The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has officially postponed the enforcement date for new Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements targeting investment advisers.
Originally set to take effect sooner, the compliance deadline has now been extended, giving firms additional time to prepare their systems, staff, and processes for the sweeping regulatory changes.
The new AML regime, once in force, will bring investment advisers under stricter obligations similar to those already applied to banks and broker-dealers. T
hese requirements include establishing comprehensive AML compliance programs, conducting customer due diligence (CDD), and filing suspicious activity reports (SARs) when necessary. The initiative is part of a broader U.S. effort to close regulatory gaps and prevent illicit actors from exploiting the investment advisory sector for money laundering or terrorist financing.
Regulators have highlighted that while the extension provides breathing room, investment advisers should not delay preparations.
The expectation is that firms will use this extra time to strengthen internal controls, train compliance teams, and integrate robust monitoring systems that can detect unusual transactions.
Industry reactions to the postponement have been mixed. Some firms welcome the delay as an opportunity to ensure smoother implementation, while others express concerns that it may prolong uncertainty in the compliance landscape. Nevertheless, the move underscores the U.S.
government’s determination to eventually bring this sector into alignment with global AML standards — a shift that will demand significant operational and cultural changes across the industry.
