CFTC Chair Timothy Massad discussed the CFTC's efforts to address end users' concerns at the 2015 Energy Risk Summit. Chair Massad reiterated the CFTC's intention to "fine-tune" its rules and touched on specific areas of concern for the CFTC to address, including the following: making it easier for local utility companies to access the energy swaps market; granting relief from the real-time reporting requirements for certain less liquid and long-dated swap contracts; modifying the residual interest deadline; revisiting procedures for special calls, especially when automatically triggered by

The Supreme Court of Texas issued a decision in Life Partners, Inc. v. Arnold, ruling that life settlement contacts and viaticals satisfy the definition of an investment contact under the Texas Securities Act (the "Act"), making them securities subject to the Act. In response to the ruling, North American Securities Administrators Association ("NASAA") President William Beatty issued a statement in support of the decision and its implications throughout the United States. He explained that for "more than a decade," state securities regulators "have seen widespread abuses involved in the

The SEC charged a self-described retirement planning firm and its principals with falsely telling customers that interests in life settlements that they offered and sold were "guaranteed," as "safe as CDs," and "federally insured." The SEC also alleged that the retirement planning firm used a "bogus net worth calculator" that improperly qualified some prospective investors for purchases by including income that investors had not received. See: SEC Complaint; SEC Press Release.

The SEC Office of Investor Education and Advocacy and FINRA issued an alert to provide investors with a general overview of automated investment tools. According to the alert, automated investment tools range from personal financial planning tools, to portfolio selection or asset optimization services, to online investment management programs. The alert provided five tips for investors to follow before using any automated investment tool, and explained that it is important for investors to understand both the benefits and risks of using such tools. See: Investor Alert.

ISDA CEO Scott O'Malia authored the blog post "No Answer Yet to Cross-Border Concerns." The piece focuses on the long-running negotiations between U.S. and EU regulators regarding mutual recognition of clearinghouses. According to Mr. O'Malia, while U.S. and European regulators are continuing their efforts to reach agreement on clearing house rules, it seems an agreement is unlikely "before the third quarter at the earliest." He explained that cross-border issues are of particular concern for ISDA members, since without an effective process for recognizing and deferring to comparable regimes,