Section 0780-04-03-.01 - REGISTRATION(1) Broker-Dealer Registration. (a) CRD System Eligible Broker-Dealer Applicants. 1. All broker-dealer applicants who are eligible must apply for initial registration in Tennessee through the CRD System by complying with the application procedure required by the CRD System. The application filed through the CRD System shall contain the following, unless waived by order of the commissioner. (i) A Form BD and all information and exhibits required by such Form;(ii) The appropriate application fee as set forth in the Act; and(iii) Satisfactory evidence of a passing score on an appropriate principal's examination taken by the executive officers or principals of the applicant.2. Broker-dealers applying through the CRD System shall also, concurrently with the filing of an application through the CRD System, file with the Division, unless waived by the commissioner: (i)(I) A copy of the applicant's most recent annual audited report filed pursuant to SEC Rule 17a-5 ( 17 C.F.R. §240.17a-5) , plus all quarterly FOCUS Reports filed pursuant to that Rule since the most recent annual audited report; or(II) If the applicant has not yet had an audit performed pursuant to its first fiscal year of existence, in lieu of complying with item (1)(a)2.(i) (I) of this Rule it may submit an unaudited balance sheet and income statement in such detail as will disclose the nature and amount of assets and liabilities and the net worth of the applicant. Such financial statements shall be prepared as of a date within thirty (30) days of the filing date and shall be certified as to their correctness by the sole proprietor, a general partner, or a duly authorized executive officer of the applicant, and shall be accompanied by a Designation of Accountant form to be executed by the accountant designated on such form; or(III) The financial reports required by items (1)(a)2.(i)(I-II) of this Rule shall demonstrate compliance with the appropriate net capital requirement for a registered broker-dealer.(ii) Such other information as the Division may request from a particular applicant to determine eligibility for registration.(b) Other Broker-Dealer Applicants. All applications for initial registration as a broker-dealer other than those specified in subparagraph (1)(a) of this Rule shall be submitted directly to the Division and shall contain the following information, unless waived by order of the commissioner: 1. A Form BD and all information and exhibits required by such Form;2. The appropriate application fee as set forth in the Act;3.(i) A balance sheet and income statement as of the end of the applicant' s most recent fiscal year prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied and examined and reported on by an independent: (I) certified public accountant; or (II) public accountant currently licensed in the state of Tennessee, and any subsequent quarterly balance sheets and income statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied; or(ii) If the applicant has not yet had an audit performed in its first year of existence, in lieu of complying with subpart (1)(b)3.(i) of this Rule, it may submit an unaudited balance sheet and income statement in such detail as will disclose the nature and amount of assets and liabilities and the net worth of the applicant. Such financial statements shall be prepared as of a date within thirty (30) days of the filing date and shall be certified as to their correctness by the sole proprietor, a general partner, or a duly authorized executive officer of the applicant, and shall be accompanied by a Designation of Accountant form as provided by the Division. Such Designation of Accountant form shall be executed by the designated accountant;(iii) The financial reports required by subparts (1)(b)3.(i-ii) of this Rule shall demonstrate compliance with the appropriate net capital requirement for a registered broker-dealer;4. Satisfactory evidence of a passing score on an appropriate principal's examination taken by the executive officers or principals of the applicant; and5. Such other information as the Division may request of a particular applicant to determine eligibility for registration.(c) An application is deemed filed for purposes of T.C.A. § 48-1-110(a)(4) and this Rule when it is complete. An application is deemed to be complete when all of the information requested by the Division pursuant to subparagraph (1)(a) or parts (1)(b)1.-5. of this Rule is received by the Division.(d) All broker-dealers who are eligible must apply for renewal of registration in Tennessee through the CRD System by complying with the requirements of the CRD System. Applications for renewal of other broker-dealers must be submitted directly to the Division and must contain the following:
