Forum News Feed

The Forum News Feed is an electronic journal, or "blog," of alerts, analysis, news and tools focused on the needs of independent directors. Click here to subscribe to the Forum News Feed and have it delivered electronically to your e-mail inbox. 

 

  • April 3, 2024

    SS&C Releases White Paper on the Rise of ETFs

    The paper highlights the advantages of the ETF wrapper including intraday trading, tax efficiencies, and lower fees all of which are leading to increased investor flows and increased mutual fund to ETF conversions. Additionally, the paper covers whether the rise of ETFs means the "death" of mutual funds more generally.

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  • April 2, 2024

    2024 MPI Annual Mutual Fund CCO Compensation Survey

    Management Practice Inc. (MPI) is currently working on their annual “Survey of Mutual Fund Chief Compliance Officer Compensation and Organizational Practices” and requests participation from the CCO community in gathering data.

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  • April 1, 2024

    Event of Interest: Brookings to Host Webcast on the Rise and Risk of Private Credit

    The event will focus on the growth of private credit, concerns from certain banks about competition, and fears from regulators about the impact on financial stability.

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  • March 28, 2024

    Lawsuits Commence Over Commission’s New ESG Rule

    After the Commission released its final rule “The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors” nine separate petitions were filed to challenge legal challenges were filed against the Commission’s rule. On March 22, it was announced that the Eighth Circuit Court would hear the case.

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  • March 27, 2024

    SEC Announces Enforcement Actions Against “AI-Washing” Advisers

    On March 18, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced an enforcement action against two investment advisers, Delphia (USA) Inc. and Global Predictions Inc., for making false and misleading statements about their use of artificial intelligence (AI).

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  • March 26, 2024

    EY Releases Update on Registered Funds Reporting and Regulation for 2024

    A panel of EY financial services experts weighs in on the latest developments impacting registered funds, including a legislative and regulatory update.

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  • March 25, 2024

    House Advances Closed-End Fund Bill, Obstacles Remain

    The U.S. House of Representatives advanced a package of bills titled “Expanding Access to Capital Act of 2023” (H.R. 2799) by a party line vote, 212-205. In addition to the package of bills, several amendments were offered on the House Floor as part of the package, including the “Increasing Investor Opportunities Act” sponsored by Capital Markets Subcommittee Chairman Ann Wagner (R-MO).

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  • March 20, 2024

    Fed Chair Powell Testifies on Capitol Hill

    Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell delivered testimony as part of the “Semi-Annual Monetary Policy Report to Congress” to both the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Banking Committee. The hearings focused on the independence of the Federal Reserve when examining monetary policy, the Basel III framework, housing issues, interest rates generally, and the impact immigration has on the labor force.

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  • March 19, 2024

    Athena Alliance Releases AI Governance Playbook

    Athena Alliance released the “AI Governance Playbook for Boards and Management” that serves to guide boards and management through ethical and strategic decisions to harness AI's potential responsibly.

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  • March 18, 2024

    Event of Interest: Navigating the SEC's Climate-Related Disclosure Ruling

    Nasdaq plans to host a webinar titled “Navigating the SEC's Climate-Related Disclosure Ruling.” The program will highlight key takeaways from the Commission’s final rule on corporate disclosure of climate related risk.

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  • March 14, 2024

    SEC Commissioner Uyeda Delivers Remarks on Regulatory Overreach

    In his remarks, Commissioner Uyeda emphasized the importance of regulatory clarity for market participants. He noted the Commission “was designed by Congress to have a degree of independence from the political process,” and in return, “the Commission’s jurisdiction is limited to only those areas specifically authorized by statute.”

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  • March 13, 2024

    FUSE Research Highlights 2024 Net Flows Forecast, Economic Predictions

    FUSE research recently released two reports highlighting predictions for fund flows and overall economic stability for 2024. The first report identifies product developments, hiring trends, emerging issues, and investor flows. In the second report, FUSE predicts that the Fed will have interest rates around 4.25%-4.75% while also warning of the buzz around artificial intelligence.

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  • March 12, 2024

    MFDF Webinar: Understanding Spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Products

    The Mutual Fund Directors Forum, Morgan Lewis, and EY will host a webinar titled “Understanding Spot Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Products.” The program will highlight key aspects of the recently approved Spot Bitcoin ETP products and what trustees should know if an adviser integrates the product into a fund’s portfolio.

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  • March 11, 2024

    SEC Releases Corporate Climate Disclosure Final Rule

    The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a 3-2 vote, finalized the rule proposal “The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures” that was originally proposed on March 21, 2022. In his statement of support for the final rule, SEC Chair Gary Gensler noted the final rules, “would provide investors with consistent, comparable, decision-useful information, and issuers with clear reporting requirements.”

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  • March 7, 2024

    Yellen Testifies on Capitol Hill on FSOC Annual Report

    The hearings focused on the regulation of nonbank financial companies, SIFI designation, Basel III proposal, digital assets, and climate change. House Financial Services Chairman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) argued that FSOC has expanded its regulatory reach to fit the Biden administration’s political priorities and is acting like a “roving regulator” under current leadership.

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  • March 6, 2024

    Nasdaq Releases Report on Expected 2024 Boardroom Trends

    The report highlights areas in risk oversight, technology and data security, and board effectiveness. While the report is geared toward corporate directors, there is an impactful discussion of skills and habits that make boards more effective and efficient.

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  • March 5, 2024

    Event of Interest: Morgan Lewis Plans to Hold AI Webinar Series

    The program will touch on the challenges and opportunities AI presents for the regulatory landscapes in the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom. Specific topics that will be discussed include: data protection, copyrights, patents, contracts, financing, ediscovery, and more.

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  • March 4, 2024

    FinCEN Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on AML

    The FinCEN proposed rulemaking would require certain investment advisers to apply AML and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) requirements pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), including implementing risk-based AML/CFT programs, reporting suspicious activity to FinCEN, and fulfilling recordkeeping requirements.

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  • February 29, 2024

    Birdthistle to Leave SEC March 8

    The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that William Birdthistle, the Director of the Division of Investment Management, will vacate his position effective March 8. Natasha Vij Greiner, currently the Deputy Director of the Division of Examinations, will be named Director of the Division of Investment Management after Director Birdthistle’s departure.

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  • February 28, 2024

    Registered Closed-End Funds May Exclude Investor’s Advisory Proposal to Declassify Board

    The Securities and Exchange Commission granted relief to three Nuveen closed-end funds to exclude a shareholder proposal by Saba Capital Management from the funds’ proxy materials.

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