SEC dangles $50,000 resign-or-retire incentive for employees

SEC dangles $50,000 resign-or-retire incentive for employees
A memo from SEC COO Ken Johnson gives staff several weeks to accept a voluntary separation package or early retirement.
MAR 03, 2025
By  Bloomberg

The US Securities and Exchange Commission is offering eligible employees a $50,000 incentive to resign or retire by April 4, according to an email reviewed by Bloomberg.

The message, sent Friday by SEC Chief Operating Officer Ken Johnson to all staff, comes as the Trump administration seeks to slash the size of the federal government and fire thousands of workers.

The offer is a voluntary separation incentive or voluntary early retirement program, according to the email. The deadline to apply is March 21.

Eligible employees must have been on the agency’s payroll before Jan. 24. They must voluntarily leave through resignation, transfer to another agency or immediate retirement. If they accept a voluntary separation agreement and return to the SEC within five years, they must pay back the incentive in full, the guidance states.

An SEC spokesperson declined to comment.

The agency last week instructed all staff, including the unionized workforce, to return to the office starting April 14

Latest News

Maryland bars advisor over charging excessive fees to clients
Maryland bars advisor over charging excessive fees to clients

Blue Anchor Capital Management and Pickett also purchased “highly aggressive and volatile” securities, according to the order.

Wave of SEC appointments signals regulatory shift with implications for financial advisors
Wave of SEC appointments signals regulatory shift with implications for financial advisors

Reshuffle provides strong indication of where the regulator's priorities now lie.

US insurers want to take a larger slice of the retirement market through the RIA channel
US insurers want to take a larger slice of the retirement market through the RIA channel

Goldman Sachs Asset Management report reveals sharpened focus on annuities.

Why DA Davidson's wealth vice chairman still follows his dad's investment advice
Why DA Davidson's wealth vice chairman still follows his dad's investment advice

Ahead of Father's Day, InvestmentNews speaks with Andrew Crowell.

401(k) participants seek advice, but few turn to financial advisors
401(k) participants seek advice, but few turn to financial advisors

Cerulli research finds nearly two-thirds of active retirement plan participants are unadvised, opening a potential engagement opportunity.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today’s choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.

SPONSORED Beyond the dashboard: Making wealth tech human

How intelliflo aims to solve advisors' top tech headaches—without sacrificing the personal touch clients crave