The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released its Spring 2025 Regulatory Flexibility Agenda, outlining the Commission’s near- and longer-term priorities. While the Agenda does not bind the SEC to deadlines, it provides useful insight into the policy direction and areas of focus for the year ahead.

The Spring 2025 Agenda largely reflects the SEC’s ongoing effort to reduce unnecessary burdens on registrants, encourage use of the public markets, and promote efficient capital formation, while maintaining investor protections.

Read the SEC Spring 2025 Regulatory Agenda here: Agency Rule List – Spring 2025

And the full article from our friends at SEC³ here.

Compliance, Enforcement, Standard of Care

SEC Enforcement Update: Lessons on Compensation-Driven Conflicts

September 10, 2025 Clifford E. Kirsch, Editor Leave a comment

The SEC recently announced two enforcement actions against advisory firms that failed to provide clear and consistent disclosures around conflicts of interest tied to fee-based managed account programs. Both cases underscore the Commission’s continuing focus on how financial incentives influence employee recommendations — and the need for firms to adopt policies and procedures that address disclosure risks.

Advisers and broker-dealers face heightened regulatory expectations around transparency. Compensation arrangements that create incentives for employees to recommend firm products must be disclosed accurately and consistently across Form ADV, Form CRS, websites, and client communications. Misaligned or contradictory disclosures not only erode client trust but also invite significant penalties. Read the full article from our friends at SEC³ here.