Job Description

When you join New York Life, you’re joining a company that values career development, collaboration, innovation, and inclusiveness. We want employees to feel proud about being part of a company that is committed to doing the right thing. You’ll have the opportunity to grow your career while developing personally and professionally through various resources and programs. New York Life is a relationship-based company and appreciates how both virtual and in-person interactions support our culture.

The New York Life Office of General Counsel is seeking a strategic and practical retail broker-dealer attorney to join the legal team supporting New York Life’s Wealth Management division, consisting of NYLIFE Securities, a registered introducing broker-dealer, and Eagle Strategies, a registered retail investment adviser, both wholly-owned subsidiaries of New York Life Insurance Company. This individual will advise on all issues affecting the business and distribution network of over 6,000 registered representatives.

The Assistant General Counsel will:

Advise on applicable financial services related laws, rules, and regulations, including FINRA Rules, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Regulation Best Interest, and state securities laws and regulations applicable to FINRA member firms
Provide strategic legal guidance and support on a wide variety of broker-dealer issues, including supervision, sales practices, conflicts of interest, registration, operations, and compliance
Collaborate with business, compliance and legal teams to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and corporate policies applicable to retail broker-dealer products and services
Communicate with various regulatory bodies directly and through industry associations regarding changes in laws and policies that may have an impact on the Wealth Management business
Draft, review, and provide guidance on required regulatory and transactional documents, including Form CRS, customer account agreements, intermediary selling and servicing agreements, client profile forms, and best interest disclosures
Work with the compliance department to prepare responses, including preparing witnesses, for routine and for-cause FINRA and SEC regulatory examinations
Review vendor, product sponsor, sales/marketing materials and client forms and agreements
Assist in the review and consideration of new products, programs and services offered by the Wealth Management businesses
Draft, review and provide guidance on compliance and operational procedures

Required skills and qualifications:

5+ years of relevant experience law firm, industry, or regulatory experience as a practicing attorney
Substantial background and experience advising FINRA member broker-dealers and responding to regulatory examinations. Experience with insurance-affiliated broker-dealers and dual-registrants strongly preferred.
J.D. (or equivalent law degree) required
Strategic and critical thinking skills, excellent judgment, and ability to make independent decisions
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Admission to the New York State Bar required.