Smartria Compliance Software

08/26/2026

There's a filing that often goes unnoticed:

Form N-PX, due August 31.

Since the SEC's 2022 rule amendments, Form N-PX doesn't just apply to funds. It can also apply to institutional investment managers that file Form 13F and exercise voting authority over say-on-pay matters.

The challenge is that N-PX is a derivative obligation. No one tells you it now applies- it comes with your Form 13F status.

If you're preparing your 13F filing, now is the right time to ask:
Does Form N-PX apply to us, too?

The firms that avoid missed filings don't just track deadlines. They connect related obligations, assign ownership, and make sure nothing slips through the cracks.

Read our latest blog to learn what to check before the August 31 deadline.

https://smart-ria.com/.../form-n-px-is-due-aug-31-and-a.../

08/18/2026

313 enforcement actions.
~45% drop in settlements.

The Atkins-era SEC is selective, not softer.

Focus areas now include AI washing, fee integrity, retail protections, and vendor cybersecurity.

The key question for RIAs:
Can you demonstrate with evidence that client protection works in practice?
https://smart-ria.com/blog/sec-enforcement-trends-2025-5-lessons-for-rias-to-thrive-under-the-atkins-era/

08/06/2026

Most RIAs don't hit compliance problems when they hire advisor #2 or #3.

The pressure usually shows up around advisor #5.

More advisors means more client communications, more disclosures, more marketing reviews, and more supervision.

What used to be handled through conversations suddenly requires coordination.

That's when firms start seeing:

✔ Multiple versions of the same spreadsheet
✔ Approvals buried in email threads
✔ Hours spent tracking attestations and training
✔ Growing uncertainty around who reviewed what

None of these feel like major compliance failures.

They feel like small inconveniences.

But together they signal something important: the firm has outgrown the systems that got it this far.

The firms that scale smoothly don't wait for an exam to expose the gaps.

They build structure before growth turns coordination into risk.

At what size did your firm first feel compliance becoming harder to manage? 👇
Read the full breakdown: https://smart-ria.com/blog/why-compliance-breaks-as-rias-scale-past-5-advisors/

07/28/2026

The SEC’s January 2026 proposal to modernize “small entity” definitions is subtle but important.

It doesn’t change exams.
It doesn’t lower standards.
It doesn’t create exemptions.

It may, however, require more rigorous analysis of how future rules affect smaller RIAs.

Recognition of compliance burden is increasing.
Expectations for documentation and supervision remain unchanged. https://smart-ria.com/blog/sec-proposes-updates-to-small-entity-definitions-why-it-matters-for-rias-and-future-rulemaking/

07/16/2026

We're excited to introduce SmartArchive.

SmartArchive helps RIAs and broker-dealers archive and supervise business communications from a centralized platform, making it easier to stay organized, audit-ready, and compliant.

Firms can securely capture:
➡️ Emails
➡️ Text messages
➡️ Social media messages
➡️ Websites

SmartArchive is now part of Smartria's growing AI-powered compliance suite.
Learn more: https://smart-ria.com/solutions/smartarchive/

07/16/2026

Most RIAs start compliance in Excel.

And for a while, it works.

One spreadsheet tracks attestations. Another tracks training. Documents live in shared folders. Approvals sit in email threads.

Then the firm grows.

A few more advisors. More marketing reviews. More disclosures. More supervision requirements.

Suddenly the challenge isn't tracking tasks anymore.

It's proving who reviewed what, when it happened, and where the evidence lives.

That's when spreadsheets start showing their limits.

✔ Multiple versions of the same file
✔ Manual reminders and follow-ups
✔ Missing audit trails during exams
✔ Hours spent searching for documentation

The issue isn't that Excel failed.

The firm simply outgrew what spreadsheets were built to handle.

At what point did your firm realize spreadsheets weren't enough?
https://smart-ria.com/blog/excel-vs-compliance-software-why-rias-eventually-outgrow-spreadsheets/

07/08/2026

Most firms think the biggest cost of non-compliance is the fine.

It usually isn't.

A marketing issue triggers a review.
The review uncovers documentation gaps.
The documentation gaps raise supervision questions.

Now the firm is dealing with lawyers, consultants, document requests, and months of distraction.

That's how a compliance issue turns into a business issue.

✔ Centralized records that are easy to produce
✔ Clear supervisory trails that stand up in an exam

The goal isn't just avoiding penalties. It's protecting enterprise value: https://smart-ria.com/blog/the-hidden-costs-of-non-compliance-top-3-sec-penalties-and-how-to-avoid-them/

07/06/2026

We're honored to be featured in the Compliance category on the latest Kitces Advisor Technology Map.

Industry recognition is meaningful, but what matters most is the trust our customers place in Smartria every day. We're grateful to support compliance teams and advisory firms with technology that helps simplify an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

Thank you to our customers, partners, and team for making this possible.

Latest version of the Financial Advisor FinTech Solutions Map. Discover technology solutions for RIAs and independent broker-dealers curated by the Kitces team!

06/30/2026

Most firms think hiring a CCO solves the compliance problem.

Usually it just relocates it.

The new CCO inherits:

➡️ spreadsheet trackers,
➡️ shared drives,
➡️ email approvals,
➡️ manual attestations,
➡️ and no single view of oversight.

Six months later, they're still coordinating instead of leading.

That's not a people issue.
That's an infrastructure issue.

✔ Centralized workflows instead of scattered processes
✔ Real-time visibility instead of audit scrambling

The best compliance leaders need leverage, not more spreadsheets. 👉 https://smart-ria.com/blog/day-1-vs-day-180-what-your-new-cco-wishes-youd-given-them/

06/23/2026

Most firms think compliance breaks at 100 employees.

Usually it starts around 30.

A few spreadsheets become ten.
Approvals live in inboxes.
Mock audits turn into two-week scrambles.

Nothing looks catastrophic.
But every new hire adds more coordination drag.

That's not a staffing problem.
That's an infrastructure problem.

✔ Centralized workflows instead of scattered tracking
✔ Audit-ready documentation without last-minute scrambling

The firms that scale cleanly build systems before pressure forces them to: https://smart-ria.com/blog/5-warning-signs-your-30-person-firm-is-headed-for-a-compliance-pileup/