Today, The Securities and Exchange Commission announced its Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations’ (OCIE) 2017 priorities.

The 2017 OCIE priorities are organized around three thematic areas:

1. Examining matters of importance to retail investors;

2. Focusing on risks specific to elderly and retiring investors; and

3. Assessing market-wide risks

“These priorities make clear we are continuing to focus on a wide range of issues impacting our markets, from traditional areas such as market-wide risks to new forms of technology including automated investment advice,” said SEC Chair Mary Jo White.  “Whether it is protecting our most vulnerable senior investors or those investing in the trillion dollar money market fund industry, OCIE continues its efficient and effective risk-based approach to ensure compliance with our nation’s securities laws.”

“OCIE’s priorities identify where we see risk to investors so that registrants can evaluate their own compliance programs in these important areas and make necessary changes and enhancements,” said OCIE Director Marc Wyatt.

The Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) conducts the SEC’s National Examination Program (NEP). OCIE’s mission is to protect investors, ensure market integrity and support responsible capital formation through risk-focused strategies that: (1) improve compliance; (2) prevent fraud; (3) monitor risk; and (4) inform policy. The results of OCIE’s examinations are used by the SEC to inform rule-making initiatives, identify and monitor risks, improve industry practices and pursue misconduct.

See the SEC’s press release HERE.