

Build a scalable and resilient compliance program with our ComplianceAlpha® regulatory technology  platform backed by managed services support.

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Who we work with

We provide solutions for the following types of firms.

Business Development Companies (BDCs)

We provide objective, innovative, and effective compliance reviews and solutions to assist business development companies, as well as their boards, sponsors, and service providers — with preparing for the rigors of an SEC examination.

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)

We provide objective, innovative, and effective compliance reviews and solutions to assist exchange-traded funds with preparing for the rigors of an SEC examination.

Registered Investment Companies

We offer diverse compliance review and compliance services, all scalable to individual client needs.

Variable Insurance Products

We help insurance companies and distributors understand and manage these complex compliance requirements and develop and implement the comprehensive, effective risk-based protocols necessary to meet regulators’ expectations.

Solution Spotlight

Investment company compliance solutions

Our team includes former regulators along with former along with former chief compliance officers and senior compliance managers from prominent financial institutions. Our team helps you to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape while considering the complexity of your firm’s unique compliance requirements.

Compliance solutions can include:

  • Adviser and fund policy and procedure customization and development
  • Mock SEC reviews
  • Rule 38a-1 compliance program reviews
  • Enhanced annual adviser compliance program reviews that is specific to Company Act requirements for advisers/sub-advisers
  • Customized focus reviews (e.g. liquidity risk management program, intermediary fees, cross trades, cybersecurity, valuation)
  • Compliance and internal audit testing support
  • Sub-adviser due diligence reviews
  • SEC inspection support
  • Mutual fund distributor reviews and financial intermediary oversight reviews (e.g. FINRA rule 3110, 3120)
  • Independent Consulting Mandate

By the numbers

Our market share

80%

of the top 100 mutual funds (as noted in the Mutual Fund Directory March 2020 ranking data)

Latest compliance insights

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Due Diligence of Research Firms and Data Providers - What Investment Advisers Need to Know

Over the past several years, the SEC, through examinations and enforcement actions, has made it clear that it expects registered investment advisers to undertake meaningful due diligence of the

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Takeaways from the SEC’s 2019 Fiscal Year Budget Request

On February 12, 2018, the U.S.

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FCA’s Dear CEO letter targets improved prudential processes

For the first time in some years, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has written to asset managers’ CEOs on prudential matters. The letter includes a plea by the FCA for data that it, and the EBA, can rely upon when aggregating firms’ submissions to understand the macro picture.

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How ACA’s Form PF Solutions Can Help Lighten the Load

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s ("SEC") Form PF presents many challenges for investment advisers, particularly those that have large data sets and multiple administrators.

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What to Expect from Electronic Communications Exam Requests

SEC examinations of Registered Investment Advisers are on the rise. Here's a look at what the regulators are asking for and considerations for production.

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New Prudential Framework: Impact Analysis for EU Investment Firms

The premise of the new rules will be to ensure investment firms have a prudential framework designed to be simpler and more proportionate to the operations of these types of firms. However, these changes will result in significant alteration to how investment firms measure their capital for regulatory purposes.

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News

ACA Group Named a 2024 DataTech50 Provider

ACA Group acknowledged as one of the most innovative tech companies offering data management solutions in financial services

ACA Group Expands U.S. Compliance Team with Former SEC and FINRA Regulators, In-House CCOs, Seasoned Regulatory Consultants, and Attorneys

We are committed to meeting the needs of our clients. This year, we have made several notable additions to the team to help us to continue to operate at the forefront of the compliance industry. Learn more about our team.

ACA Group Acquires Encore Compliance Adding AI Technology to Enhance Managed Services Capabilities

ACA Group Acquires Encore Compliance to Enhance Managed Services Capabilities with AI Technology. Acquisition enhances ACA’s technology solutions to support day-to-day compliance requirements and reduce risk

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