SEC Investor Advocate Outlines FY2026 Objectives: Focus on Retail Protection, Disclosure Efficacy, and Private Market Risks
On June 25, 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of the Investor Advocate submitted its annual Report to Congress, outlining the Office’s key policy objectives and areas of focus for Fiscal Year 2026. As retail participation in the markets continues to rise, the Investor Advocate’s priorities reflect a broader regulatory shift toward more data-driven investor protection efforts, disclosure modernization, and a closer examination of opaque market structures—including risks tied to private market exposure in retirement accounts and China-based issuers operating through variable interest entities (VIEs).
SEC Crackdown: Key Enforcement Trends in Cyber Disclosure, Director Independence, and Reg FD
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Division of Enforcement has intensified its focus on significant areas of compliance for public companies. Recent actions have targeted cybersecurity incident disclosures, director independence misrepresentations, and violations of Regulation Fair Disclosure (Reg FD). Here’s what you need to know about these developments and how they could impact your company.
SEC Enforcement on Marketing Rule Violations: RIAs to Pay $1.2M in Fines
The SEC continues to flex its regulatory muscle over Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) in its latest enforcement action targeting violations of the 2021 marketing rule. Nine RIAs have agreed to pay more than $1.2 million in collective fines for misleading advertising practices. The firms include prominent names like Integrated Advisors Network, Richard Bernstein Advisors, and Abacus Planning Group, each paying six-figure fines to settle charges brought by the commission.