Anthony Zeoli

Montana Denied: Regulation A+ Still A Go As SEC Denies Montana’s Request to Stay

As you may know, Montana has filed a “Petition For Review” to challenge the final rules adopted by the SEC under Title IV of the JOBS Act (commonly referred to as Regulation A+). In connection with its suit, Monica J. Lindeen, Montana State Auditor and… Read More

SEC Advisory Committee Recommends Modernizing Rule 147 To Support Intrastate Crowdfunding

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies met in early June to discuss various topics concerning, of course, small businesses. One of the primary topics the Committee addressed was the growing enactment and use of state-based crowdfunding (i.e. “Intrastate… Read More

Patch Of Land Now Offers a Truly “Secured” Investment Structure

As you may remember, in an earlier post entitled “Investor Protection Issue – Why You May Want To Reconsider How “Secure” You Feel About Your Real Estate Crowdfunding Investment,” I took issue with the fact that the majority, if not all, currently offered Real Estate… Read More

FINRA Launches Online BrokerCheck Research Tool, But Does It Work?

Early last week the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rolled out a multi-million dollar ad campaign promoting its online research tool called “BrokerCheck.” BrokerCheck is free online database intended to provide the investing public with an east way to research brokers and investment advisers before… Read More

Peer to Peer Lending: Taking The Fear Out Of “Shadow Banking”

For years now, big bank lenders have warned the public about the dangers of dealing with “shadow” (i.e. non-bank) lending institutions. The term itself conjures up images of shady back-room deals where you’re handed money in a paper bag and told to pay it back… Read More

Illinois Crowdfunding Bill Gets Approval in Both House & Senate

I am absolutely thrilled to be able to say that, after over a year of lobbying, this week the Illinois Intrastate Crowdfunding Bill (HB 3429) was approved. In fact, in a rare display of true bipartisan action (especially for Illinois), the bill was approved unanimously… Read More

STATE OF THE STATES: An Update On Intrastate Crowdfunding

Normally when I write about updates on intrastate crowdfunding legislation it’s simply to let readers know that one, two, maybe even as many as three states have either enacted or proposed new legislation. Not this time, however, as the first quarter of 2015 has brought… Read More

P2P Lending Platforms: Big Money Investors Looking For Piece Of The Pie

It is clear that peer-to-peer (P2P) lending is here to stay but long gone are the days of actual “peers” lending to “peers.” Today Wall Street firms, hedge funds and other “big money investors”, make up the overwhelming bulk of the funds being lent through… Read More

LOOKING FOR THE EXIT – Commissioner Aguilar Presses On The Need For Greater Secondary Market Liquidity 

Earlier this month, Commissioner Luis A. Aguilar addressed the Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies in Washing D.C. In his speech (embedded below), Commissioner Aguilar echoed the sentiments of the market in arguing the need for increased liquidity in the private placement market. His… Read More

Facebook Releases New P2P Payment Feature. What’s Next?

Facebook has just announced the release of a new “P2P” payment feature incorporated in its messenger service. The application will allow users to send & receive money to each other using their platform. Facebook launched the service saying “it is easy, and it is free”.  The… Read More

ALL HAIL THE COMING of The Illinois Intrastate Crowdfunding Bill

Alright so maybe “all hail” might be a little much but cut me some slack, I’m excited. After more than a year of lobbying, campaigning and pounding the pavement Illinois finally has a filed intrastate crowdfunding exemption bill. Well, that’s not entirely true … Illinois… Read More

Lock it up: SEC & FINRA Weigh in on Cybersecurity Issues

Early in 2014, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) announced its intention to conduct an examination of certain registered broker-dealers and investment advisers in order to assess the general vulnerability of the securities industry, as a whole, to cyber-attacks…. Read More

State of the States: An Update on Intrastate Crowdfunding

As the S.E.C. continues to drag its feet on releasing final Title III crowdfunding rules, the intrastate crowdfunding movement shows no signs of slowing down. Here is a brief update as to the status of the enactment/use of intrastate crowdfunding exemptions in certain states. Minnesota… Read More

Leading Voice for Small Business Congressman Patrick McHenry Named Vice Chairman of House Financial Services Committee

Congratulations to Congressman Patrick McHenry who has a new leadership position in the House Financial Services Committee. Late last week, Financial Services Committee Chairman, Jeb Hensarling, named Congressman McHenry to serve as Vice Chairman of the full Committee for the 114th Congress. This is great… Read More

NASAA Champions Electronic Filing Depository System as Solution to Blue Sky Challenge

In late December of last year, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) launched, what it refers to, as its Electronic Filing Depository (EFD) system. The EFD system is designed to allow users to submit certain required “blue sky” notice filings in connection with exempt… Read More

SEC Commissioner Gallagher: Millionaires Can Fend for Themselves

  Last week I had the opportunity to attend the 2014 Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation in Washington D.C. where Commissioner Daniel M. Gallagher gave his opening remarks after the first panel. In what I can only refer to as a “mic drop”… Read More

Oregon Releases Proposed Intrastate Crowdfunding Exemption Rules; BUT Will They Be Useful?

While just recently uploaded, sometime in October David Tatman, the administrator of the Division of Finance and Corporate Securities, filed a “Statement Of Need And Fiscal Impact” with the Oregon Secretary of State proposing , what he refers to as, “Community Public Offerings” (CPOs) …… Read More

Illinois Intrastate Crowdfunding Exemption: The Reasoning Behind The Bill

As noted in my prior post, “Draft Bill: Illinois Intrastate Crowdfunding Exemption,” an official draft of my proposed Illinois Intrastate Crowdfunding Exemption was recently finished. To my surprise, people actually read it and I have been getting a lot of questions as to why I… Read More

Draft Bill: Illinois Intrastate Crowdfunding Exemption

Well it’s official. At long last my proposed Illinois intrastate crowdfunding exemption has been formally drafted as a proposed bill. It may be without a sponsor at the moment but one step at a time…. For those that are interested in reading the full proposed… Read More

Everyone out of the Pool! IAC Makes Recommendations Which Would Significantly Decrease The Pool of Available Accredited Investors

The Investor Advisory Committee (IAC) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) met yesterday to vote on the approval of its recommendations to the SEC for reforming the current definition of “accredited investor.” Most of the recommendations of the IAC call for changes to the… Read More

Send this to a friend