Newsroom

MEMBER HIGHLIGHT - The nationally accredited financial Master Registered Financial Consultant (MRFC®) Certification Program has elected SER member Robert Lawson, MRFC® as the new Chair of its Board of Directors. Overseen by the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants (IARFC®), with chapters worldwide, Lawson is poised to lead the accredited program in the next phase of growth to accelerate the MRFC’s expansion throughout the United States. Lawson was formerly the Vice-Chair and Secretary of the MRFC Board and has been involved with the IARFC since 1997. “This is an exciting time to be involved with the MRFC Certification Program and I am thrilled to be part of an impressive team of Board members, forward thinking industry executives, and financial consultants,” relates Lawson. “I am highly motivated to transform this program to the next level by mentoring our qualified and credentialed Master Registered Financial Consultants to become better equipped − ultimately making a positive difference in the financial lives of the families, business owners, and communities in which they serve across the United States.” See the full Press Release here.

MEMBER HIGHLIGHT - SER member Keith Loveland has received rave editorial reviews for his debut novel, The End of The Empire. Recently published, the story follows the lives of two wartime buddies as they navigate the decades following World War II. One review described it as "a history lesson wrapped in a love story spanning three generations of very real and imperfect all-American families." As described on his author website, Keith was an undergraduate in philosophy when he began creating the back stories of two families in post-World War II America and over the years he filled notebook after notebook with character studies, events, possible relationships, philosophies, and interior monologues. Today, he is a nationally recognized attorney, author, consultant and teacher within the fields of investments, securities and securities offerings, ethical versus fraudulent practices regarding investments and securities, and fiduciary matters. You can find his novel here, in paperback or Kindle. 

MEMBER HIGHLIGHT - SER member Alan J. Besnoff, CFP, ChFC, CLU is pleased to have recently been re-appointed by the CFP Board of Standards to serve a second term as Commissioner, Disciplinary and Ethics Commission. The Disciplinary and Ethics Commission is charged with reviewing and taking appropriate action with respect to alleged violations of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct and conduct reviewed pursuant to the Fitness Standards for Candidates and Professionals Eligible for Reinstatement. Mr. Besnoff, along with fellow commissioners, conducts hearings and settlement reviews on cases of alleged violations of the CFP Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct. His term as Disciplinary and Ethics Commissioner is through June 30,2025. Previously serving as SER's Membership Chair, Mr. Besoff is the current President-Elect and in charge of this year's Conference Agenda.

MEMBER HIGHLIGHT - SER member James Kyprios has written an article titled "A Primer on Leveraged Finance." As the title suggests, the author defines the topic and reviews the history of leveraged finance and how it has changed over more than 40 years, going back to the 1980s. He explores how recent changes to LIBOR, the IRS code and current market conditions may affect this area of the credit markets. Mr.Kyprios wrote the article specifically for SER and credits fellow members Willliam Purcell and Craig Wolson for their comments which assisted him in the process. A managing member of Kyprios International Services LLC, he has over 50 years experience in corporate finance and corporate banking both domestic and international, having worked at DZ Bank (Germany), Union Bank of Finland, American Scandinavian and M&T Bank. This article can be accessed here and is also in the SER Library for posterity. You can find other articles written by Mr.Kyprios on his website. 

ROUNDTABLE NEWS - SER member Hollie Mason, a former FINRA attorney, moderated a panel on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) via Zoom on November 30, 2021. Panelists included Michael R. King, Ph.D., CFA and the Lansdowne Chair of Finance at the University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business, and Michael A. Goldstein, Ph.D., who earned his doctorate at the Wharton School, and is currently a professor of finance at Babson College. Dr. King is a former investment banker who specializes in determining the impact of ESG related issues on companies across the globe and recently participated in the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Summit held in Scotland. Dr. Goldstein, also a former investment banker, has been a visiting professorship fellow at the University of New South Wales (Australia) where he researched and taught climate and environmental issues.The webcast endeavored to answer questions concerning the SEC's seemingly accelerated focus on ESG issues and projected rulemaking “next steps” to include additional disclosure requirements. The knowledgeable panel did an excellent job of contextualizing the increased materiality of ESG risks and the significance of the disclosure of these risks to investors, as well as ways in which experts are currently valuing some of these risks. SER's webcasts are member-only events. You can find membership information and an application on our website.

