Topic Index
Accounting and Audit
Investment company accounting and financial topics and issues, including: board oversight of fund auditors, fund financial matters, and audit committee resources.
Trigger Advisory Contracts
Board oversight of advisers and subadvisers, including approval of advisory contracts, analysis of fund fees and performance, and fund fee litigation.
Fee Litigation
Opinions, filings, and analysis of litigation related to fund fees, and director oversight of fund advisory relationships.
Sub-Advisors
Guidance and materials on board oversight of sub-advisory relationships.
Trigger Disclosure
Investment company disclosure guidance, issues, rules, and regulations.
Prospectus and SAI
Rules and guidance on investment company registration statements and disclosures.
Proxy Disclosure
Rules and guidance for investment company proxy statement disclosures.
Trigger Distribution
Board oversight of fund distribution, including Rule 12b-1 fees.
Rule 12b-1
Guidance and materials for directors on Rule 12b-1 fees and plans.
Trigger Governance
Fund governance guidance and matters, including board leadership, composition, assessment, and oversight responsibilities.
Board Leadership
Management and composition of a fund board, including resources for independent chairs and lead independent directors
Closed-end Funds
Guidance and resources for closed-end registered investment companies.
Compensation
Director and trustee compensation resources and issues.
Compliance
Director oversight of the compliance function, including resources for chief compliance officers.
D&O Insurance
Director and officer insurance resources, including fidelity bonds, and director liability.
Mergers
Mergers and consolidations of funds and advisers.
Self-Evaluation
Guidance and resources on board self-evaluation and director qualifications and continuing education.
Money Market Funds
Board oversight of money market funds, including rules and regulations, money market fund developments, guidance, and emerging issues.
Trigger Portfolio Oversight
Guidance for boards in overseeing their funds' portfolios, including best execution, custody, ETFs, fixed income issues, proxy voting, soft dollars, and valuation issues.
Best Execution
Board responsibilities and duties regarding best execution of portfolio trades.
Complex Securities
Derivatives, synthetic positions, and structured investment products.
Custody
Board responsibilities and duties for oversight of custodial arrangements.
ETFs
Resources and materials relating to Exchange Traded Funds.
Fixed Income Funds
Resources and issues related to fixed income portfolios.
Proxy Voting
Resources and guidance for voting proxies of porfolio securities.
Securities Lending
Guidance for directors on oversight of fund securities lending programs.
Soft Dollars
Director oversight of soft dollar arrangements.
Reference
Financial reference materials for fund boards, including relevant legislation, rules, regulations, and interpretations.
Regulatory News
Statutes, regulations, and interpretive guidance governing the US securities markets and its participants.
Registration
Director Resources
The Directors' Resource Center is a library of links grouped by topic. It is designed to provide members with quick and easy access to regulatory pronouncements, guidance, opinions, analysis, and other resources. The content of the Resource Center is focused on the needs of fund independent directors and is driven by suggestions and requests from the Forum's members.
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Recent Additions
Litigation Challenging CFTC Rule Proposal
In early February 2012 the CFTC issued a controversial rulemaking that requires most funds investing in commodity-related instruments to register with the CFTC. As such, these funds will be subject to dual registration requirements… read more
RMK Valuation Litigation Materials
In December 2012 the SEC filed an action against eight former directors of the Regions Morgan Keegan Funds, alleging that the directors failed to satisfy their statutory obligation to value properly securities held in… read more
Forum Valuation Guidance
The report, "Practical Guidance for Fund Directors on Valuation Oversight," provides directors with practical guidance regarding how to carry out their oversight role in this important area. read more
Challenge to CFTC Rulemaking
The ICI and the Chamber of Commerce of the United States have brought suit against the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to challenge recent rule changes that will require some investment advisers to registered investment… read more
Webinar Archive - Board Oversight of Alternative Mutual Funds
Benjamin Haskin of Wilkie Farr & Gallagher LLP discusses the board oversight of alternative mutual funds. read more
Forum Publications
Forum’s Newer Director Guide (2011)
Drafted in partnership with Stradley Ronon LLP, this publication is an introductory guide designed for directors in their first years of service on a fund board. read more
Forum’s Newer Director Guide
Drafted in partnership with Stradley Ronon LLP, this publication is an introductory guide designed for directors in their first years of service on a fund board. read more
Forum’s Newer Director Guide (September 2010)
The Newer Director Guide is a comprehensive guide and reference for fund independent directors. read more
Forum Comment Letter - Target Date Retirement Fund Names and Marketing
On August 23, 2010, the Forum submitted its comments on the SEC's rule proposal, "Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Investment Company Advertising: Target Date Retirement Fund Names and Marketing, File No. S7-12-10." read more
The Mutual Fund Directors Forum and Closed-End Funds
This document outlines the benefits the independent directors of closed-end funds can derive from membership in the Mutual Fund Directors Forum. read more