Current Investigation Priorities for the SEC
Here at Meissner Associates, we know the importance of being up to date on the focus areas of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Each year, the SEC releases a detailed report of their high-level priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. For 2018, described below are the areas the SEC Enforcement Division will be giving the greatest attention to.
The Importance of Retail Investors
The SEC has an increased focus on the wellbeing of the Main Street investor, as evidenced by the implementation of the Retail Strategy Task Force, whose goal is to combat violations that Main Street investors have a difficult—if not impossible—time recovering from. This includes Ponzi schemes, stock inflation fraud, and accounting fraud.
Liability and the Individual
Holding the individual fraudster responsible for misconduct is rapidly becoming the most successful way to deter corruption as it moves through an institution. While pursuing corporations for their wrongdoing will continue to be of utmost importance, the SEC has found that punishing individual misbehavior is a more effective way of making the enforcement program successful.
Keeping Up with Technological Evolution
With the enactment of a Cyber Unit designed to handle vicious hacking attempts and Dark Web encounters, the SEC hopes to bring legal action against those using advanced technology to up stock prices, steal insider broker information, manipulate trades, and otherwise violate securities laws in other technology-driven ways.
Enforce Strict, Effective Sanctions
The SEC has come up with effective sanctions to impose upon fraudsters, and they intend to use them to their fullest extent, including freezing assets, barring those who commit fraud from working in the industry, and imposing strict monetary penalties—just to name a few.
Apportionment of Finances
With the Enforcement Division of the SEC being so small in comparison to the amount of tips and reports of illegal activity it receives, they have to ensure that they are making the most of their available resources. Not every tip that comes their way will be worthy of investigation; those that pose the highest risk to the public market and investors will take precedence.
Contact an SEC Whistleblower Attorney
If you would like more information about the current investigative priorities of the SEC, have an interest in learning more about a specific area as it pertains to you, or are considering becoming a whistleblower but aren’t sure what steps to take next, contact a skilled attorney at Meissner Associates.
Our team of experienced whistleblower lawyers is well-versed in securities laws and will advise you concerning any information you have about possible violations when you schedule your free, confidential tip evaluation today. Give us a call at 1-866-764-3100 or fill out our convenient contact form located at the bottom of this page to get started.
