Prohibition on association: intermediaries and agents must avoid links with unregistered advisers or unauthorized performance promoters. Persons regulated by the Board, MIIs and their agents must not directly or indirectly associate with any person who provides unregistered advice or recommendation on securities or who makes unauthorized claims about returns or performance; association includes transactions of money, client referrals, IT interactions, sharing client information, or similar linkages. Regulated entities are responsible, to the extent of their association, to ensure associated persons and agents do not engage in these prohibited activities and must take appropriate action if services are misused. Investor education is excluded only if it contains no advice or implied performance claims.