The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the self-regulatory arm of the U.S. securities brokerage industry, has issued an Investor Alert regarding the features and risks of exchange-traded notes. FINRA and the Securities and Exchange Commission have raised concerns about disclosures and sales practices involving exchange-traded notes, as well as other complex structured products. Former FINRA Enforcement Chief Brad Bennett said that FINRA will bring enforcement actions against firms for unsuitable recommendations of exchange-traded notes.
FINRA issued Regulatory Notice 12-03 to provide broker-dealers with guidance on supervising the sale of complex products that are difficult for retail investors and brokers to understand. The FINRA alert warns that exchange-traded notes often have little or no performance history, their indexes and investment strategies can be quite complex, their returns can be volatile, and the price computed by the issuer can vary significantly from the price in the secondary market. Firms are required to ensure that their marketing materials are fair and include accurate disclosures of all material risks; that registered representatives are properly trained to understand the risks of exchange-traded notes; and that supervisors are able to determine whether or not the sales meet suitability requirements.
Gerri Walsh, FINRA vice president for investor education, said: “ETNs are complex products and can carry a raft of risks. Investors considering ETNs should only invest if they are confident the ETN can help them meet their investment objectives and they fully understand and are comfortable with the risks.” Exchange-traded notes present the following risks, among others:
(i) Exchange-traded notes are unsecured debt obligations of the issuer;
(ii) The value of an exchange-traded note is linked to the performance of a reference asset, which can result in a loss of principal to investors;
(iii) Exchange-traded notes are often illiquid because there is often no secondary market;
(iv) The price may vary significantly from closing and intraday indicative values;
(v) Some leveraged, inverse and inverse leveraged exchange-traded notes are designed for short-term or day trading, and the performance over a longer term may deviate markedly from the underlying benchmark;
(vi) Some exchange-traded notes are callable at the issuer’s discretion; and
(vii) The issuer may engage in trading activities such as shorting strategies that conflict with the interests of investors who hold the notes.
Before deciding whether to invest, investors and their advisers should, at a minimum, know:
(i) The identity, credit rating and financial outlook of the issuer
(ii) The index or benchmark linked to the ETN, and if it is an unfamiliar market or asset class, whether there is sufficient information to properly assess the risks
(iii) Whether the exchange-traded note is callable
(iv) Whether the exchange-traded note is leveraged
(v) Whether the exchange-traded note is inverse to the underlying benchmark, and, if so, how frequently it “resets” (product names that include “daily” and “short-term” may indicate that the product resets daily and is not intended to be held for a longer period)
(vi) The fees and costs of the exchange-traded note, including the investor fee charged in connection with redemptions, and
(vii) The tax consequences, which vary depending on the type of the exchange-traded note.
Exchange-traded notes are not issued by registered investment companies and are not subject to the same registration, disclosure and other regulatory requirements as most mutual funds or exchange traded funds.
The most important of investors’ rights is the right to be informed! This Investors’ Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 40 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to protecting investors’ rights throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
Robert Wayne Pearce
Robert Wayne Pearce of The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. has been a trial attorney for more than 40 years and has helped recover over $125 million dollars for his clients. During that time, he developed a well-respected and highly accomplished legal career representing investors and brokers in disputes with one another and the government and industry regulators. To speak with Attorney Pearce, call (800) 732-2889 or Contact Us online for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION with Attorney Pearce about your case.
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