Where You Work Matters More Than You Think
Hopefully you’ve seen the recent Field Notice on Branch and Non-Branch locations, which outlines important updates and clarifications.
To help bring it to life, here’s a simplified view of what it means for your day-to-day business.
The Big Idea
How your work location is classified determines:
- Whether it needs to be registered
- How it’s supervised
- What inspection requirements apply
Getting this right isn’t just operational—it’s a regulatory requirement.
Three Core Location Types (In Plain English)
- Branch Office
This is your primary place of business. “Doing business” includes: meeting with clients, making calls, making recommendations, completing account opening paperwork, etc.
✔ Includes your home if it’s your primary work location
✔ Requires registration and inspections - OSJ (Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction)
A supervisory hub with oversight responsibilities.
✔ Has a designated supervisor
✔ Subject to annual inspections - Non-Branch Location
Used for support or limited business activity.
✔ Not a registered location
✔ Still subject to oversight and inspections
The Biggest Watch-Out: Your Home
This is where most confusion happens.
Your home = Branch if:
- It’s where you do most of your work
- You’re regularly conducting securities business there
Your home = Non-Branch if:
- You primarily work at another registered location
- You’re only doing limited support work at home
- You’re not meeting clients there
- You don’t use your home address on any advertising
Ask yourself:
- Where do I spend most of my working time?
- Am I conducting client business from this location?
- Would someone reasonably view this as my “office”?
If the answer leans toward yes, it’s likely a branch.
What You Need to Do
If your current setup:
- Has changed
- Isn’t formally designated
- Or you’re not sure
Complete the Location Disclosure Form and submit it to your supervisor before conducting business there.
Want the Full Details?
This is a simplified overview. The full Field Notice includes:
- Detailed definitions
- Specific scenarios and examples
- Requirements by role (RR, RA, NRF, supervisors)
You can access the full Field Notice on the agent portal.
Bottom Line
This isn’t about limiting flexibility—it’s about ensuring your business is structured correctly so you can operate confidently and compliantly.
If you’re unsure, ask. Getting it wrong can result in regulatory or disciplinary action. Be proactive – it’s easier to get it right upfront than fixing it later.
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