Why Compliance Is Tougher Than Ever
FINRA, SEC, state accountancy boards, and the FTC have all tightened advertising guidance in the past two years.¹ Missteps expose firms to fines, malpractice exposure, or even license suspension. Yet “compliant creativity” is possible if you build controls into every campaign.
Key Regulatory Pillars
| Regulation / Rule | What It Means | Quick Win |
|---|---|---|
| AICPA Code §1.600 (Advertising) | Marketing must be truthful and not “contain any material misrepresentation.” | Require a partner sign-off on every ad draft. |
| SEC Marketing Rule (IA-4883) | Performance claims need full-period reporting & net-of-fees disclosures.² | Add footnotes + GIPS-style tables to any ROI chart. |
| FTC Endorsement Guide (Updated 2024) | Testimonials must be genuine and “typical.” | Pre-face every case-study paragraph with “Results vary.” |
| CAN-SPAM / CASL | Clear opt-out links and physical address in all email. | Automate global suppression lists in your ESP. |
| GLBA / CCPA / GDPR | Safeguard personal financial data and honor deletion requests. | Deploy cookie-consent banner & data-request portal. |
Building a Compliance-First Workflow
- Pre-Launch Reviews – Marketing drafts → compliance checklist → partner sign-off.
- Asset Registry – Store every ad, revision, and approval date for four years.
- Disclaimers Library – Centrally host boilerplate text for performance, testimonials, and privacy.
- Quarterly Audits – Random‐sample five pieces of collateral; document findings.
Emerging Risk Zones
- Generative AI Copy: Verify citations; add human review.
- Short-Form Video: Superimpose disclaimers; keep scripts on file.
- Influencer Partnerships: Disclose compensation #ad tags or face FTC penalties.³
Conclusion & CTA
Compliant marketing isn’t a roadblock—it’s a trust accelerator. Download our Legal‐Marketing Compliance Checklist for Accountants to embed governance into every campaign.
