Representative Quick Reference Guide

Transcription

1 Transamerica Financial Advisors Annual Regulatory Questionnaire Representative Quick Reference Guide Introduction: Every year TFA Registered Representatives are required to complete and submit an Annual Regulatory Questionnaire (ARQ) that covers various aspects of the Representative s business and affiliation with TFA. The information and response you provide to each question is critical to meet certain regulatory and supervisory requirements as well as to help you maintain current and accurate information necessary to retain your registration with TFA. This is accomplished using TFA InForms as the questionnaire platform to submit and review a representative s ARQ. Instructions and answers to Frequently Asked Questions is provided in Sections 1 and 2 of the questionnaire. Instructions: Access TFA InForms Log into TFA or MyWFG website. Click the SSO (Seamless Sign-on) link and then select TFA InForms. This will connect you to TFA InForms. Special Note if you have problems accessing TFA InForms try the following: Turn off your pop up blocker If using something other than Microsoft Internet Explorer and you encounter problems; try a computer that is using Microsoft Internet Explorer. Try re-booting If all else fails call Rep Relations or your Regional Manager they will advise you of any system problems that may have developed and when the service may be restored. Problems can be the result of individual user error or the equipment being used. Equipment age, software, size, and operating system can have a significant effect on the ease and use of the TFA InForms platform. We are unable to address problems that may reside with your equipment. Using a different computer may prove to be a quick solution. TFA InForms First View across the top of the screen below the TFA red banner is the menu bar that contains the various forms available on TFA InForms depending upon your role and registration with TFA. Generally most representatives will have: Annual Regulatory Questionnaire; Disclosures; and ADV

2 Part 2B as menu options. Below the menu bar and within the main part of the screen are various queues depending again on the representative s role and registration. On the ARQ page you will have the My Annual Regulatory Questionnaire queue which shows the ARQs you have submitted or that have been assigned to you to complete. The Status column shows the current status of each ARQ. Annual Regulatory Questionnaire Preparation we recommend before you begin the ARQ process obtain or collect information and forms you may need prior to submitting an ARQ such as: Copy of your Detail Report from FINRA Broker Check website; Outside brokerage account information; Other information that you may have regarding complaints, criminal and/or financial related events; and Copy of your most recent Federal Tax Return. Obtain a copy of your FINRA Broker Check information may also be a useful tool when completing your ARQ since it provides all information disclosed to FINRA via Form U4 and if applicable subsequent Disclosure Reporting Pages (DRP). Having this information will allow you to verify the accuracy of your FINRA registration. In order to obtain a copy of your Broker Check information visit FINRA website, click Investor and then Broker Check. Following the instructions provided. To Begin go to the menu bar and click Annual Regulatory Questionnaire. Go to your personal queue, My Annual Regulatory Questionnaire and locate the current year s ARQ, which should be in Assigned Status. Click the blue, underlined Select at the left of the row. The ARQ workbook will open and will be a working document. ARQ Overview At the top of the screen you will see a menu bar that contains Workbook, Artifacts, Task List and Status. The workbook is the questionnaire you will need to open, complete and then submit. Artifact is a section where you can attach supporting documents to your ARQ record. Task List is a quick reference to open items that must be completed before the ARQ can be successfully submitted. The last option is Status where you can monitor or change the status of your ARQ as well as submit a message or question to your immediate supervisor or home office. The main screen is divided into two windows: Left window, called Topics, includes a list of ARQ sections with an indicator reflecting its current status. White indicates the section is not complete. Green indicates that section is completed. The right window on the screen, called Overview, gives a brief description of each section. There are approximately 95 base questions found in the ARQ Questionnaire section. Depending upon how you answer a base question the screen will refresh. Based on your response to each question

3 additional questions may be displayed requiring a response, otherwise the system will move onto the next base question. ARQ Sections 1 - ARQ Instructions provides general instructions 2 - ARQ FAQs response to frequently asked questions 3 - ARQ Representative Information this section includes registration and licensing information TFA has on file. This is provided to you to verify, correct or update to assure TFA s files and information are accurate and complete. 4 - ARQ Outside Business Activities (OBA) information regarding outside business activities that was previously disclosed and approved by TFA, is provided in this section for your verification and/or correction. If you need to add a new outside business activity, you can reference the OBA in the text response field, but you will need to submit via TFA Informs a complete disclosure form 5 - ARQ OBRA (Outside Brokerage Account) includes information regarding any brokerage account held outside of TFA. 6 - ARQ Representative Personal and Financial Disclosure this section is for you to disclose personal and financial information. Some information previously disclosed last year will be used to prepopulate some of the questions. Your responses to questions in this section are not visible to or shared with anyone other than your immediate supervisor and TFA Risk Management/Compliance personnel who have a need to access the information 7 - ARQ Questionnaire this is the main questionnaire 8 - ARQ FCRA Acknowledgements explains your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and authorizes and acknowledges your understanding that TFA may request such information 9 - ARQ Acknowledgment Statements you confirm your understanding and compliance with TFA and industry standards Completing each Section At the top right of each section screen you will see a dark grey Prev Topic button, a dark grey Next topic button, and a green Continue button. You can move from one section to another by selecting the Previous or Next buttons. However, it is recommended that you use the

