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ARTICLE · 02 DECEMBER 2025

SEC Division Of Examinations Releases Its 2026 Examination Priorities

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Delayed slightly by the recent government shutdown, the Division of Examinations (the Division) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently published its fiscal year 2026 examination priorities (the Priorities).

United StatesTechnology
Michael Diver
Michael Diver
Wayne M. Aaron
Wayne M. Aaron
Susan Light
Susan Light
James Brady
James Brady
Michael Didiuk
Michael Didiuk
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Adam Bolter
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Patrick Fallon
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Delayed slightly by the recent government shutdown, the Division of Examinations (the Division) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently published its fiscal year 2026 examination priorities (the Priorities).1 The Priorities include specific examination areas relating to investment advisers, broker-dealers, self-regulatory organizations, investment companies and other financial market participants. While some of the Priorities are consistent with prior years, the Priorities reflect an intentional move towards improving compliance in a way that is both transparent and practical. In the press release accompanying the Priorities, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins stated that, "examinations are an important component to accomplishing the agency's mission, but they should not be a 'gotcha' exercise ... the [Priorities] should enable firms to prepare to have a constructive dialogue with SEC examiners and provide transparency into the priorities of the agency's

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