Business Newsletters

Investor Suitability Requirements for Broker Dealer Recommendations

Broker dealers may make investment recommendations to investors only if the broker dealer first determines that the recommended investment would be suitable for the investor. Suitability depends upon the investor's tolerance for risk, other investments, income, net worth, financial requirements, and investment objectives.

Reliance on Third-Party Advice or Information

The duty of care requires directors to act in good faith and in a manner that they reasonably believe is in the best interest of the corporation. Directors must exercise informed business judgment and be attentive to the corporation's affairs. In order to do so, directors are required to keep themselves informed of all material information that is reasonably available to them before making a business decision. Directors also must use care when performing their duties.

Mediation of Securities Disputes

Broker-dealer members of the National Association of Securities Dealers are required to arbitrate their disputes with investors. Also, the agreement signed by investors to trade through broker-dealers normally contains a provision requiring the investors to arbitrate their disputes with the broker-dealers rather than litigate such disputes. However, mediation is an additional method for resolving disputes that may be used prior to or in addition to mediation.

Formation and Operation of a Nonprofit Corporation

Nonprofit corporations are a useful tool for organizing for charitable, educational, religious, literary, or scientific purposes while reducing the risk of individual liability in accomplishing those goals. A nonprofit corporation is often referred to as a 501(c)(3) corporation due to the tax code provision under which most nonprofit corporations are considered exempt from federal taxation.

An Introduction to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

In response to the stock market crash of 1929, Congress enacted the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. While the Securities Act governed the issuance of securities, the Securities Exchange Act regulated trading in the securities.