Tr?id=566623520170033&ev=PageView&noscript=1

SEC Issues Risk Alert to Broker-Dealers Regarding Examination Criteria

Posted on June 10th, 2024 at 1:27 PM
SEC Issues Risk Alert to Broker-Dealers Regarding Examination Criteria

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a new Risk Alert, advising broker-dealers that their prior disciplinary history, financial stress indicators, and media reports could make them likely candidates for an examination.

ThinkAdvisor reports that the alert aims to help broker-dealers prepare for possible exams by outlining the criteria the SEC’s Examination Division may use to select firms for review and the focus areas for these exams. The alert also lists the types of information and documents that exam staff may initially request during a broker-dealer examination, including a Sample Initial Information Request List.

According to ThinkAdvisor, the SEC exam staff may consider several factors. Those include prior exam history, tips, complaints, referrals involving the firm, the length of time since the last exam, and the firm's customer base, products, and services. Specific offices or branches of a broker-dealer may also be targeted based on identified risk factors, such as customer complaints or outside business activities of personnel. 

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, sec

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

If the regulators are after you, and are trying to make a case against you, and you are going to contest their allegations against you, make sure you have the best securities industry defense lawyers, Eccleston Law Firm. My case was spun into a combination of penalties including fines, cash settlements, CE courses and suspension. They were the best I have seen in action. When all was said and done, they had done their magic, my situation was negotiated and settled with a simple "letter of caution" and a case closed without action. It is the most important legal business decision you will ever make, make it Eccleston Law.

Rick R.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1783012078 Law
July 2, 2026
Financial Services Institute Backs New Jersey Bill Protecting Independent Advisor Model

The Financial Services Institute (FSI) has urged New Jersey lawmakers to advance legislation that would help preserve the independent contractor status of financial advisors operating in the state.

1782920284 Law
July 1, 2026
Private Credit Funds Face Scrutiny Over Software Exposure Amid Investor Concerns

Private credit fund managers are facing increased scrutiny over their exposure to software companies as investors continue to pull money from the sector during ongoing market volatility.

1782836587 Law
June 30, 2026
FINRA Signals Stronger Enforcement Focus on Reg BI, Excessive Trading, and Best Execution

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) plans to intensify its enforcement efforts against Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) violations, excessive trading, options trading, churning, and best execution failures after bringing a record number of retail investor protection cases in 2025, according to ThinkAdvisor.