SEC and CFTC Open Comment Period on Derivatives Definitions: What Accredited Investors Need to Know
    Regulatory & Compliance

    SEC and CFTC Open Comment Period on Derivatives Definitions: What Accredited Investors Need to Know

    On June 18, 2026, the SEC and CFTC jointly issued Release 2026-57 , opening a 60-day public comment period on whether the current definitions of "swap," "security-based swap," and "mixed swap" under...

    Jeff Barnes, MBA··10 min read
    SEC's 2026 Exam Priorities Signal a New Era for Private Fund Oversight
    Regulatory & Compliance

    SEC's 2026 Exam Priorities Signal a New Era for Private Fund Oversight

    TL;DR The SEC's Division of Examinations released its 2026 Examination Priorities in late 2025. For the first time since 2021, private fund advisers do not have their own standalone section. That d...

    Jeff Barnes, MBA··10 min read
    The Three SEC Investor Tiers Explained: Accredited, Qualified Purchaser, and QIB
    Regulatory & Compliance

    The Three SEC Investor Tiers Explained: Accredited, Qualified Purchaser, and QIB

    TL;DR: The SEC classifies investors into three regulatory tiers. Accredited investors ($1M net worth or $200K income) access basic private placements and smaller hedge funds. Qualified purchasers ($5M

    Jeff Barnes, MBA··8 min read
    SEC and CFTC Cut Form PF Reporting Requirements: What Accredited Investors Lose
    Regulatory & Compliance

    SEC and CFTC Cut Form PF Reporting Requirements: What Accredited Investors Lose

    TL;DR: The SEC just proposed cutting the transparency requirement that helped protect private fund investors from systemic risk. The headline says reduced burden. The fine print says reduced

    Jeff Barnes, MBA··6 min read
    SEC Raises Qualified Client Threshold June 29: What Private Fund Investors Must Do Now
    Regulatory & Compliance

    SEC Raises Qualified Client Threshold June 29: What Private Fund Investors Must Do Now

    TL;DR: The SEC raised the qualified client threshold for performance-fee private funds on April 28, 2026. It takes effect June 29, 2026 — less than 4 weeks away. If you're investing in private equity

    Jeff Barnes, MBA··8 min read
    The SEC Just Proposed Cutting Private Fund Reporting — Here's the Part They're Not Highlighting
    Regulatory & Compliance

    The SEC Just Proposed Cutting Private Fund Reporting — Here's the Part They're Not Highlighting

    The SEC Just Proposed Cutting Private Fund Reporting — Here's the Part They're Not Highlighting TL;DR: On April 20, 2026, the SEC and CFTC jointly proposed rolling back Form PF — the main private…

    Jeff Barnes, MBA··11 min read