Periodic Filings for Investment Advisers

by Dan Clausen

February 5, 2019

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Investment advisers need to file certain periodic reports with the SEC, other federal regulators and/or the adviser’s state regulator. Required filings for individual states can be found online here, and some of the required federal filings are outlined below.

Form ADV

Form ADV must be updated at least annually within 90 days of the end of the adviser’s fiscal year. For advisers with a fiscal year that ends on December 31, the filing deadline for 2019 is March 31.

Form ADV is made up of two parts. The first part is mostly checking the box format and asks for information about the adviser’s business, business practices, clients, and related issues.

The second part is a “narrative brochure” that describes the adviser’s services in a written narrative that is intended to be easier for an adviser’s potential clients to understand. This brochure is required to be given to clients and is recirculated every year when changes have been made. Supplemental brochures containing information about any and all firm personnel who will be providing investment advice also must be provided to each client.

Both parts of Form ADV should be updated at least annually, as well as whenever an amendment is required.

Form 13F 

A quarterly report for an adviser who manages $100 million or more in reportable securities (e.g., most exchange-traded securities). The report is due 45 days after the end of each quarter. For 2019, the first quarterly report is due February 14.

Form 13D/G

Investors must file either 13D or, in certain cases, 13G, to disclose when they exceed five percent equity ownership in a reporting security.  Generally, for investment advisers that exceed the 5% threshold and are passive investors, a 13G filing is due 45 days after the end of the calendar year, which for 2019 is February 14.

Form 13H

A periodic filing that identifies an investor or firm as a “Large Trader,” meaning someone involved in high-volume trading. The specific criteria for what constitutes a Large Trader can be found in an FAQ compiled by the SEC available online. Generally, an annual update to Form 13H is due within 45 days of the end of the year, which for 2019 is February 14.

Reaffirmation of CPO/CTA Exemption

Within 60 days of the calendar year end, any adviser or fund that has filed an exemption from the CFTC’s definition of a “Commodity Pool Operator” and/or “Commodity Trading Advisor” must file a reaffirmation of the exemption with the National Futures Association.

Form PF

Advisers who manage private funds with regulatory assets in excess of certain thresholds must file Form PF with the SEC to disclose information about their private funds. The SEC uses this information to assess risk in the markets.

Advisers with private funds with regulatory assets under management of at least $150 million but that are not “large advisers” must file Form PF annually within 120 days of the end of their fiscal year.

“Large advisers” include advisers who manage either $1 billion in liquidity fund assets, $1.5 billion in hedge fund assets, or $2 billion in private equity fund assets. Large advisers are required to submit Form PF quarterly.


Please contact us with any questions about any periodic regulatory filings or any other investment management matters.

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