The Securities and Exchange Commission today approved an amendment to the National Market System Plan governing the Consolidated Audit Trail (“CAT”) and provided exemptive relief from certain requirements of Rule 17a-1 under the Securities Exchange Act…
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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) today issued an interpretation clarifying how the federal securities laws apply to certain crypto assets and transactions involving crypto assets. This is a major step in the Commission’s efforts to provide…
Crypto ExchangeFintech
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Economic and Risk Analysis (DERA) published a new report on security based swap dealers (SBSDs) and updated statistics and data visualizations on initial public offerings (IPOs), follow-on registered…
Broker DealerAsset Manager
The Securities and Exchange Commission today proposed amendments to Exchange Act Rule 15c2-11, which sets out certain information gathering and review requirements for broker-dealers that publish quotations for, or maintain a continuous quoted market in…
The SEC is proposing amendments to Exchange Act Rule 15c2-11, which governs broker-dealer quotation requirements in OTC markets outside national securities exchanges, aiming to update information review standards for enhanced investor protection. This matters for compliance professionals as it could impose stricter due diligence on broker-dealers quoting OTC securities, building on 2020 amendments amid ongoing fixed income implementation challenges, potentially reducing fraud in retail-heavy OTC markets. https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-28-sec-proposes-amendments-exchange-act-rule-15c2-11
What Changed
Rule 15c2-11 requires broker-dealers to review current, publicly available issuer information (e.g., via EDGAR or issuer websites) before publishing or submitting quotations for OTC securities, with exceptions like piggybacking limited to scenarios with one-way priced quotes, post-trading suspension restrictions (60 days), and time-bound quoting for shell companies (18 months).
What You Need To Do
- Review processes
- Exception compliance
- Systems updates
- Issuer coordination
- Comment submission
Key Dates
TBD (post-Federal Register publication) - Proposed comment period closes; SEC seeks input on amendments. (Inferred from "consultation" type; exact date not in summary.) https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-28-sec-proposes-amendments-exchange-act-rule-15c2-11
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High – Builds on enforced 2020/2021 changes with fixed income phases expired (Phase 3 active since 2024), pressuring broker-dealers on ongoing quotes amid SEC scrutiny; proposals could tighten "publicly available" standards or exceptions, risking enforcement for non-compliant OTC activity in fraud-prone markets. Matters as OTC is retail-dominated, amplifying gatekeeper liability; operational overhauls needed now to avoid quoting halts.
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The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Judge Margaret A. Ryan has resigned from her role as Director of the Division of Enforcement. Principal Deputy Director Sam Waldon has been named Acting Director of the Division, effective March…
Judge Margaret A. Ryan, who assumed the role of SEC Enforcement Division Director in August 2025 and signaled a significant recalibration of enforcement priorities toward fraud and market integrity while reducing enforcement actions for technical violations, has resigned from the agency. Principal Deputy Director Sam Waldon has been named Acting Director, creating immediate uncertainty regarding continuity of the enforcement approach that was just articulated in February 2026 and may signal a shift in the SEC's enforcement trajectory going forward.
What Changed
The resignation itself does not constitute a regulatory change, but it creates operational uncertainty regarding the enforcement priorities and procedural reforms that Director Ryan had recently implemented:
*Previously Announced Priorities (Now in Question):
Reduced enforcement for technical violations: Director Ryan had signaled that routine violations concerning reporting requirements, recordkeeping, and internal accounting controls should not necessarily result in enforcement actions.
"Middle ground" approach: For non-fraud violations posing investor or market integrity risks, the...
What You Need To Do
- *Immediate (Next 30 Days)
- *Monitor Acting Director's statements
- *Assess Wells submissions in progress
- *Review investigation status
- *Update compliance calendars
Key Dates
February 11, 2026 - Director Ryan delivered public remarks outlining enforcement priorities and Wells process commitments
February 24, 2026 - SEC announced comprehensive updates to Enforcement Manual (first update since 2017)
March 17, 2026 - Judge Margaret A. Ryan's resignation announced; Sam Waldon named Acting Director (effective immediately)
Ongoing - Four-week timeline for post-Wells meetings with senior leadership remains in effect pending Acting Director's confirmation of policy continuity
Compliance Impact
Urgency: HIGH
Broker DealerAsset ManagerBank The two agencies have entered into a MOU to guide coordination and collaboration to support lawful innovation, uphold market integrity, and ensure investor and customer protection.
