Effective: March 31, 2021
Latest Legislation: House Bill 312 - 133rd General Assembly
(A) No person shall act as an investment adviser representative, unless one of the following applies:
(1) The person is licensed as an investment adviser representative by the division of securities.
(2) The person is a natural person who is licensed as an investment adviser by the division, and does not act as an investment adviser representative for another investment adviser; however, a natural person who is licensed as an investment adviser by the division may act as an investment adviser representative for another investment adviser if the natural person also is licensed by the division, or is properly excepted from licensure, as an investment adviser representative of the other investment adviser.
(3) The person is employed by or associated with an investment adviser registered under section 203 of the "Investment Advisers Act of 1940," 15 U.S.C. 80b-3, and does not have a place of business in this state.
(4) The person is employed by or associated with an investment adviser that is excepted from licensure pursuant to division (A)(3), (4), (5), or (6) of section 1707.141 of the Revised Code or excepted from notice filing pursuant to division (B)(3) of section 1707.141 of the Revised Code.
(B)(1) No investment adviser representative required to be licensed under this section shall act as an investment adviser representative for more than two investment advisers. An investment adviser representative that acts as an investment adviser representative for two investment advisers shall do so only after the occurrence of both of the following:
(a) Being properly licensed, or properly excepted from licensure under this section, as an investment adviser representative for both investment advisers;
(b) Complying with the requirements set forth in rules adopted by the division regarding consent of both investment advisers and notice.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a natural person from being licensed by the division as both an investment adviser and an investment adviser representative.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a natural person from being licensed by the division as both a salesperson and an investment adviser representative.
(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a natural person from being licensed by the division as both a dealer and an investment adviser representative.
(C) An investment adviser representative's license issued under this section shall not be effective during any period when the investment adviser representative is not employed by or associated with an investment adviser that is licensed by the division or that is in compliance with the notice filing requirements of division (B) of section 1707.141 of the Revised Code. Notice of the commencement and termination of the employment or association of an investment adviser representative licensed under this section shall be given to the division within thirty days after the commencement or termination by either of the following:
(1) The investment adviser, in the case of an investment adviser representative licensed under this section and employed by or associated with, or formerly employed by or associated with, an investment adviser licensed under section 1707.141 of the Revised Code;
(2) The investment adviser representative, in the case of an investment adviser representative licensed under this section and employed by or associated with, or formerly employed by or associated with, an investment adviser that is subject to the notice filings requirements of division (B) of section 1707.141 of the Revised Code.
(D)(1) Application for an investment adviser representative license shall be made in accordance with this section and by filing with the division the information, materials, and forms specified in rules adopted by the division.
(2) The division shall by rule require an applicant to pass an examination designated by the division or achieve a specified professional designation.
(3) Prior to issuing the investment adviser representative license, the division may require the applicant to reimburse the division for the actual expenses incurred in investigating the applicant. An itemized statement of any such expenses that the applicant is required to pay shall be furnished to the applicant by the division.
(E) If the division finds that the applicant is of good business repute, appears to be qualified to act as an investment adviser representative, and has complied with sections 1707.01 to 1707.50 of the Revised Code and the rules adopted under those sections by the division, the division, upon payment of the fees prescribed by division (B) of section 1707.17 of the Revised Code, shall issue to the applicant a license authorizing the applicant to act as an investment adviser representative for the investment adviser, or investment advisers that are under common ownership or control, named in the application.