Registration Questions and Answers on Forms MA, MA-I, and MA-NR for Municipal Advisors

Forms MA, MA-I, and MA-NR are forms published by the Office of Municipal Securities to facilitate registration for municipal advisors. The 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act mandated the registration of these advisors with the SEC to help local and state government agencies make decisions on when to issue municipal securities and how to invest proceeds from such sales. In order to help streamline the process, new staff guidance was issued by the office to address common questions about the forms. Form MA is used for application of registration, annual update and amendment of a prior registration. Form MA-I covers information regarding natural persons engaging in municipal advisor activities, while Form MA-NR is used for designation of U.S. agent for service of process for non-residents.