Mich. Admin. Code R. 451.4.17 - Minimum financial requirements for investment advisers

Rule 4.17.

(1) For purposes of this rule "net worth" means an excess of assets over liabilities, as determined by generally accepted accounting principles, but does not include as assets any of the following: prepaid expenses, except as to items properly classified assets under generally accepted accounting principles; deferred charges; goodwill; franchise rights; organizational expenses; patents; copyrights; marketing rights; unamortized debt discount and expense; all other assets of intangible nature; home; home furnishings; an automobile or automobiles; any other personal items not readily marketable in the case of an individual; advances or loans to stockholders and officers in the case of a corporation; and, advances or loans to partners in the case of a partnership.
(2) An investment adviser registered, or required to be registered, under the act who has custody of client funds or securities shall maintain at all times a minimum net worth of $35,000.00 except for the following circumstances:
(a) An investment adviser having custody solely due to direct fee deduction and complying with the terms described under R 451.4.13 and related books and records, as described in R 451.4.24, is not required to comply with the net worth or bonding requirements of this rule.
(b) An investment adviser having custody solely due to advising pooled investment vehicles and complying with the terms described under R 451.4.13 and related books and records, as described in R 451.4.24 is not required to comply with the net worth or bonding requirements of this rule.
(3) An investment adviser, registered or required to be registered, under the act who has discretionary authority over client funds or securities but does not have custody of client funds or securities shall maintain at all times a minimum net worth of $10,000.00.
(4) An investment adviser registered, or required to be registered, under the act who accepts prepayment of more than $500.00 per client and 6 or more months in advance shall maintain at all times a positive net worth.
(5) Unless otherwise exempted, as a condition of the right to transact business in this state, every investment adviser registered, or required to be registered, under the act shall by the close of business on the next business day notify the administrator if such investment advisers net worth is less than the minimum required. After transmitting such notice, each investment adviser shall file by the close of business on the next business day a report with the administrator of its financial condition, including all of the following:
(a) A trial balance of all ledger accounts.
(b) A statement of all client funds or securities that are not segregated.
(c) A computation of the aggregate amount of client ledger debit balances.
(d) A statement as to the number of client accounts.
(6) An investment adviser is not exercising discretion when it places trade orders with a broker-dealer pursuant to a third party trading agreement if all of the following have occurred:
(a) The investment adviser has executed with its client a separate investment adviser contract that acknowledges that a third party trading agreement must be executed to allow the investment adviser to effect securities transactions for the client in the clients broker-dealer account.
(b) The investment adviser contract specifically states that the client does not grant discretionary authority to the investment adviser and the investment adviser, in fact, does not exercise discretion with respect to the account.
(c) A third party trading agreement is executed between the client and a broker-dealer that specifically limits the investment advisers authority in the clients broker-dealer account to the placement of trade orders and deduction of investment adviser fees.
(7) The administrator may require that a current appraisal be submitted in order to establish the worth of any asset.
(8) An investment adviser that has its principal place of business in a state other than this state shall maintain only such minimum net worth as required by the state in which the investment adviser maintains its principal place of business, provided the investment adviser is registered or licensed in such state and is in compliance with such states minimum capital requirements.

Notes

Mich. Admin. Code R. 451.4.17
2019 MR 1, Eff. 7/3/2019

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