The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) today announced its 2018 examination priorities. OCIE publishes its exam priorities annually to improve compliance, prevent fraud, monitor risk, and inform policy. Of particular interest this year will be matters involving critical market infrastructure, duties to retail investors, and developments in cryptocurrency, initial coin offerings, and secondary market trading.

This year, one of the five OCIE’s examination priorities is anti-money laundering programs. Examiners will review for compliance with applicable anti-money laundering requirements, including whether firms are appropriately adapting their AML programs to address their regulatory obligations.

Led by Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) Braden Perry, Kennyhertz Perry attorneys have broad BSA/AML experience across the spectrum of bank and non-bank financial institutions, including traditional chartered banks, broker-dealers, commodity trading advisors, money transmitters, non-bank lenders, and virtual currency businesses. We are experienced in counseling and drafting BSA/AML practices, policies, and procedures and can assist in any SEC examination or annual BSA/AML independent audit. Our combined knowledge and skill permits us to anticipate potential problems before they become serious issues and assist clients in responding effectively to regulatory and law enforcement criticisms or inquiries.

Kennyhertz Perry regularly counsels lenders, investment advisers, broker-dealers, and fund managers on the laws, rules, and regulatory developments affecting their business, including regulatory requirements, risk management, licensing and registration, sales and marketing practices and materials, manuals and training, day-to-day compliance.