1. The appropriate renewal form as received from the Division and all information and exhibits required by such form; and2. The appropriate fee as set forth in the Act.(e) A person who acts as a "clearing broker-dealer" with respect to any securities transaction in Tennessee must register as a broker-dealer in Tennessee.(f) A registered broker-dealer shall not conduct business in this state through an agent unless and until the broker-dealer has registered that agent in this state.(g) The registration of a broker-dealer shall be subject to revocation proceedings even though the registrant has filed an application to withdraw its registration, and an application for registration as a broker-dealer shall be subject to denial proceedings even though the applicant has filed a written request to withdraw its application. The commissioner may institute a revocation or denial proceeding under T.C.A. § 48-1-112 within thirty (30) days after the filing date of an application to withdraw on Form BDW by a registrant or a written request to withdraw by an applicant and enter a revocation order as of the last date on which registration was effective or a denial order as of the filing date of the written request to withdraw an application. For purposes of this subparagraph, "filing date" shall mean the date upon which the Form BDW filed on behalf of a registrant or a written request filed on behalf of an applicant is actually received by the Division through the CRD System or through a direct filing with the Division, whichever is appropriate for the applicant.(h) Abandonment. 1. The Division may determine that an application to register a broker-dealer has been abandoned if: (i) The application has been on file with the Division for more than one hundred eighty (180) days without becoming registered and no written communication has been received by the Division in connection with the application during such time period; or(ii) A period of one hundred (180) days has elapsed since the date of the Division's receipt of the most recent written communication to the Division from or on behalf of the applicant.2. Upon the determination that an application has been abandoned, the Division shall, by Order of Abandonment, cancel the pending application without prejudice and, within thirty (30) days of such cancellation, mail a copy of the Order of Abandonment to the last known business address of the applicant.(2) Agent Registration. (a) CRD System Eligible Agent Applicants. 1. All agent applicants who are eligible must apply for initial registration in Tennessee through the CRD System by complying with the application procedure required by the CRD System. The application filed through the CRD System shall contain the following: (i) A Form U4 and all information and exhibits required by such Form;(ii) The appropriate application fee as set forth in the Act; and(iii) Satisfactory evidence of a passing score by the applicant on the appropriate examinations.2. Agents applying for registration through the CRD System shall also provide directly to the Division such other information as the Division may request from a particular applicant to determine eligibility for registration.(b) Other Agent Applicants. All applications for registration as an agent other than those specified in subparagraph (2)(a) of this Rule shall be submitted directly to the Division and shall contain the following information: 1. A Form U4 and all information and exhibits required by such Form;2. The appropriate application fee as set forth in the Act;3. Satisfactory evidence of a passing score by the applicant on the appropriate examinations; and4. Such other information as the Division may request of a particular applicant to determine eligibility for registration.(c) An application is deemed filed for purposes of T.C.A. § 48-1-110(a)(4) and this Rule when it is complete. An application is deemed to be complete when all information requested by the Division pursuant to subparagraph (2)(a) or parts (2)(b)1.- 4. of this Rule is received by the Division.(d) All agents who are eligible must apply for renewal of registration in Tennessee through the CRD System by complying with the requirements of the CRD System. Applications for renewal of all other agents must be submitted directly to the Division and must contain the following: 1. The appropriate renewal form as received from the Division and all information and exhibits required by such form; and2. The appropriate fee as set forth in the Act.(e) The registration of an agent shall be subject to revocation proceedings even though the registrant has filed an application to terminate his or her registration, and an application for registration as an agent shall be subject to denial proceedings even though the applicant has filed to withdraw his or her application. The commissioner may institute a revocation or denial proceeding under T.C.A. § 48-1-112 within thirty (30) days after the filing date of an application to terminate or withdraw on Form U5 by a registrant or an applicant and enter a revocation order as of the last date on which registration was effective or a denial order as of the filing date of the request to withdraw an application. For purposes of this subparagraph, "filing date" shall mean the date upon which notice of the Form U5 filed on behalf of a registrant or an applicant is actually received by the Division through the CRD System, or for non-CRD System agents, the date upon which the Form U5 is received directly by the Division.(f) There is no provision under the Act to transfer an individual agent's registration. When an agent terminates his relationship with a broker-dealer with whom he is registered and commences a new relationship with another broker-dealer, a termination of registration shall be effected by the broker-dealer with which the individual agent had the prior relationship and an application for initial registration shall be filed by the broker-dealer with which the individual agent proposes to have the new relationship. The termination of registration shall be effected by the broker-dealer by submitting a Form U5 through the CRD System or directly with the Division, whichever is appropriate, within thirty (30) days of the date of termination. The filings prescribed in this subparagraph (2)(f) are not required in the event of a mass transfer of agent registrations pursuant to CRD System operational procedures and are not required in the event of a succession as permitted in T.C.A. § 48-1-110(c).