ACA Group

Today FinCEN finalized new rules that address and prevent money laundering, terrorist financing, and other illicit finance activity by imposing new requirements on certain Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs) and all Exempt Reporting Advisers (ERAs). 💡 Key Takeaways: Expanded Scope: The final rule broadens the definition of “financial institution” under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) to include RIAs and ERAs. This means greater scrutiny and more responsibilities for compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) obligations. Compliance Costs: Firms may face upfront costs to update their internal policies and adopt additional AML/CFT measures. The rule is designed to be risk-based, meaning costs will vary according to the size and risk profile of your business. 💼 Who’s Affected: RIAs and ERAs are subject to the rules, except for RIAs that report $0 in AUM and RIAs that register with the SEC solely because they operate within one or more of the following categories, as indicated on their Form ADV: • Mid-Sized Adviser [Item 2.A.(2)] • Pension Consultant [Item 2.A.(7)] • Multi-state Adviser [Item 2.A.(10)] No ERAs are exempt from the final rule. 📝 The rule requires advisers to develop and implement an AML/CFT program that is risk-based and reasonably designed to prevent the adviser from being used as a conduit for illicit activities, allowing firms to tailor their programs according to their specific risks and business activities. The rules also impose more specific program requirements including customer due diligence, FinCEN reporting, employee training, recordkeeping, and program testing. 📅 Compliance Date: January 1, 2026 While it may seem far off, the time to start preparing is now. Ensuring your compliance program is ready will be key to a smooth transition. Compliance can be complex, but with the right preparation, you can meet these new challenges head-on. Join our mailing list https://hubs.ly/Q02MZtjK0 #FinCEN #AML #CFT #complianceprograms #ACAinsights

We are thrilled to share that ACA Group has been shortlisted for 3 categories in the RegTech Insight, from A-Team Group Awards - USA! 🏅 Best Compliance as a Service Solution 🏅 Best Conduct Risk Solution 🏅 Best Regulatory Consultancy – North America Help us win by casting your vote! https://hubs.ly/Q02MMYJ60 We thank our clients and the industry for recognizing our efforts. Your continued support is invaluable. We are committed to providing the best GRC solutions for financial services firms. #RegTechInsightAwards #financialservices

1LoD's XLoD Global Surveillance Summit this summer in New York highlighted the importance of innovation in compliance, but it’s clear that many firms are still finding it challenging to keep pace. With 70% of attendees stating that innovation in compliance is "slowly evolving," it’s time for us to rethink how we approach change in a highly regulated environment. During the event regulators and our team emphasized the ongoing importance of adhering to books & records rules, with a focus on off-channel Communications. Is your firm keeping up with the pace of change? Read the key takeaways you need to know now: https://hubs.ly/Q02Mzpkm0 #regtech #surveillance #XLoD #complianceprograms

As we recognize National Women’s Equality Day, ACA reaffirms our dedication to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered. Tomorrow, our employee resource group, WE@ACA will host an inspiring event focused on career development and the importance of equality. We are honored to have Lauren Dillard, Julia Reyes, and Christine Tetherly-Lewis lead this important discussion. Let’s continue to empower each other and make a lasting impact. Learn more about our commitment to excellence here: https://hubs.ly/Q02MyFdL0 #OneACA #WomensEqualityDay #WEatACA

Learn how our team helped a private equity and private credit manager with over $20 billion in AUM elevate their performance transparency by leveraging our outsourced Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®) Compliance support! By partnering with ACA, the firm was able to successfully map out a clear timeline to achieve GIPS compliance, benefiting from our expertise in performance measurement and comprehensive management of the compliance process. For investment firms, maintaining compliance with these standards isn’t just about following the rules—it’s about building credibility. Learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q02MfQX_0 #investmentperformance #performance #investmentmanagement GIPS® is a registered trademark owned by CFA Institute. CFA Institute does not endorse or promote this organization, nor does it warrant the accuracy or quality of the content contained herein.

A big thank you to our Minneapolis financial services compliance community! 🌟 Thank you to everyone who attended our networking event in Minneapolis this week. Your participation made it a truly special gathering. It was inspiring to see so many compliance professionals coming together to share knowledge and build stronger connections. We hope you left with new ideas, connections, and a renewed sense of community. Learn more about our PACT to our clients here: https://hubs.ly/Q02Mfx060 #compliance #complianceprofessionals #GRC

The SEC has raised the asset threshold for venture capital funds that operate pursuant to the qualifying venture capital exemption in Section 3(c)(1) of the Investment Company Act. Qualifying venture capital funds will soon be permitted to raise up to $12 million in aggregate capital contributions and uncalled committed capital. This is a notable increase from the previous $10 million threshold. 💼 Impact: New flexibility. Unlike other private funds operating pursuant to Section 3(c)(1), which are limited to 100 investors, qualifying venture capital funds are permitted to accept up to 250 investors. The new threshold allows qualifying venture capital funds to raise up to $12 million from 250 investors, whereas before this new rule, venture capital funds raising more than $10 million were limited to 100 investors. Regular Updates. New rule 3c-7 calls on the SEC to raise this threshold every five years in line with inflation. 💡 Action steps you can take: - Consider whether existing qualifying venture capital funds wish to raise additional capital when the rule becomes effective. - Adjust your compliance procedures to reflect the new thresholds. The rule becomes effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Stay up to date on our latest insights and compliance alerts by subscribing here: https://hubs.ly/Q02Mhk-t0 #venturecapital #SEC #investmentcompanyact #ACAinsights

Trusts are often perceived as safe havens, but they can also be conduits for money laundering. Our latest blog delves into how criminals exploit these legal structures and what you can do to mitigate the risks against risk of money laundering. Help strengthen your firm’s AML program with key insights: https://hubs.ly/Q02Mbs4X0 #GRC #AMLcompliance #ACAinsights

Every act of generosity counts. Everyone has something to give. Our team in Pune recently organized an ACA Gives Backs Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity at Shishuvihar School, Karve Santha, University Branch 📚🌿 with the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Shri Kasba Ganpati Mandal. We truly enjoyed providing educational magazines to the students and contributing to a greener tomorrow by planting trees on campus. Our Partner and Head of India, Richard Kemmling CPA, CIPM, CGMA, MBA delivered an uplifting message to the students, reminding them, "Education is the passport to your dreams." Discover more about ACA’s commitment to making a difference: https://hubs.ly/Q02LZpv20 #oneACA #ACAgivesback #corporatesocialresponsibility

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) continue to grow in popularity, but with growth comes responsibility. Are you up to date on the latest legal and compliance challenges? From marketing requirements to disclosure obligations, our latest blog provides a comprehensive look at the ETF regulatory landscape. 📖 Explore the blog https://hubs.ly/Q02LYX950, and let’s discuss the steps your firm is taking to navigate these critical issues. #ETFs #fundcompliance #assetmanagement #ACAinsights