As part of its 2015 Examination Prioritiesthe Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations(“OCIE”) included “examining matters of importance to retail investors and investors saving for retirement”to its initiatives. Based on this priority, the Retirement-Targeted Industry Reviews and Examinations (“ReTIRE”) Initiative has been created under which examinations of SEC-registered investment advisers and broker-dealers (collectively, “registrants”) will take place. OCIE will administer the examinations through the National Examination Program (“NEP”).According to NEP’s June 22, 2015 Risk Alert(the “Risk Alert”) the examinations will focus on the following four (4) service areas offered by SEC-registered investment advisers and broker-dealers:
- Reasonable Basis for Recommendations
- Conflicts of Interest
- Supervision of Compliance Controls
- Marketing and Disclosure