(g) All agent applicants who have voluntarily terminated registration with a broker-dealer and who are eligible under the rules established by the CRD System may apply for temporary registration with another broker-dealer through the CRD System by complying with the procedure required by the CRD System. In the case of all other voluntary terminations of a non-CRD agent's registration with a particular broker-dealer pursuant to subparagraph (2)(f) of this Rule, the Division may, in its discretion, allow the agent to be temporarily registered with the broker-dealer with whom the agent is seeking permanent registration. Such temporary registration will not be granted until the Form U4 is received by the Division, and a written request is made by such other broker-dealer. Any such temporary registration shall expire upon the grant or denial of the application for permanent registration, and in no event shall last more than thirty (30) days.(h) Abandonment. 1. The Division may determine that an application to register an agent has been abandoned if: (i) The application has been on file with the Division for more than one hundred eighty (180) days without becoming registered and no written communication has been received by the Division in connection with the application during such time period; or(ii) A period of one hundred eighty (180) days has elapsed since the date of the Division's receipt of the most recent written communication to the Division from or on behalf of the applicant.2. Upon the determination that an application through the CRD System has been abandoned, the Division shall, as provided through the routine operation of the CRD System, cancel such application without prejudice.3. Upon determination that an application submitted directly to the Division has been abandoned, the Division shall. by Order of Abandonment. cancel the pending application without prejudice and, within thirty (30) days of such cancellation, mail a copy of the Order of Abandonment to the last known business address of the applicant.(3) Investment Adviser Registration. (a) IARD Eligible Investment Advisers. 1. All investment advisers who are eligible must apply for initial registration in Tennessee through the IARD by complying with the electronic application procedures required by the IARD. The application filed through the IARD shall contain the following, unless waived by order of the commissioner: (i) A Form ADV and all information and exhibits required by such Form;(ii) The appropriate application fee as set forth in the Act; and(iii) Satisfaction of the investment adviser representative examination requirements under paragraph (10) of this Rule by appropriate executive officers or principals of the applicant.2. Investment advisers applying through the IARD shall also, concurrently with the filing of an application to the IARD, file with the Division, unless waived by order of the commissioner: (i)(I) If the applicant is a corporation, a certified copy of its articles of incorporation and amendments thereto, and a copy of its bylaws certified by the secretary of the corporation;(II) If the applicant is a partnership, a copy of its partnership agreement, certified by a general partner; or(III) If the applicant is a limited liability company, a copy of its articles of organization as filed within the state in which it was formed, and a copy of its operating agreement, if any, certified by a managing member;(ii)(I) A balance sheet prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied as of a date not more than ninety (90) days prior to the date of such application, which shall demonstrate compliance with the net capital requirement for a registered investment adviser in the state in which the applicant maintains its principal place of business. For purposes of this item (3)(a)2.(ii)(I), "principal place of business" means the executive office of the investment adviser from which the officers, partners, or managers of the investment adviser direct, control, and coordinate the activities of the investment adviser; or(II) For any applicant which has or will have custody of client funds or securities, or which requires or will require prepayment of more than five hundred dollars ($500) in advisory fees six (6) or more months in advance, an audited balance sheet prepared in accordance with part (4)(a)2. of Rule 0780-04-03-.02. If such applicant has not yet had an audit performed pursuant to its first fiscal year of existence, it may submit an unaudited balance sheet in such detail as will disclose the nature and amount of assets and liabilities and the net worth and net capital of the applicant. Such financial statement shall be prepared as of a date within thirty (30) days of the filing date and shall be certified as to its correctness by the sole proprietor, a general partner, or a duly authorized executive officer of the applicant, and shall be accompanied by a designation of accountant to be executed by the accountant so designated to perform the applicant's first annual audit; and(iii) Such other information as the Division may request of a particular applicant to determine eligibility for registration.(b) Other Investment Adviser Applicants. All applications for initial registration as an investment adviser other than those specified in subparagraph (3)(a) of this Rule shall be submitted in paper format directly to the Division and shall contain the following information, unless waived by order of the commissioner: 1. A Form ADV and all information and exhibits required by such Form;2. The appropriate application fee as set forth in the Act;3.