The Securities and Exchange Commission division of examinations has released its 2026 examination priorities. The SEC publishes its annual examination priorities to provide transparency to registrants and investors about the topics that the agency plans to focus on in the new fiscal year and to encourage firms to direct their compliance efforts on areas of potentially heightened risk.
The SEC’s investment advisory areas of focus are: adherence to fiduciary standards of conduct; effectiveness of advisers’ compliance programs; regulation systems compliance and integrity; and anti-money laundering.
Adherence to fiduciary standards of conduct. Examining investment advisers’ adherence to their duty of care and duty of loyalty obligations remains a priority for the SEC, particularly with regard to aspects of their business that serve retail investors.
The agency will review investment advice and related disclosures provided to clients for consis
