Form ADV-E

What Is Form ADV-E?

The term Form ADV-E refers to an electronic form investments advisers use in order to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and with authorities in their home states. The form is required by the SEC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). An electronic version of Form ADV, Form ADV-E was approved for use by the SEC in 2009. The ultimate purpose of the form is to ensure the proper handling of client assets. It contains information about the professional and the state of the practice along with a listing of client securities and holdings.

Understanding Form ADV-E

Financial professionals are required to submit regular filings to regulators and authorities about their firms, personnel, and holdings. These forms ensure that advisers and other individuals adhere to regulations and act in their clients' best interests. One of the forms that investment advisers must submit is Form ADV-E, an electronic version of Form ADV that was established in 2009 by the SEC pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

The form can be accessed through the Investment Adviser Registration Depository (IARD). The IARD is an electronic system that advisers use to register themselves with the appropriate authorities. Professionals are required to submit a cover page along with an accounting certification. The latter is a report that is drafted by an independent accountant who completes a surprise inspection of the securities in the filer's possession for accuracy and compliance. This information is important for all investors — both new and old — and can be used for research purposes just as you would do for any important financial decision, such as buying a new home or car.

Form ADV-E consists of two parts. The first part asks for information about the investment adviser’s business, ownership, clients, employees, business practices, affiliations, and any disciplinary events of the firm or its employees. This section is organized as a check-the-box, fill-in-the-blank format. The SEC reviews the information from this part of the form to process registrations and to manage its regulatory and examination programs.

As of 2011, the second part of the form requires investment advisers to prepare narrative brochures. These must be written in plain English with information such as the types of advisory services offered, the adviser's fee schedule, disciplinary information, conflicts of interest, and the educational and business background of management and key advisory personnel of the adviser. The brochure is the primary disclosure document that investment advisers provide to their clients.

Investors and other interested parties can view completed copies of an adviser's Form ADV-E on the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website.

Special Considerations

Investment advisers are required to deliver annually to clients a summary of material changes to the brochure and either deliver a complete updated brochure or offer to provide the client with the updated brochure. In addition, an investment adviser must deliver a brochure supplement to clients that provides information about the specific employees who act on behalf of the investment adviser. These are individuals who actually provide investment advice to the client.