(i) If the applicant is a corporation, a certified copy of its articles of incorporation and amendments thereto, and a copy of its bylaws certified by the secretary of the corporation;(ii) If the applicant is a partnership, a copy of its partnership agreement, certified by a general partner; or(iii) If the applicant is a limited liability company, a copy of its articles of organization as filed within the state in which it was formed, and a copy of its operating agreement certified by a managing member;4.(i) A balance sheet prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied as of a date not more than ninety (90) days prior to the date of such application, which shall demonstrate compliance with the net capital requirement for a registered investment adviser in the state in which the applicant maintains its principal place of business. For purposes of this subpart (3)(b)4.(i), "principal place of business" means the executive office of the investment adviser from which the officers, partners, or managers of the investment adviser direct, control, and coordinate the activities of the investment adviser; or(ii) For any applicant which has or will have custody of client funds or securities, or which requires or will require prepayment of more than five hundred dollars ($500) in advisory fees six (6) or more months in advance, an audited balance sheet prepared in accordance with part (4)(a)2. of Rule 0780-04-03-.02. If such applicant has not yet had an audit performed pursuant to its first fiscal year of existence, it may submit an unaudited balance sheet in such detail as will disclose the nature and amount of assets and liabilities and the net worth and net capital of the applicant. Such financial statement shall be prepared as of a date within thirty (30) days of the filing date and shall be certified as to its correctness by the sole proprietor, a general partner, or a duly authorized executive officer of the applicant, and shall be accompanied by a designation of accountant to be executed by the accountant so designated to perform the applicant's first annual audit;5. Satisfaction of the investment adviser representative examination requirements under paragraph (10) of Rule 0780-04-03-.01 by appropriate executive officers or principals of the applicant;6. Such other information as the Division may request of a particular applicant to determine eligibility for registration; and7. Evidence of a temporary exemption or, prior to December 31, 2003, evidence of a continuing hardship exemption as issued by the Division or another state securities administrator, which exempts the applicant from the requirements to make electronic filings through the IARD as required by subparagraphs (3)(a) and (3)(e) of this Rule and by subparagraph (4)(d) of Rule 0780-04-03-.02.(c) Hardship Exemptions. This subparagraph provides two "hardship exemptions" from the requirements to make electronic filings through the IARD as required by the subparagraphs (3)(a) and (3)(e) of this Rule and by subparagraph (4)(d) of Rule 0780-04-03-.02. 1. Temporary Hardship Exemption. (i) Investment advisers registered or required to be registered under the Act who experience unanticipated technical difficulties that prevent submission of an electronic filing to the IARD may request a temporary hardship exemption from the requirements to file electronically.(ii) To request a temporary hardship exemption, the investment adviser must: (I) File Form ADV-H in paper format with the state securities administrator where the investment adviser's principal place of business is located, or the Division if appropriate, no later than one (1) business day after the filing (that is the subject of the Form ADV-H) was due; and(II) Submit the filing that is the subject of the Form ADV-H in electronic format to the IARD no later than seven (7) business days after the filing was due.(iii) Effective Date Upon Filing. The temporary hardship exemption will be deemed effective by the commissioner upon receipt of the complete Form ADV-H by the state securities administrator where the investment adviser's principal place of business is located or with the Division if such other state securities administrator does not routinely process applications for temporary hardship exemptions. Multiple temporary hardship exemption requests within the same calendar year may be allowed or disallowed at the discretion of the commissioner.2. Continuing Hardship Exemption. (i) Criteria for Exemption. A continuing hardship exemption will be granted only if the investment adviser is able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the commissioner that the electronic filing requirements of these Rules are prohibitively burdensome.(ii) To apply for a continuing hardship exemption, the investment adviser must: (I) File Form ADV-H in paper format with the appropriate state securities administrator, or the Division if appropriate, at least twenty (20) business days before a filing is due; and(II) If a filing is due to more than one (1) state securities administrator, the Form ADV-H must be filed with the state securities administrator where the investment adviser's principal place of business is located or with the Division if such state securities administrator does not routinely process applications for continuing hardship exemptions. If the Division is the state securities administrator which receives the application for a continuing hardship exemption, the commissioner will grant or deny the application within ten (10) business days after the filing of Form ADV-H or within ten (10) business days after the receipt of further information or materials requested from the investment adviser by the Division to determine eligibility for such exemption.