Compliance Guidance

Detailed Regulatory Requirements Interpretation

Comprehensive analysis of US financial services regulations, advertising compliance requirements, and best practices for investment education services. Ensure full compliance with SEC, Meta, FINRA, and Treasury Department guidelines.

📋 Compliance Framework Overview

Comprehensive regulatory compliance structure for investment education services

SEC Regulations

Securities and Exchange Commission investor protection and education requirements

  • Investment Adviser Act compliance
  • Educational content standards
  • Risk disclosure requirements
  • Anti-fraud provisions

Meta Advertising Policies

Financial services advertising requirements on Facebook and Instagram platforms

  • Special ad category compliance
  • Audience targeting restrictions
  • Content approval process
  • Landing page requirements

FINRA Guidelines

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority education and communication standards

  • Educational material guidelines
  • Fair dealing requirements
  • Suitability standards
  • Record keeping obligations

Treasury Regulations

US Treasury Department financial inclusion and education policies

  • Financial inclusion initiatives
  • Consumer protection standards
  • Educational accessibility requirements
  • Transparency obligations

🔍 Detailed Regulatory Analysis

In-depth examination of specific compliance requirements and implementation guidelines

SEC Investment Education Requirements

Core Requirements

The Securities and Exchange Commission requires that all investment education materials:

  • Educational Purpose: Content must be genuinely educational rather than promotional
  • Risk Disclosure: Clear warnings about investment risks and potential losses
  • No Investment Advice: Materials cannot constitute personalized investment recommendations
  • Balanced Presentation: Information must present both risks and potential benefits

Content Standards

Accuracy

All information must be factually correct and current

Clarity

Content should be understandable to target audience

Completeness

Material facts must not be omitted

Fair Dealing

No misleading statements or implications

SEC Compliance Checklist

Risk disclosures prominently displayed
Educational disclaimers included
No specific investment recommendations
Balanced risk-benefit presentation

Meta Financial Services Advertising

Special Ad Category Requirements

Financial services ads on Meta platforms must comply with enhanced restrictions:

Targeting Restrictions
  • Age: Must target 18-65+ (cannot exclude any age group within range)
  • Gender: Cannot exclude any gender
  • Location: State-level targeting only (no ZIP code exclusions)
  • Interests: Cannot use detailed targeting based on interests or behaviors
Content Guidelines
  • No promises of specific returns or earnings
  • Cannot imply guaranteed success
  • Must include appropriate risk warnings
  • Educational focus required over promotional content
Verification Process
  • Business verification through Meta Business Manager
  • Identity verification for ad account administrators
  • Disclaimer information submission
  • Ongoing compliance monitoring

Current Compliance Status

Business Verified
Ad Account Authorized
Disclaimers Approved
Content Compliant

FINRA Communication Standards

Educational Communication Requirements

FINRA rules for investment education communications require:

Content Standards
  • Fair and balanced presentation
  • Substantiation of claims
  • Appropriate risk disclosures
  • Clear identification as educational
Supervisory Requirements
  • Principal review and approval
  • Documentation of review process
  • Retention of communications
  • Regular compliance monitoring
Record Keeping
  • Maintain copies of all communications
  • Document approval processes
  • Track distribution and usage
  • Preserve for required retention period

Treasury Financial Inclusion Policies

National Financial Inclusion Strategy

Based on the US Treasury's National Strategy for Financial Inclusion:

🎯 Pillar 1: Access

Expanding access to quality financial products and services

  • Inclusive product design
  • Geographic accessibility
  • Digital accessibility compliance
  • Multilingual support where appropriate
🔍 Pillar 2: Transparency

Promoting transparent and responsible financial services

  • Clear fee structures
  • Plain language disclosures
  • Transparent terms and conditions
  • Honest marketing practices
💡 Pillar 3: Innovation

Supporting responsible innovation in financial services

  • Technology-enabled solutions
  • User-centered design
  • Data privacy protection
  • Continuous improvement processes
🛡️ Pillar 4: Protection

Strengthening consumer and investor protections

  • Robust risk disclosures
  • Fair dealing standards
  • Complaint resolution processes
  • Regular compliance monitoring

📖 Implementation Guidelines

Practical guidance for maintaining compliance across all platforms and communications

Content Review Process

1

Content Creation

Develop educational materials following compliance guidelines

2

Compliance Review

Review against SEC, FINRA, and platform-specific requirements

3

Legal Approval

Obtain approval from qualified compliance officer

4

Documentation

Maintain records of review and approval process

Risk Management

High Risk

  • Investment advice or recommendations
  • Guaranteed return promises
  • Misleading success stories

Medium Risk

  • Historical performance data
  • Testimonials and case studies
  • Comparative analysis

Low Risk

  • General educational content
  • Risk awareness information
  • Regulatory compliance guidance

Monitoring & Updates

Daily

  • Monitor advertising performance
  • Review customer communications
  • Track compliance metrics

Weekly

  • Content compliance audit
  • Platform policy updates review
  • Staff training updates

Monthly

  • Comprehensive compliance review
  • Regulatory update assessment
  • Process improvement evaluation

Quarterly

  • Full system audit
  • External compliance consultation
  • Policy updates and revisions

Need Compliance Consultation?

Our compliance experts are available to help you navigate complex regulatory requirements and ensure full adherence to all applicable laws and guidelines.

  • Personalized compliance assessment
  • Regulatory update notifications
  • Best practices implementation
  • Ongoing monitoring and support
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