RCW 21.20.040 Registration and notification required—Exemptions.

(1) It is unlawful for any person to transact business in this state as a broker-dealer or salesperson, unless: (a) The person is registered under this chapter; (b) the person is exempted from registration as a broker-dealer or salesperson to sell or resell condominium units sold in conjunction with an investment contract as may be provided by rule or order of the director as to persons who are licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 18.85 RCW; (c) the person is a salesperson who satisfies the requirements of section 15(i)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and effects in this state no transactions other than those described by section 15(i)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; (d) the person is a salesperson effecting transactions in open-end investment company securities sold at net asset value without any sales charges; or (e) the person participates only in the sale or offering for sale of variable contracts which fund corporate plans meeting the requirements for qualification under section 401 or 403 of the United States Internal Revenue Code as set forth in RCW 48.18A.060.

(2) It is unlawful for any broker-dealer or issuer to employ a salesperson unless the salesperson is registered or exempted from registration.

(3) It is unlawful for any person to transact business in this state as an investment adviser or investment adviser representative unless: (a) The person is so registered or exempt from registration under this chapter; (b) the person has no place of business in this state and (i) the person's only clients in this state are investment advisers registered under this chapter, federal covered advisers, broker-dealers, banks, savings institutions, trust companies, insurance companies, investment companies as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, employee benefit plans with assets of not less than one million dollars, or governmental agencies or instrumentalities, whether acting for themselves or as trustees with investment control, or (ii) during the preceding twelve-month period the person has had fewer than six clients who are residents of this state other than those specified in (b)(i) of this subsection; (c) the person is an investment adviser to an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940; (d) the person is a federal covered adviser and the person has complied with requirements of RCW 21.20.050; or (e) the person is excepted from the definition of investment adviser under section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

(4) It is unlawful for any person, other than a federal covered adviser, to hold himself or herself out as, or otherwise represent that he or she is a "financial planner," "investment counselor," or other similar term, as may be specified in rules adopted by the director, unless the person is registered as an investment adviser or investment adviser representative, is exempt from registration as an investment adviser or investment adviser representative under RCW 21.20.040, or is excluded from the definition of investment adviser under RCW 21.20.005.

(5)(a) It is unlawful for any person registered or required to be registered as an investment adviser under this chapter to employ, supervise, or associate with an investment adviser representative unless such investment adviser representative is registered as an investment adviser representative under this chapter.

(b) It is unlawful for any federal covered adviser or any person required to be registered as an investment adviser under section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to employ, supervise, or associate with an investment adviser representative having a place of business located in this state, unless such investment adviser representative is registered or is exempted from registration under this chapter.

[ 2016 c 61 § 1; 2002 c 65 § 3; 1998 c 15 § 3; 1994 c 256 § 5; 1989 c 391 § 2; 1979 ex.s. c 68 § 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 84 § 2; 1974 ex.s. c 77 § 1; 1959 c 282 § 4.]

NOTES:

Findings—Construction—1994 c 256: See RCW 43.320.007.

Effective date—1974 ex.s. c 77: "This 1974 amendatory act shall take effect on July 1, 1974." [ 1974 ex.s. c 77 § 14.]

Insurance, solicitation permits for sale of securities: RCW 48.06.090.