James E Clements, Msom, Iaccp®, Aif®, Bfa™ Email and Phone Number

I am the Chief Compliance Officer for Carson Group’s registered $40B investment advisory entities and its broker dealer. As the Chief Compliance Officer, I work with our legal, marketing, sales teams, and an outside broker-dealer to manage FINRA and SEC compliance. I collaborate on the development, implementation, and oversight of the regulatory framework, compliance policies, and procedures to ensure compliance with FINRA, SEC, and insurance related guidelines, rules, and regulations, take a leading role in responding to regulatory inquiries, investigations, audits, and reviews and act as a conduit between our outside broker-dealer and Carson Group. Experience with M&A activities by assisting with due diligence and regulatory review. Maintain and implement the 206(4)-7 program for all advisory firms. Part of internal team that assess Digital Asset/Cryptocurrency review.

I was the Chief Compliance Officer and Risk Management for Ameritas Insurance Company’s retail and distribution broker-dealer, insurance agency, and RIA, Ameritas Investment Company, LLC.

Managed the RIA compliance department for Securities America Advisors, the $29 billion AUM/AUA corporate RIA as well as for Arbor Point Advisors, an affiliated RIA with $1 Billion in assets. Also provided guidance on the 100 independent RIAs managed by SAI registered representatives; established and ensured rules and procedures for the various regulatory bodies and Securities America policies were followed. Regulatory: Reviewed ADV for accuracy and tested delivery requirements, conducted IA compliance training, managed the Code of Ethics program, reviewed custody relationships, and interacted with other Compliance Units on various compliance related issues and projects such as political contributions, gifts and entertainment, outside business activities. Interact with regulators as needed (SEC/FINRA)Also oversaw all Licensing and Registration for the over 2,000 registered representatives and investment advisor representatives of Securities America, Inc, Securities America Advisors, Ladenburg Thalmann and Arbor Point Advisors. Ensured all of our registered representatives/investment adviser representatives meet the due diligence criteria and were properly licensed and registered in the jurisdictions as needed.

Hidden Valley Consulting Group was a consulting and marketing company that assists small to mid-size investment management firms with all aspects of their corporate needs.

ICON Investments is a leading alternative investment manager that provides innovative investment solutions to individual and institutional investors through publicly registered programs, private funds and separately managed accounts. I oversaw ICON Investments expansion into the, RIA, investment management and family office space.

I joined ESI in January 2009 to lead the business development effort for ESI. My responsibilities included the development and maintenance of ESI’s business relationships with outside product manufactures, training and education for products and services offered by ESI, as well as the development and management of the Advanced Producer Seminar (APS), ESI’s annual sales conference. In addition, I had overall responsibility for the firm’s advisory services area as well as the development of the firm’s financial planning practice.

I was Senior Vice President, Investment Advisory Services for National Planning Holdings, Inc (NPH), Jackson National Life Insurance’s broker dealer network. I joined NPH to lead the Investment Advisory Services group across all of NPH’s four broker dealers, INVEST Financial, Investment Center of America, National Planning Corporation and SII. Implemented new advisory platform with Envestnet which utilized our two clearing firms, Pershing and National Financial. Moved over $8 billion to this new platform.

I joined Park Avenue Securities in January 2000 to create the Investment Advisory Services division and was responsible for the day-to-day management of this division, which included compliance, operations, trading, marketing and sales. By 2007 we had over $3 billion in AUM.

Senior Compliance Analyst in Schwab Institutional.

I oversaw advisory compliance for both Royal Alliance and SunAmerica Securities. Also oversaw OBA activities and advertisement review at SunAmerica Securities. I provided guidance and assistance with the independent RIAs affiliated with SunAmerica and Royal Alliance.

I oversaw all compliance and licensing for the firm.