(iii) Effective Date Upon Approval. The exemption is effective upon approval by the state securities administrator where the investment adviser's principal place of business is located or by the commissioner, whichever is appropriate. The time period of the exemption may be no longer than one (1) year after the exemption approval date. Upon such approval, the investment adviser must, no later than five (5) business days after the exemption approval date, commence submitting necessary filings to the IARD in paper format (along with the appropriate processing fees), or to the Division, whichever is appropriate, for the period of time for which the exemption is granted.3. Recognition of Exemption. The decision to grant or deny a request for a hardship exemption will be made by the state securities administrator where the investment adviser's principal place of business is located or the commissioner, whichever is appropriate. Approval of an exemption by an appropriate state securities administrator in another state will be recognized and accepted by the commissioner except that the commissioner will not grant, accept, or recognize any continuing hardship exemption after December 31, 2003.(d) An application is deemed filed for purposes of T.C.A. § 48-1-110(a)(4) and this Rule when it is complete. An application is deemed to be complete when all information requested by the Division pursuant to subparagraphs (3)(a) or (3)(b) of this Rule is received by the Division.(e) All investment advisers who are eligible must apply for renewal of registration in Tennessee through the IARD by complying with the requirements of the IARD. Applications for renewal of other investment advisers must be submitted directly to the Division and must contain the following: 1. The appropriate renewal form as prescribed by the Division and all information and exhibits required by such form; and2. The appropriate fee as set forth in the Act.(f) The registration of an investment adviser shall be subject to revocation proceedings even though the registrant has filed an application to withdraw its registration, and an application for registration as an investment adviser shall be subject to denial proceedings even though the applicant has filed a written request to withdraw its application. The commissioner may institute a revocation or denial proceeding under T.C.A. § 48-1-112 within thirty (30) days after the filing date of application to withdraw on Form ADV-W by a registrant or a written request to withdraw by an applicant and enter a revocation order as of the last date on which registration was effective or a denial order as of the filing date of the written request to withdraw an application. For purposes of this subparagraph, "filing date" shall mean the date upon which the Form ADV-W or a written request filed on behalf of an applicant through the IARD or through a direct filing with the Division, whichever is appropriate, is actually received by the Division.(g) Abandonment. 1. The Division may determine that an application to register an investment adviser has been abandoned if: (i) The application has been on file with the Division for more than one hundred eighty (180) days without the applicant becoming registered and no written communication has been received by the Division in connection with the application during such time period; or(ii) A period of one hundred eighty (180) days has elapsed since the date of the Division's receipt of the most recent written communication to the Division from or on behalf of the applicant.2. Upon the determination that an application has been abandoned, the commissioner shall, by Order of Abandonment, cancel the pending application without prejudice and, within thirty (30) days of such cancellation, mail a copy of the Order of Abandonment to the last known business address of the applicant.(4) Examination of Agents and Principals of Broker-Dealers. (a) Agents. Each applicant for initial registration as an agent shall receive a passing grade on: 1. An examination administered by the FINRA, the New York Stock Exchange, or the SEC which tests the applicant's general knowledge of securities principles; and2. The Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination (USASLE/Series 63) or the Uniform Combined State Law Examination (UCSLE/Series 66) as either is administered by the FINRA.(b) Principals. Each applicant for initial registration as a principal or supervisory officer of a broker-dealer must receive a passing grade on an appropriate securities examination for principals administered by the FINRA, the New York Stock Exchange, or the SEC.(c) The passing grade on a particular examination required for registration in this state shall be the passing grade for that particular examination as set by the agency or organization administering the examination. For purposes of this paragraph (4), a duly granted examination waiver by the FINRA, the New York Stock Exchange, or the SEC shall constitute a passing grade for the examination requirements of part (4)(a)1. and subparagraphs (4)(b) and (4)(d) of this Rule.(d) Each applicant for initial registration: 1. Shall have received a passing grade on the required examinations within the preceding twenty-four (24) months; or2. Shall have received a passing grade on the required examinations prior to the preceding twenty-four (24) months and shall have been registered in an appropriate jurisdiction in the capacity for which the applicant is currently seeking registration within the preceding twenty-four (24) months.(5) Registered Broker-Dealer Net Capital Requirements. (a) FINRA Broker-Dealers and Exchange Members. All broker-dealers, except government securities broker-dealers, who are members of the FINRA or a national exchange, shall have and maintain net capital in such minimum amounts as are prescribed for their activities under SEC Rule 15c3-1 ( 17 C.F.R. §240.15c3 - 1).