MEMBER HIGHLIGHT - SER member Keith Loveland will be presenting on fiduciary standards at the "Board Certification in Employer Sponsored Heath Plans" , a program sponsored by the Center for Board Certified Fiduciaries in affiliation with Wake Forest University School of Professional Studies. The board certified fiduciary curriculum consists of two Executive Education Certificates from Wake Forest University, a Certificate in Fiduciary Studies and Behavioral Governance and Certificate in Applied Fiduciary Practices with a goal to "develop fiduciaries into world-class leaders and stewards so they can improve the lives of the people they serve". Mr. Loveland, who is general counsel for the Center, was also a Specialty Leader in the curriculums developments.  The first in-person, on-site class takes place in Charlotte, NC on December 7-9, 2021. Conference details are available here.

MEMBER NEWS - Our dear friend Richard Sandow passed away on November 16, 2021. He had been hospitalized for several months due to complications related to a kidney transplant. SER relied on Richard’s 50-plus years of experience as an executive in the securities and investment advisory industries and benefited from his service on many boards of charitable organizations during the period when we were transitioning from an informal discussion group to formal incorporation in 2005. He was elected as an original incorporator, served for consecutive terms on our Board of Directors and was elected as our third President in 2007. Richard was retained in more than 700 cases, and he testified on hundreds occasions in just about every forum available in dispute resolution – which, in and of itself, is a testament to his integrity and the respect accorded to him by practitioners and triers of fact. Rest in Peace Richard. A service will be held November 29 at 5pm, Congregation Beth Israel, 6100 Pleasant Run Rd, Colleyville, TX 76034.

Remembrances can be sent to his widow,
Jicky Sandow
1750 Sleepy Hollow Trail
Southlake, Texas 76092

MEMBER HIGHLIGHT - SER member Peter E. Bulger is teaching a course on securities regulation at the University at Albany (SUNY) this year. The senior/graduate level course, titled Law in Financial Market Regulation, "examines the rationales and main features of regulatory law in financial markets, focusing on banking, securities, futures, options, and other capital markets", and is taught through the School of Business as well as the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy. Pete became involved with the UAlbany/Albany Law school Financial Market & Regulatory major over twelve years ago by serving on a steering committee. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of The University of Albany Foundation. When asked about his experience teaching this year, Pete said “I am impressed by the commitment and hard work taken on by my students. I have joined them in search of the next career move including discussing roles within the industry.”

MEMBER HIGHLIGHT -  Three members of the Securities Experts Roundtable were honored with Director Emeritus status at this year's Annual Membership Meeting & Conference at the University Club in Washington D.C. Current board members unanimously selected the past Directors for their significant contributions to the organization. Bruce S. Foerster served on the Board from 2009-2017 and as President from 2015-2016. As the Finance Committee Chair for several years, he was a prominent force increasing financial controls. Sidney D. Krasner is one of the original twelve Directors when the organization formally incorporated in 2005. He served two consecutive terms on the board until 2011 and was instrumental in setting up new member criteria and procedures as the first Chair of the Membership Committee. Richard P. Ryder is SER's longest serving board member. Also an original Director, Rick spent a total of 12 years on the Board, from 2005-2011 and again from 2013-2019, serving as Secretary and as Website/Communications Chair. In addition to his contributions setting up the Newsroom and Newsletter, Rick's editorial and attorney background assisted the board on many matters. All three members remain active in SER and in their practices. Please join us in extending our gratitude for their service! 

MEMBER HIGHLIGHT - SER member Robert Jones has recently made presentations on “Detecting & Investigating Stockbroker Fraud” at the Annual Global Fraud Conference for the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and the Missouri Society of CPA’s Fraud & Forensic Accounting Conference. Both presentations were via Zoom and enthusiastically attended. Rob was pleased to engage professionals outside the legal field such as accountants, tax preparers, human resource professionals, bankers and trustees in identifying potential securities fraud and protecting individual investors. A Chartered Financial Consultant® and a Certified Fraud Examiner®, Rob is the owner of Securities Claims Management, an expert consulting and analysis firm based in Richmond, VA. 

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