4 green Continue button to move to the next section. If you have accidently missed a question and you use the Continue button, it will return you to the missed question. This ensures that you have answered all questions in a section. The dark grey buttons allow you to move to another section whether or not you have completed the section you are currently in. Section 1 ARQ Instructions and 2 ARQ FAQs are provided to help you through the ARQ process. No action is required. Section 3 Registration Information This section was pre-populated with registration information we have on record for you. Carefully review the information provided. If you find errors or outdated information, simply take the following steps: answer question 3.19 No, and describe the needed corrections in text field Remember that you must update your information by completing an amendment to your Form U4 and submitting it through Registration. Carefully read the final acknowledgement at the bottom of this page. Check the acknowledgement box to complete this section and move onto Section 4. Section 4 Outside Business Activities This section was pre-populated with Outside Business Activities (OBA) information you previously provided and reflected on TFA records. Carefully review the information provided. If the information provided regarding your OBAs is not complete or is inaccurate answer No to Question 4.2 Is the OBA information provided complete, current and accurate? This will display additional questions to address the problems noted. Answer each question accordingly. If OBA information needs to be updated or corrected outside of terminating an OBA answer Yes to Question 4.7 Is there any additional information that you need to disclose to TFA regarding your Outside Business Activities? Then provide a brief description of what needs to be updated or corrected. When completed, click Continue to move to the next section. Section 5 Outside Brokerage Accounts This section was pre-populated with Outside Brokerage Account (OBrA) information you previously provided and reflected on TFA records. Carefully review the information provided. If the information provided regarding your Outside Brokerage Accounts is not complete or is inaccurate answer No to Question 5.2 Is the OBrA information provided complete, current and accurate? This will display additional questions to address the problems noted. Answer each question accordingly. Section 6 Representative Personal and Financial Disclosure

5 This section includes sensitive information that was previously provided and questions that must be updated annually. Background information provided in this section was pre-populated based on your response to these questions on the prior year s ARQ. Please review each question to verify the information is accurate, correct the information if necessary or provide the requested information. This section also includes questions regarding your last Federal Tax Return filed with the Internal Revenue Service. This information is only available to your immediate supervisor and TFA Risk Management and Compliance Personnel. Once your supervisor reviews your ARQ this section will not be viewable and will be marked as Confidential. Access to this information is restricted to key individuals within TFA Compliance and TFA Risk Management. You will need to have access to your last Form 1040 Federal Tax Return in order to complete this section. The information being requested is specific to all reported income including 1099 Forms and can be found on your tax return with reference made to the line number on your return Forms received from various insurance companies reflecting commissions paid can be entered to your ARQ as a total aggregate amount noted as Insurance Commissions. All other 1099s received and reflected on your tax return must be itemized. Section 7 ARQ Questionnaire Section 7 includes approximately 97 base questions that must be answered. Additional questions may be asked depending upon your response to base questions. Answer each question asked. Section 8 ARQ FCRA Acknowledgement This section covers an annual federal requirement regarding your rights specified under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Please review this information and provide an electronic signature (enter your full name) in question 7.1 RR/IAR Signature Line. Section 9 ARQ Acknowledgement Statements There are 17 acknowledgement statements provided. Click the check box beside each statement reflecting your understanding of each statement.

6 If you have supporting documents you want to share with TFA to substantiate your response or the questionnaire is directing you to include supporting documents, answer Yes to Question 8.1 Do you have any supporting documents that should be attached to this ARQ workbook? Attachments can be added to your ARQ using the Artifact tab at the top of the screen. Providing a description of the documents added in response to Question 8.2 and click the final acknowledgement statements will complete your ARQ. Provide your electronic signature (enter your full name) and click Continue. Message will appear: Select OK to advance to the next Status. Select Cancel to return to your ARQ. The Status screen will now appear displaying the status of: Submitted This form has been completed and is pending review. Your ARQ will be delivered to your immediate supervisor. When your supervisor completes the review process and approves your ARQ, Section 6 will become restricted and marked Confidential. You can review previously submitted ARQ filed through TFA InForms that are listed on the landing page when you accessed the system.