2. The aggregate indebtedness of each broker-dealer described in part (5)(a)1. of this Rule to all persons shall not exceed the levels prescribed under SEC Rule 15c3-1 ( 17 C.F.R. §240.15c3 - 1).3. For purposes of this subparagraph (5)(a), the term "net capital" shall have the same meaning as in SEC Rule 15c3-1 ( 17 C.F.R. §240.15c3 - 1). (b) Government Securities Broker-Dealer. Each registered government securities broker-dealer shall have and maintain liquid capital in such minimum amounts as are prescribed under SEC Rule 15Ca2-2 ( 17 C.F.R. §240.15Ca2 - 2) and Department of Treasury Rule 402.2 ( 17 C.F.R. §402.2) .(c) Other Broker-Dealers. 1. Each registered broker-dealer that does not fall within subparagraphs (5)(a) and (5)(b) of this Rule shall have and maintain a minimum net capital of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). If such broker-dealer has a net capital of less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), it shall post a surety bond of ten thousand dollars ($10,000).2. For purposes of this subparagraph (5)(c), net capital shall be defined as total assets less total liabilities (net worth) as computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied. (6) Investment Adviser Net Capital Requirements. (a) Except as provided under subparagraph (6)(d) of this Rule, every investment adviser registered or to be registered shall have and maintain a minimum net capital of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).(b) For purposes of this paragraph (6), "net capital" shall be defined as total assets less total liabilities (net worth) as computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied minus the following non-allowable assets: 1. In the case of an individual: home equity, home furnishings, automobiles, goodwill, and any other personal item not readily marketable;2. In the case of a corporation: advances or loans to stockholders, officers, or affiliates, and uncollateralized receivables from stockholders, officers, or affiliates;3. In the case of a partnership: advances or loans to partners or affiliates, and uncollateralized receivables from partners or affiliates; and4. In the case of a limited liability company: advances or loans to members or affiliates, and uncollateralized receivables from members or affiliates.(c) The Division may require that a current appraisal be submitted in order to establish the value of any asset.(d) An investment adviser, which has its principal place of business in another state, shall not be subject to the net capital requirements of this paragraph (6) if: 1. The investment adviser is registered as an investment adviser in the state in which it maintains its principal place of business;2. The investment adviser is in compliance with the applicable net capital requirement in the state in which it maintains its principal place of business; and3. The investment adviser is in compliance with any bonding requirement in the state in which it maintains its principal place of business.(e) For purposes of this paragraph (6), "principal place of business" of an investment adviser means the executive office of the investment adviser from which the officers, partners, or managers of the investment adviser direct, control, and coordinate the activities of the investment adviser.(7) Branch Offices and Other Business Locations of Broker-Dealers. (a) Every broker-dealer registered in Tennessee shall notify the Division of the establishment of any branch office or other business location in Tennessee, as well as its current address and the name or names of the agent or agents currently in charge.(b) Such notification of establishment, change in address, or change in identity of any agent or agents in charge thereof must be filed with the Division through the CRD System or through a direct filing, whichever is appropriate, within thirty (30) days from the date of establishment or change.(8) Withdrawal of Applications. An application for registration as a broker-dealer or investment adviser may be withdrawn prior to the effectiveness of registration by following the procedures established by the CRD System and the IARD or, for other broker-dealers and other investment advisers, by filing a written request for withdrawal directly with the Division. An application for registration as an agent or investment adviser representative may be withdrawn prior to the effectiveness of the registration by following the procedures established by the CRD System or IARD or, for other agents and other investment adviser representatives, by filing a written request for withdrawal directly with the Division.(9) Investment Adviser Representative Registration. (a) IARD and CRD System Eligible Investment Adviser Representative Applicants. 