Since 1996, the regulation of Investment Advisers has been divided between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the states. With the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in 2010, the dividing line between state-regulated and federally-regulated advisers shifted so that more advisers are regulated by the states.

Under Dodd-Frank, Utah regulates those Investment Advisers with less than $100 million in assets under management and are either located in Utah or have more than five clients in Utah (note: Utah’s definition of “client“ differs from the SEC definition and requirements may vary by state).

Currently, the SEC regulates Investment Advisers with more than $100 million in assets under management. However, federal covered advisers must still notice file in Utah if they are either located in the state or have more than five clients (note: requirements may vary by state). Also, federal covered advisers must still license any IA Rep with a place of business in Utah.

Those with many different business backgrounds seek to create their own investment advisory firm. Some start their own Investment Adviser after working for another Investment Adviser or a broker-dealer. Others come from non-securities industries, such as real estate or insurance. Some have no professional experience at all. Regardless of the applicant’s experience or business background, the compliance responsibilities are the same.

The securities industry is highly regulated as it can involve the life savings of investors. Consequently, the Investment Adviser license comes with many compliance responsibilities that may be new and intimidating to those who have not encountered them before. Indeed, obtaining a license is a small task compared to the ongoing compliance responsibilities of managing your own advisory firm.

In addition to the Utah Uniform Securities Act and Rules, Utah also incorporates federal requirements from the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Investment Advisers must also keep up to date on any changes to these laws and regulations that may arise.

Some of these compliance responsibilities include, but are not limited to: annual amendments to the Form ADV, maintaining books and records, maintaining minimum financial requirements, bonding requirements, approving advertisements and seminars, and the supervision of IA Reps (note: specific requirements will depend on the specific nature of the investment advisory business and may vary by state).

To license as an Investment Adviser in Utah, the Investment Adviser and its designated official must complete the following process.

• FORMATION.  Form and register the entity that will become the Investment Adviser. If organizing in Utah, contact the Utah Division of Corporations  to register the business. You may also need to register with your local municipality as well. If organizing outside of Utah or licensing in multiple states, please contact the securities regulator in each state you will conduct business.
• IARD ENTITLEMENT. The Investment Adviser will apply, file forms, and make payments online through the Investment Adviser Registration Depository (IARD), an online database run by FINRA. The Investment Adviser will be assigned a six-digit IARD/CRD number. Once entitled to the IARD, the firm will also have access to the Central Registration Depository (CRD) where it will file Form U4’s for its IA Reps (note: all IA Reps are assigned a separate CRD number that stays with the individual throughout their career in the securities industry). To begin the entitlement process, visit the IARD website  or call the IARD Call Center at (240) 386-4848.
• FORM ADV. Once entitled to use the IARD system, the Investment Adviser must file Form ADV through the IARD system. In filing the Form ADV, the Investment Adviser specifies whether it is registering with the SEC or licensing with the state(s). The Form ADV also requires the Investment Adviser to provide detailed information about the proposed advisory business to both regulators and advisory clients. For these two audiences, the Form ADV has two parts: Part 1 and Part 2. 
• DESIGNATED OFFICIAL (and other IA Reps). Every Investment Adviser must have a designated official. The designated official is a person that is a partner, officer, director, sole proprietor, or a person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions in an investment advisory firm. The designated official must also be licensed as an Investment Adviser Representative (IA Rep) of the Investment Adviser. While the Division will license an Investment Adviser with only one IA Rep (i.e. the designated official), the Investment Adviser is responsible for ensuring that all those employed or compensated by the Investment Adviser are properly licensed as an IA Rep (if necessary). 
• WRITTEN NOTIFICATION TO THE DIVISION. While the Form ADV is filed electronically through the IARD system, the Investment Adviser must also submit a written notification to the Division that:
  (a) identifies the designated official for the Investment Adviser; (b) indicates whether the Investment Adviser will have either custody of or discretionary authority over client funds or securities; and (c) demonstrates that the adviser has met the bonding requirements or minimum net worth requirements, both of which are $35,000 for custody and $10,000 for discretionary authority.
  