Broker DealerCrypto Exchange
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Investor Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting at the SEC Headquarters in Washington D.C. on March 12 at 10 a.m. ET to discuss public company disclosure reform, fund proxy voting, and a potential…
Asset ManagerBroker DealerWealth Manager
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that it will host a roundtable on April 16, 2026, to discuss listed options market structure, including facilitating competition in a quote driven market, evaluating the customer experience, and…
Broker DealerAll Firms
The Securities and Exchange Commission today adopted final rule and form amendments to reflect the requirements of the recently enacted Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act (HFIA), which will increase transparency into the holdings and transactions…
The SEC adopted final rules on February 27, 2026, implementing the Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act (HFIA), which extends Section 16(a) beneficial ownership reporting requirements to directors and officers of foreign private issuers (FPIs) with Exchange Act Section 12-registered equity securities, effective March 18, 2026. This aligns FPI insiders' disclosure obligations with those of U.S. domestic issuers, enhancing market transparency while exempting >10% holders from reporting. Compliance professionals must prioritize preparation as the deadline approaches in two weeks from today (March 3, 2026).
What Changed
Extension of Section 16(a) Reporting: Directors and officers of FPIs must now file Forms 3 (initial beneficial ownership), 4 (changes in ownership), and 5 (annual summary) electronically and in English, covering holdings and transactions in the FPI's equity securities.
Rule Amendments:
- Rule 3a12-3(b): Removes full Section 16 exemption for FPI insiders; retains exemptions only for Section 16(b) short-swing profits and Section 16(c) short-selling prohibitions.
- Rule 16a-2: Explicitly excludes >10% beneficial owners of FPI equity from Section 16(a) reporting.
Form Updates: Forms 3, 4, and...
What You Need To Do
- For FPIs and Insiders
- Training and Policies
- Systems Preparation
- Monitor Exemptions
Key Dates
December 18, 2025 HFIA enacted into law.
February 27, 2026 SEC adopts final rules (ahead of 90-day mandate).
March 18, 2026 Effective date; directors/officers of existing FPIs must file initial Form 3; new directors/officers file within 10 days of appointment; ongoing Forms 4 within 2 business days of transactions. DEADLINE
Ongoing Annual Form 5 for unreported transactions; adopting release published in Federal Register (date TBD).
Compliance Impact
Urgency: Critical – With the March 18, 2026, effective date just two weeks away (as of March 3, 2026), non-compliance risks SEC enforcement, including public disclosure failures and potential civil penalties under Section 16. This materially heightens governance burdens for FPIs, demands immediate system/process overhauls, and aligns foreign insiders with U.S. standards to prevent opacity in cross-border listings.
All Firms
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Services Agency of Japan (FSA) convened the Spring SEC-FSA Financial Regulatory Dialogue in Tokyo on Feb. 27, 2026.The SEC–FSA Dialogue builds upon longstanding efforts between the two…
BankAsset ManagerBroker Dealer
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced it will hold a roundtable on March 4 to discuss private market valuations and responsible retailization.The roundtable will be hosted by the Division of Investment Management from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET…
Asset ManagerBroker DealerFintech The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement today announced significant updates to its Enforcement Manual. These updates underscore the Commission’s ongoing commitment to fairness, transparency, and efficiency in the investigations…
The SEC's Division of Enforcement announced updates to its Enforcement Manual on February 24, 2026, focusing on enhancing fairness, transparency, and efficiency in investigations through standardized procedures like the Wells process and settlement considerations. These changes, the first major revisions since 2017, introduce uniform timelines and best practices to streamline resolutions and improve dialogue with investigated parties. Compliance professionals should prioritize this as it directly affects how firms respond to SEC inquiries, potentially accelerating outcomes and reducing uncertainties in enforcement actions.
What Changed
The updates target investigative and enforcement procedures for greater consistency:
Uniform Wells process: Recipients of a Wells notice receive four weeks to submit responses; Wells meetings are scheduled within four weeks of submission and include senior Division leadership. Guidance is provided on effective submissions to foster dialogue and timely resolutions.
Simultaneous settlement and waiver consideration: Restores practice allowing settling parties to request Commission waivers from collateral consequences (e.g., disqualifications) alongside settlement offers, improving transparency...