1. All investment adviser representative applicants who are eligible must apply for initial registration in Tennessee through the IARD and CRD System by complying with the application procedures required by the IARD and CRD System. The application filed through the IARD and CRD System shall contain the following: (i) A Form U4 and all information and exhibits required by such Form;(ii) The appropriate application fee as set forth in the Act; and(iii) Satisfactory evidence of a passing score by the applicant on the appropriate examinations.2. Investment adviser representatives applying for registration through the IARD and CRD System shall also provide directly to the Division such other information as the Division may request from a particular applicant to determine eligibility for registration.(b) Other Investment Adviser Representative Applicants. All applications for registration as an investment adviser representative other than those specified in subparagraph (9)(a) of this Rule shall be submitted directly to the Division and shall contain the following information: 1. A Form U4 and all information and exhibits required by such Form;2. The appropriate application fee as set forth in the Act;3. Satisfactory evidence of a passing score by the applicant on the appropriate examinations; and4. Such other information as the Division may request of a particular applicant to determine eligibility for registration.(c) An application is deemed filed for purposes of T.C.A. § 48-1-110(a)(4) and this Rule when it is complete. An application is deemed to be complete when all information requested by the Division pursuant to subparagraph (9)(a) and parts (9)(b)1.-4. of this Rule is received by the Division.(d) All investment adviser representatives who are eligible must apply for renewal of registration in Tennessee through the IARD and CRD System by complying with the requirements of the IARD and CRD System. Applications for renewal of all other investment adviser representatives must be submitted directly to the Division and must contain the following: 1. The appropriate renewal form as received from the Division and all information and exhibits required by such form; and2. The appropriate fee as set forth in the Act.(e) The registration of an investment adviser representative shall be subject to revocation proceedings even though the registrant has filed an application to terminate his or her registration, and an application for registration as an investment adviser representative shall be subject to denial proceedings even though the applicant has filed to withdraw his or her application. The commissioner may institute a revocation or denial proceeding under T.C.A. § 48-1-112 within thirty (30) days after the filing date of an application to terminate or withdraw on Form U5 by a registrant or an applicant and enter a revocation order as of the last date on which registration was effective or a denial order as of the filing date of the request to withdraw an application. For purposes of this subparagraph, "filing date" shall mean the date upon which notice of the Form U5 filed on behalf of a registrant or an applicant is actually received by the Division through the IARD and CRD System, or for non-IARD and CRD System investment adviser representatives, the date upon which the Form U5 is received directly by the Division.(f) There is no provision under the Act to transfer an individual investment adviser representative's registration. When an investment adviser representative terminates his relationship with an investment adviser with whom he is registered and commences a new relationship with another investment adviser, a termination of registration shall be effected by the investment adviser with which the individual investment adviser representative had the prior relationship and an application for initial registration shall be filed by the investment adviser with which the individual investment adviser representative proposes to have the new relationship. The termination of registration shall be effected by the investment adviser by submitting a Form U5 through the IARD and CRD System or directly with the Division, whichever is appropriate, within thirty (30) days of the date of termination. The filings prescribed in this subparagraph (9)(f) are not required in the event of a mass transfer of investment adviser representative registrations pursuant to IARD and CRD System operational procedures and are not required in the event of a succession as permitted in T.C.A. § 48-1-110(c).(g) All investment adviser representative applicants who have voluntarily terminated registration with an investment adviser and who are eligible under the rules established by the IARD and CRD System may apply for temporary registration with another investment adviser through the IARD and CRD System by complying with the procedure required by the IARD and CRD System. In the case of all other voluntary terminations of a non-IARD and CRD System eligible investment adviser representative's registration with a particular investment adviser pursuant to subparagraph (9)(f) of this Rule, the Division may, in its discretion, allow the investment adviser representative to be temporarily registered with the investment adviser with whom the investment adviser representative is seeking permanent registration. Such temporary registration will not be granted until the Form U4 is received by the Division, and a written request is made by such other investment adviser. Any such temporary registration shall expire upon the grant or denial of the application for permanent registration, and in no event shall last more than thirty (30) days.(h) Abandonment. 