  For those that bond, you may submit Form 4-5BIA (one version for custody; another for discretionary authority) or a form with similar information. For those that seek to meet the minimum net worth requirement, the Division typically requires an independently-audited balance sheet showing the net worth or similar proof. For any Investment Adviser that is also registered as a broker-dealer firm, proof of membership in SIPC may be accepted in lieu of the bonding or minimum net worth requirements.
• REVIEW PROCESS. The Division reviews the Form ADV, any additional documentation submitted, and other information about the Investment Adviser, its management, and IA Reps in order to identify any regulatory concerns at the outset. The goal of this review process is so Investment Advisers can start their business on a compliant path. If the Division identifies any deficiencies or has further questions, it will send a Comment Letter and will require that all concerns be resolved before approving the license. This process may take thirty days or longer to complete, however.
• APPROVAL. The Division will notify the Investment Adviser once its license is approved, but will not send any official notification or certificate. The Investment Adviser can always view their licensing status through the IARD system and the public can verify the Investment Adviser is licensed through the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website To remain approved, the Investment Adviser should also review the “Annual Requirements” section of this brochure for more information.

Form ADV Part 1
Form ADV Part 1 is an online form accessed through the IARD system and can be easily updated at any time. For that reason, it is best for answers to reflect the firm as it currently exists, unless specifically instructed otherwise. Essentially, consider Form ADV Part 1 as a snapshot of the Investment Adviser today.

Form ADV Part 2 (new)
Form ADV Part 2 now consists of (at least) two, separate and self-created documents: a FIRM BROCHURE and a BROCHURE SUPPLEMENT. While only regulators see Form ADV Part 1 (some portions are publicly viewable), the Form ADV Part 2 is a public disclosure document that must be provided to all advisory clients.

Firm Brochure
The FIRM BROCHURE provides clients with detailed information about the Investment Adviser, including: its owners and management, its services and fees, any other or affiliated businesses, disciplinary information, any conflicts of interest, brokerage practices, etc. Depending on the nature of the advisory business, a firm may have multiple versions of its FIRM BROCHURE. 

Brochure Supplement
The BROCHURE SUPPLEMENT provides clients with detailed information about owners, management, and/or individual IA Reps of the Investment Adviser, such as: education and business background, disciplinary information, outside business, any conflicts of interest, etc. Depending on the organization of the Investment Adviser, the firm may have multiple BROCHURE SUPPLEMENTS for specific groups of advisory clients. 

Part 2 Requirements
All Part 2 documents are to be written in plain-English narratives and follow detailed instructions as to their content. Also, all Part 2 documents need to be text-searchable PDF files and uploaded to the IARD system. Investment Advisers may also need to create an additional Part 2 document if they offer a wrap fee program.

Annual Renewals

All licenses (both Investment Adviser and IA Rep) expire each year on December 31. Toward the end of each calendar year, licensed Investment Advisers receive communication from FINRA regarding the renewal process. Licenses are automatically renewed so long as the Investment Adviser has enough funds in their IARD account to cover the renewal fees for the Investment Adviser and all of its IA Reps.

Additionally, investment advisers required to maintain a bond (for discretionary authority and/or custody) must file Form 4-5BIA with the Division. An adviser must also file an audited balance sheet for the firm If the adviser either: (a) charges fees of more than $1,200 and six months in advance, or (b) maintains custody.

Annual Amendments and Other Amendments

Investment Advisers must also file an Annual Amendment to the Form ADV. This is to ensure that the information in the Form ADV remains accurate. The Annual Amendment must be filed each year within 90 days from the end of the Investment Adviser’s fiscal year.

Additionally, the Investment Adviser must make an Other Than Annual Amendment promptly after any material changes to the Investment Adviser occurs. Lastly, while the Form U4 must also be amended promptly after any material changes or events occur for the IA Rep, no separate annual amendment is required for the Form U4.

To withdraw an application or terminate an Investment Adviser license, the firm must file Form ADV-W through the IARD system.

Utah Uniform Securities Act Definitions