CHICAGO—The last few years have seen the creation of more stringent rules for the financial world, and recent decisions by the US Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory agencies means that real estate investment trusts will soon have to change the way they do business.

The commission recently approved FINRA's proposal that, starting next year, requires “general securities members to provide more accurate per share estimated values on customer account statements,” among other changes. Instead of simply using the offering price, typically $10 per share, as the per share estimated value during the offering period, statements will have to reflect both the various costs and fees incurred and if the underlying assets have decreased in value.

"The fear is that there is going to be a backlash from investors," who may fear they are losing money, Tom Voekler, president of the Alternative & Direct Investment Securities Association and co-founder and co-managing partner of law firm Kaplan Voekler Cunningham & Frank PLC, tells GlobeSt.com. ADISA, formerly known as REISA, attracted about 500 industry professionals to its recent Spring Symposium in New Orleans, where they tackled these and other subjects.