Company: WLTH
Filing Date: 2025-07-28
Form Type: DRS/A
Source: 0001628279-25-000486
Chunk: 198

Company: WEALTHFRONT CORP
Filing Date: 2025-07-28
Form: DRS/A
Chunk 198
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Scope of Regulation

The principal purpose of regulating broker-dealers is the protection of clients and securities markets. The regulations cover all aspects of the broker-dealer business and operations, including, among other things, sales and trading practices, reporting requirements, client onboarding, advertising and marketing, publication or distribution of research, margin lending, uses and safekeeping of clients’ funds and securities, capital adequacy, recordkeeping, reporting, fee arrangements, disclosures to clients, suitability, acting in clients’ best interests when making recommendations to retail clients, client privacy, data protection, information security and cybersecurity, the safeguarding of client information, the sharing of client information, best execution of client orders, public offerings, client qualifications for margin and options transactions, registration of personnel, business continuity planning, transactions with affiliates, conflicts, and the conduct of directors, officers and employees.

Net Capital Requirements

Wealthfront Brokerage LLC is subject to Rule 15c3-1 under the Exchange Act (the “Uniform Net Capital Rule”) and related SRO requirements. The Uniform Net Capital Rule specifies minimum capital requirements intended to ensure the general financial soundness and liquidity of broker-dealers. Generally, a broker-dealer’s net capital is its net worth plus qualified subordinated debt less deductions for certain types of assets. The Uniform Net Capital Rule effectively requires that most of a broker-dealer’s assets be maintained in a relatively liquid form. The SEC and FINRA rules require notification when net capital falls below certain thresholds, or when withdrawals of capital exceed certain thresholds. These rules also dictate a broker-dealer’s maximum ratio of debt to equity. If Wealthfront Brokerage LLC fails to maintain specified levels of net capital, Wealthfront Brokerage LLC could be subject to immediate suspension or revocation of registration, and suspension or expulsion could ultimately lead to the liquidation or wind-up of Wealthfront Brokerage LLC. In addition, the SEC and FINRA may place restrictions on our ability to expand our existing business or to commence new businesses in the event of such failure. Such failure could also constitute a default by us of certain debt covenants under our Revolver. The Uniform Net Capital Rule and FINRA requirements restrict Wealthfront Brokerage LLC from paying cash dividends, making unsecured advances or loans to affiliates, or repaying subordinated loans. For example, Wealthfront Brokerage LLC is restricted from making such payments that would result in it having a net capital amount of less than 5% of its aggregate debit balances or less than 120%