What You Need To Do
- Review the updated Enforcement Manual (https
- Update internal policies for responding to Wells notices: Prepare submissions within four weeks, focusing on elements staff find "most helpful" (e
- For settlements, incorporate simultaneous waiver requests in offers to leverage restored process and mitigate collateral impacts
- Enhance cooperation strategies per new evaluation framework to potentially reduce civil penalties; document internal collaboration for enforcement interactions
- Monitor annual Manual reviews via SEC Division of Enforcement page (https://www
Key Dates
February 24, 2026 - Updates to Enforcement Manual announced and effective; last major revision was 2017, with annual reviews planned going forward.
Four weeks from Wells notice receipt - Standard deadline for Wells submissions. DEADLINE
Four weeks from Wells submission receipt - Scheduling of Wells meetings with senior leadership.
Compliance Impact
Urgency: High - These procedural updates are immediately effective and alter critical interaction points with SEC staff, such as Wells responses and settlements, which can determine investigation closure, enforcement recommendations, or penalty severity. Firms under active scrutiny or anticipating inquiries gain from predictable timelines reducing prolonged uncertainty, but must adapt quickly to avoid suboptimal outcomes; non-compliance risks inefficient resolutions or missed cooperation credits.
Asset ManagerBroker DealerHedge Fund No description available.
Asset ManagerBroker DealerWealth Manager
The Securities and Exchange Commission will host the agency’s 45th Annual Government Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation at SEC headquarters in Washington, D.C., on March 9 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET. The event will be webcast live. …
Asset ManagerBroker DealerFintech
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Economic and Risk Analysis (DERA) has published two new reports on exchange traded funds and fund mergers, and updated statistics and data visualizations on municipal advisors, transfer agents, and…
Asset ManagerBroker Dealer
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced the appointment of Demetrios (Jim) Logothetis, as Chairman, and Mark Calabria, Kyle Hauptman, and Steven Laughton, as Board members, of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). George…
Asset ManagerBroker DealerBank
The Securities and Exchange Commission today filed settled charges against Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) and its former executives, Vince Macciocchi and Ray Young, and a litigated action against its former executive Vikram Luthar, for …
Broker DealerAsset Manager
Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul S. Atkins and Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Michael S. Selig will hold a joint event, previously scheduled for Jan. 27, now rescheduled for Thursday, Jan. 29, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at CFTC…
Crypto ExchangeFintech
Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul S. Atkins and Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Michael S. Selig will hold a joint event on Tuesday, Jan. 27, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at CFTC headquarters to discuss harmonization between the…
BankBroker DealerCrypto Exchange The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee announced that it will hold a public meeting at the SEC Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET. The meeting will also be…
Broker DealerFintechCrypto Exchange
The Securities and Exchange Commission today approved the 2026 budget for the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and the related accounting support fee.The 2026 PCAOB budget totals $362.1 million. The 2026 budget reflects a 9.4% ($37.6…
Broker DealerBank
The Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking candidates for appointment as members of the SEC’s Investor Advisory Committee, established pursuant to Section 39 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to help protect investors and improve securities…
Asset ManagerBroker DealerWealth Manager
The Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking candidates to fill a limited number of vacancies on the agency’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee, which provides advice and recommendations to the Commission on rules, regulations, and…
Broker DealerAsset ManagerAll Firms
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced the senior team from the Division of Corporation Finance responsible for advising division Director James Moloney on all matters the division has before the Commission. These include rulemaking…
BankBroker DealerWealth Manager The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Christina M. Thomas will rejoin the Division of Corporation Finance in February as deputy director and chief advisor on disclosure, policy, and rulemaking.“Christina brings her deep technical…
All Firms
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Keith E. Cassidy has been appointed Director of the Division of Examinations. Mr. Cassidy has served as Acting Director since May 2024 and previously was the division’s Deputy Director, Acting…
BankBroker DealerAsset Manager The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that J. Russell “Rusty” McGranahan has been named SEC General Counsel. As the SEC’s chief legal officer, Mr. McGranahan will oversee the provision of legal expertise and advice to the Office of the…
BankAsset ManagerBroker Dealer
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Paul H. Tzur and David M. Morrell have been named as Deputy Directors of the Division of Enforcement. Mr. Tzur joined the Commission on January 6, 2026, as the Deputy Director overseeing the…
The SEC announced on January 12, 2026, the appointment of Paul H. Tzur and David M. Morrell as Deputy Directors of the Division of Enforcement, with Tzur joining on January 6, 2026, to oversee key operations. This personnel change is part of a broader reorganization replacing Regional Directors with Deputy Directors for more centralized oversight of investigations. It matters for compliance teams as it signals greater consistency in enforcement approaches, potentially affecting investigation timelines, Wells process strategies, and settlement negotiations across SEC-regulated entities.
