Bill Myers

The Federal Trade Commission has just given itself permission to crack down on mergers and private fund advisers are in the agency’s sights.

The SEC is working on 'consistent, comparable and decision-useful' ESG disclosures for public companies, SEC chair Gary Gensler says, and he's under pressure to expand any new ESG rules to private funds. As governments and industry work toward a universal system, savvy advisers should focus on what matters. An ESG metrics primer: Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are a group of standards used by socially conscious investors to screen investments.

'Hundreds of billions of dollars in fees and expenses are standing between investors and businesses.'

SEC examiners are focusing on private funds' compliance with the custody rule, and outside auditors may not be helping.

Congress is weighing a bill that would require private funds, family offices, museums, finance counsel and a host of other 'gatekeepers' to come up with anti-money-laundering policies. 

If passed, the ENABLERS Act would require investment advisers and other 'gatekeepers' to develop and maintain anti-money-laundering policies and procedures. 

'When it comes to accountability, few things rival the magnitude of wrongdoers admitting that they broke the law'

SEC enforcement director Gurbir Grewal is promising to get tough on private equity, hedge funds and venture capital funds.

States want beneficial owners on Form D.

'A lot of fees and potential conflicts inherent,' Chairman says