Trading Compliance: Best Execution, Soft Dollars and Directed Brokerage

As a fiduciary, an investment adviser has many obligations to the client including developing, implementing and testing policies, procedures and disclosures to ensure proper trading practices. Compliance, legal and trading experts will offer an overview of the trading process and appropriate best practices, and provide “hands-on” compliance solutions for the following mission-critical areas: best execution, soft dollars, and directed brokerage.

This seminar will provide insight into the meaning of “best execution,” and will focus on how strong policies and procedures can help an investment adviser fulfill its fiduciary obligations. Attendees will also learn how to identify, mitigate and manage potential conflicts of interest in the trading process.

The seminar will also discuss the regulatory issues pertaining to “soft dollar” relationships. Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 provides a “safe harbor” for certain research and brokerage services received by an investment adviser in exchange for directing client commissions to a broker-dealer. The seminar will focus in particular on the definitions of eligible “research” and “brokerage services,” as defined by SEC interpretation.