1. The Division may determine that an application to register an investment adviser representative has been abandoned if: (i) The application has been on file with the Division for more than one hundred eighty (180) days without becoming registered and no written communication has been received by the Division in connection with the application during such time period; or(ii) A period of one hundred eighty (180) days has elapsed since the date of the Division's receipt of the most recent written communication to the Division from or on behalf of the applicant.2. Upon the determination that an application through the IARD and CRD System has been abandoned, the Division shall, as provided through the routine operation of the IARD and CRD System, cancel such application without prejudice.3. Upon determination that an application submitted directly to the Division has been abandoned, the Division shall, by Order of Abandonment, cancel the pending application without prejudice and, within thirty (30) days of such cancellation, mail a copy of the Order of Abandonment to the last known business address of the applicant.(i) An investment adviser representative who is associated with an investment adviser which has filed a completed investment adviser notice filing pursuant to T.C.A. § 48-1-109(c)(2), and who has no place of business located within this state, is not required to register as an investment adviser representative of such investment adviser in this state.(j) An investment adviser representative who is associated with an investment adviser which has filed a completed investment adviser notice filing pursuant to T.C.A. § 48-1-109(c)(2), and who is not included in the definition of "investment adviser representative" which appears in SEC Rule 203A-3 ( 17 C.F.R. §275.203A-3) , is not required to register as an investment adviser representative of such investment adviser in this state.(k) An individual who solicits, offers, or negotiates for sale of or sells investment advisory services, but who is not compensated directly or indirectly for such activities, is not required to register as an investment adviser representative in this state.(10) Examination of Investment Adviser Representatives. (a) Each applicant for initial registration as an investment adviser representative: 1. Shall receive a passing grade on the Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination (UIALE/Series 65) as administered by the FINRA;2. Shall receive passing grades on the General Securities Representative Examination (Series 7) and the Uniform Combined State Law Examination (UCSLE/Series 66) as administered by the FINRA;3. Shall have been registered as an investment adviser representative in any state within the preceding twenty-four (24) months; or4. Shall currently hold one (1) of the following professional designations: (i) Certified Financial Planner (CFP) awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.;(ii) Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) awarded by the American College, Bryn Mawr, PA;(iii) Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) awarded by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants;(iv) Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) awarded by the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts; or(v) Chartered Investment Counselor (CIC) awarded by the Investment Adviser Association, Inc.(b) The passing grade on a particular examination required for registration in this state shall be the passing grade for that particular examination as set by the agency or organization administering the examination. For purposes of this paragraph (10), a duly granted examination waiver by the FINRA, the New York Stock Exchange, or the SEC shall constitute a passing grade for the General Securities Representative Examination (Series 7) requirement of part (10)(a)2. and subparagraph (10)(c) of this Rule.(c) Each applicant who demonstrates eligibility for initial registration by receiving a passing grade on the examinations delineated in parts (10)(a)1.-2. of this Rule: 1. Shall have received a passing grade on the required examinations within the preceding twenty-four (24) months; or2. Shall have received a passing grade on the required examinations prior to the preceding twenty-four (24) months and shall have been registered in an appropriate jurisdiction in the capacity appropriate to the required examination within the preceding twenty-four (24) months.(d) The requirements of this paragraph (10) shall apply to all applications for investment adviser registration and investment adviser representative registration filed with the Division on or after April 1, 2004.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0780-04-03-.01
Original rule filed September 9, 1980; effective October 24, 1980. Amendment filed January 13, 1983; effective February 14, Repeal and new rule filed September 28, 1990; effective November 12, 1990. Amendment filed November 6, 1997; effective January 20, 1998. Amendment filed May 15, 2002; effective July 29, 2002. Amendment filed April 5, 2004; effective June 19, 2004. Repeal and new rule filed March 16, 2015; effective 6/14/2015.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 48-1-102, 48-1-109, 48-1-110, 48-1-111, 48-1-112, 48-1-115, 48-1-116, Public Acts of 2001, Chapter 61, §222 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended by §304(c) of the National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, 17 C.F.R. §240.15c3 - 1, 17 C.F.R. §240.15Ca2-2, 17 C.F.R. § 240.17a-5, 17 C.F.R. § 275.203A-3, and 17 C.F.R. §402.2.