Eccleston Law: For Investors. For Advisors
About
Who We Are
Testimonials
Disclaimers
Attorneys
For Advisors
Broker Transition
Transition Contract Review
Employment Matters
State Registration Problems & Discipline
FINRA Matters
Promissory Note Matters
CFP Board Matters
FINRA Enforcement Matters
State Registration Problems & Discipline
Transition Contract Review
Broker Litigation & Arbitration
Employment Matters
Regulatory Matters
Strategic Consulting
Whistleblower Law
Promissory Note Matters
Compliance Protection
Lawyer Referral Network
Expungement of CRD/BrokerCheck Disclosures
For Investors
Securities Fraud
Breach of Fiduciary Duty
Retirement Planning Negligence
Unauthorized Trading
Lawyer Referral Network
News & Articles
News
Articles
Financial Counsel Blog
Videos
Newsletter Signup
Contact
Site Menu
About
Who We Are
Testimonials
Disclaimers
Attorneys
For Advisors
For Advisors: Overview
Broker Transition
Broker Transition Overview
Transition Contract Review
Employment Matters
State Registration Problems & Discipline
FINRA Matters
Promissory Note Matters
CFP Board Matters
FINRA Enforcement Matters
State Registration Problems & Discipline
Transition Contract Review
Broker Litigation & Arbitration
Employment Matters
Regulatory Matters
Strategic Consulting
Whistleblower Law
Promissory Note Matters
Compliance Protection
Lawyer Referral Network
Expungement of CRD/BrokerCheck Disclosures
For Investors
For Investors: Overview
Securities Fraud
Breach of Fiduciary Duty
Retirement Planning Negligence
Unauthorized Trading
Lawyer Referral Network
News & Articles
News
Articles
Financial Counsel Blog
Videos
Newsletter Signup
Contact

What to Expect In 2016 Examinations

Posted on February 7th, 2016 at 6:50 PM
What to Expect In 2016 Examinations

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law LLC:

In considering the priorities for the upcoming year, The Office of Compliance Inspections and Examination (OCIE) of the SEC seeks to prevent potentially heightened risk for investors and the market in general. After consulting Commissioners, senior staff in SEC regional offices and divisions, and fellow regulators, OCIE determined the focus areas, which appear very similar to 2015:

  1. Examining matters of importance to retail investors, included investors saving for retirement
  2. Assessing issues related to market-wide risks;
  3. Using SEC’s evolving ability to analyze data to identify and examine registrants that may be engaged in illegal activity

Specifically OCIE will be looking at the following areas:

Protecting Retail Investors and Investors Saving for Retirement

The market continues to evolve into a more and more complex system that is becoming increasingly challenging for investors to navigate. Investors today are dependent on the complex market for retirement, making financial services professionals all the more responsible to protect investors.

Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”)

ETFs will be a new topic in 2016, focusing on compliance with exceptive relief and review of the ETFs’ unit creation and redemption process. The exams will also analyze sales strategies, trading practices, and disclosures involving ETFs, including excessive portfolio concentration, primary and secondary market trading risks, adequacy of reisk disclosure, and suitability.

Branch Offices

OCIE with make sure to review the supervision of registered representatives found in the branch offices of SEC registered advisers and broker-dealers. This supervision will include using data analytics to uncover potentially inappropriate trading.

Variable Annuities

With the increasing use of variable annuities among Americans, OCIE will be looking at the suitability of sales of annuities to investors as well as the disclosure and supervision surrounding the sales.

Cybersecurity

2015 saw the launch of OCIE’s second initiative to revamp compliance and controls in cybersecurity. We will see the continuation and advancement of this strategy in order to protect investors. Firms will be subject to random tests to ensure that consistent security measures are in place.

Transfer Agents

While OCIE will continue to inspect the timely turnaround of transfers, record keeping and record retention and safeguarding of funds and securities, it also plans to examine the payment of agent services for their issuers in order to safeguard security-holder funds.

As always, OCIE will continue to update and modify its examination procedures as developments are made in the market. 

The attorneys of Eccleston Law LLC represent investors and advisers nationwide in securities and employment matters. Our attorneys draw on a combined experience of nearly 65 years in delivering the highest quality legal services. If you are in need of legal services, contact us to schedule a one-on-one consultation today. 

Related Attorneys: James J. Eccleston

Tags: Eccleston, Eccleston Law, Eccleston Law LLC, James Eccleston, SEC, OCIE

Share

Return to Archive

Latest Articles
Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies: A Primer for Financial Planners Part Three
February 19th, 2019 at 3:48 PM
Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies: A Primer for Financial Planners Part Two
February 18th, 2019 at 4:30 PM
Read More »
Latest News
What Advisors, BDs Should Do About Ohio National’s End of Trailing Commissions
November 30th, 2018 at 5:09 PM
Whose clients are they? Edward Jones sues $150M Ameriprise advisors
November 14th, 2018 at 5:10 PM
Read More »
Share

Request a Free Consultation

Attorneys are standing by during regular business hours. Call us now for immediate service, or complete the form below and we will contact you as soon as possible.

Your E-mail Address:
 
Chicago
55 West Monroe St.
Suite 610
Chicago, Illinois 60603
(312) 332-0000
(312) 332-0003
New York City
One Liberty Plaza
165 Broadway, 23rd Floor
New York, New York 10006
(212) 203-9169
(312) 332-0003
Boca Raton
2255 Glades Road
Suite 324A
Boca Raton, Florida 33431
(312) 332-0000
(312) 332-0003
2019 © Eccleston Law, LLC.
All Rights Reserved.
The law is continuously changing. Please do not rely on information found on this site without consulting a lawyer to determine if any recent changes in the law may have an impact.