Under the Investment Advisers Act, an adviser can only charge a performance fee if the client was a “qualified client”. The SEC equates net worth with sophistication, so a “qualified client” had to have a level assets to prove their financial sophistication. Those levels are now officially increased. The original standard was that the client [...]
Tighter Rules on Advisory Performance Fee Charges
SEC Made It Harder to Earn Performance Fees
As a general rule, investment adviser cannot charge performance fees. Section 205(a)(1) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 generally prohibits an investment adviser from entering into, extending, renewing, or performing any investment advisory contract that provides for compensation to the adviser based on a share of capital gains on, or capital appreciation of, the [...]
The SEC Is Making it Harder for Investment Advisers to Earn Performance Fees
The Securities and Exchange Commission is proposing to raise the dollar thresholds for someone to be considered a “qualified client.” The definition of a qualified client is set out in Rule 205-3. This is an exemption to the Section 205(a)(1) general prohibition on performance fees. Section 205(e) grants the SEC the power to create an [...]

Changes to the Qualified Client Standard
In addition to the changing standard for an accredited investor, the standard for a “qualified client” under the Investment Advisers Act is also changing. Section 418 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act requires the SEC to increase the standard. SEC. 418. QUALIFIED CLIENT STANDARD. Section 205(e) of the Investment Advisers Act [...]

Performance Fees for Private Investments Funds under the Investment Adviser Act
As more private investment funds will be pulled under the regulatory umbrella of the Investment Advisers Act,they will need to focus on the limitation on performance fees. Section 205(a)(1) of the Advisers Act generally prohibits any investment adviser, unless exempt from registration pursuant to Section 203(b) of the Advisers Act, from entering into, extending, renewing, [...]
Recent Stories
- The Danger of Overstating Assets Under Management
- Compliance Bits and Pieces for May 18
- The Richer Sex: The New Majority of Female Breadwinners
- How Wall Street Killed Financial Reform
- Social Media and the Financial Risk
- Mishandling Fund Conflicts
- Compliance Bits and Pieces for May 11
- Is it a Security?
- Comments on Advertising Restrictions for Private Funds
- Gathering Information on Your Private Fund Investors