What Changed
This announcement reflects structural reforms rather than new substantive regulations:
Replacement of Regional Directors with Deputy Directors, centralizing reporting from local offices (e.g., Boston, Fort Worth, Atlanta) and specialized units directly to headquarters-led Deputy Directors.
Enhanced supervision of enforcement decisions, aiming for consistency and reduced regional variations in handling investigations.
Complements parallel Wells process reforms under Chairman Paul Atkins, including a baseline four-week response period, greater access to evidence, and senior-level meetings for...
What You Need To Do
- Review and update internal protocols for SEC investigations to align with centralized reporting structures, anticipating uniform standards across regions
- Train legal/compliance staff on refined Wells process (e
- Monitor upcoming SEC communications for Enforcement Director Judge Margaret Ryan's guidance on fraud-focused priorities
- Assess current or potential matters for earlier engagement with Deputy Directors on case theories and resolutions
Key Dates
January 6, 2026 - Paul H. Tzur joins SEC as Deputy Director of the Division of Enforcement.[User Query]
January 12, 2026 - SEC announces appointments of Paul Tzur and David Morrell as Deputy Directors.[User Query]
Compliance Impact
Urgency: Medium. This matters due to its role in ongoing SEC transition under Chairman Atkins and Director Ryan, promising more predictable enforcement but requiring adaptation to centralized decision-making and Wells enhancements. While not imposing immediate obligations, it could accelerate case resolutions and shift settlement dynamics, especially amid 2025's enforcement slowdown from staffing cuts (15-20% headcount reduction). Firms with active investigations should prioritize strategic adjustments now.
Asset ManagerBroker DealerHedge Fund The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced it will hold its third and final outreach event to help firms comply with amendments to Regulation S-P. The event, which is focused on small firms, is open to in-person or virtual attendance, and is…
Asset ManagerBroker DealerWealth Manager The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation today published and delivered to Congress its 2025 staff report that serves as a comprehensive and data-rich resource on capital-raising dynamics…
Asset ManagerBroker DealerWealth Manager The Securities and Exchange Commission today proposed amendments to the rules that define which registered investment companies, investment advisers, and business development companies qualify as small entities for purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility…
The SEC proposed amendments on January 7, 2026, to expand the definitions of "small entities" under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) for registered investment advisers (RIAs), investment companies, and business development companies by significantly raising asset thresholds last updated in 1998. This would increase the number of qualifying small entities, enabling the SEC to better assess regulatory impacts and potentially provide tailored relief like extended compliance timelines during rulemaking. It matters because it could indirectly reduce compliance burdens for mid-sized firms by influencing future SEC rules to minimize disproportionate effects on smaller players.
What Changed
Raise the RAUM threshold for RIAs to qualify as small entities from $25 million to $1 billion, with conforming changes for control affiliates.
Increase the net asset threshold for investment companies from $50 million to $10 billion.
Update aggregation of related funds from "group of related investment companies" to "family of investment companies" as defined in Form N-CEN for easier identification.
Introduce inflation adjustments to thresholds every 10 years via SEC order, without formal rulemaking.
Make corresponding amendments to Form ADV and rules on continuing hardship exemptions for...
What You Need To Do
- Submit public comments by the deadline to influence thresholds, alternatives (e
- Monitor Federal Register for exact publication and comment instructions; review proposed rule and fact sheet on SEC site (https://www
- Assess internal status
- No immediate compliance changes, as this affects SEC rulemaking process only; prepare for potential indirect impacts via future rules
Key Dates
January 7, 2026 - SEC issues proposal and press release.
60 days after Federal Register publication - Public comment period closes (publication expected shortly after January 7; exact date TBD, likely March 2026 based on estimates).
No stated adoption date - Typically at least one year post-comment period under normal processes.
Every 10 years post-adoption - Inflation adjustments to thresholds via SEC order.
Compliance Impact
Urgency: Medium. This proposal does not impose direct new requirements or alter existing obligations—it's procedural for SEC's RFA analyses during rulemaking. However, adoption could lead to meaningful indirect benefits for mid-sized RIAs and funds, such as longer compliance phases or reduced burdens in rules on reporting, recordkeeping, or vendor reliance, addressing outdated 1998 thresholds amid industry AUM growth. Firms should engage now via comments to shape outcomes, but no urgent operational changes needed.
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