Section 202. (a) A broker-dealer, agent, investment adviser or investment adviser representative may obtain an initial or renewal registration by filing with the secretary or his designee an application together with a consent to service of process pursuant to paragraph (g) of section 414, and paying any reasonable costs charged for processing such filings. The application shall contain whatever information the secretary by rule requires concerning such matters as:

(1) the applicant's form and place of organization;

(2) the applicant's proposed method of doing business;

(3) the qualifications and business history of the applicant; in the case of a broker-dealer or investment adviser, the qualifications and business history of any partner, officer, or director, any person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions, or any person directly or indirectly controlling the broker-dealer or the investment adviser;

(4) any injunction or administrative order or conviction of a misdemeanor involving a security or any aspect of the securities business and any conviction of a felony;

(5) the applicant's financial condition and history; and

(6) any information to be furnished or disseminated to any client or prospective client, if the applicant is an investment adviser.

The secretary may by rule or order require an applicant for initial registration to publish an announcement of the application in 1 or more specified newspapers published in the commonwealth. If no denial order is in effect and no proceeding is pending under section 204, registration shall become effective at noon of the thirtieth day after an application is filed. The secretary may by rule or order specify an earlier effective date, and may by order defer the effective date until noon of the thirtieth day after the filing of any amendment. Registration of a broker-dealer or an investment adviser automatically constitutes registration of any agent or investment adviser representative, whichever is applicable, who is a partner, officer, or director, or a person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions. No person shall be designated as a partner, officer or director or a person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions, for the purpose of the automatic registration if the designation is solely for the purpose of avoiding registration as an agent or investment adviser representative.

(b) It is unlawful for a person to transact business in the commonwealth as a federal covered adviser unless the person has made a notice filing with the secretary or his designee consisting of (1) a copy of those documents that have been filed by the federal covered adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission, (2) a consent to service of process, and (3) a filing fee, as the secretary prescribes by rule or order, not to exceed $300.

A notice filing shall be effective upon the receipt of a complete filing by the secretary or his designee. The notice filing shall expire annually on December 31 and may be renewed by filing those documents that have been filed with the SEC that the secretary prescribes by rule together with a filing fee of $300.

(c) (1) Broker-dealers and broker-dealer agents.

Every applicant for initial or renewal registration shall pay a registration fee, as the secretary prescribes by rule or order, not to exceed $300 in the case of a broker-dealer and not to exceed $50 in the case of an agent, including an agent automatically registered pursuant to paragraph (a). When an agent transfers an affiliation, the agent shall pay a fee, as the secretary prescribes by rule or order, not to exceed $50. Any person required to pay a fee under this section may transmit through any designee any fee required by this section or the rules promulgated under this section.

(2) Investment advisers and investment adviser representatives.

Every applicant for initial or renewal registration shall pay a registration fee, as the secretary prescribes by rule or order, not to exceed $300 in the case of an investment adviser and of $50 in the case of an investment adviser representative, including an investment adviser representative automatically registered pursuant to paragraph (a). When an investment adviser representative transfers an affiliation, the investment adviser representative shall pay a fee, as the secretary prescribes by rule or order, not to exceed $50.

(3) Federal covered advisers.

Every person acting as a federal covered adviser in the commonwealth shall pay an initial or renewal notice filing fee, as the secretary prescribes by rule or order, not to exceed $300.

(d) A registered broker-dealer, an investment adviser, or a federal covered adviser may file an application for registration of a successor, or file a notice filing for a successor, as applicable, whether or not the successor is then in existence, for the unexpired portion of the year. There shall be no filing fee.

(e) The secretary may, by rule or order, establish minimum financial requirements, including minimum capital and bonding requirements, for registered broker-dealers, subject to the limitations of section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and for investment advisers, subject to the limitations of section 222 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, which may include different requirements for those registered investment advisers who maintain custody of clients' funds or securities, who have discretionary authority over same or who require payment of more than $500 in fees and more than 6 months in advance and those registered investment advisers who do not.

(f) The secretary may by rule provide that an applicant may submit 1 application for registration as both a broker-dealer agent and an investment adviser representative. Each applicant shall pay a registration fee, as the secretary prescribes by rule or order, not to exceed $50.

(4) Any fee that is required to be paid pursuant to this section or the accompanying regulations may be transmitted through a designee.