While the regulator's lawyers may be exempt, a federal effort to purge workers is causing uncertainty across its broader employee base.
National Securities Corp. sued the advisor in 2020, alleging breach of contract and unjust enrichment.
The agency moved its key man driving actions under former chair Gary Gensler as new leadership works toward more constructive crypto regulation.
In a move that risks slowing down enforcement, staff must reportedly first get a thumbs up from the commission's newly installed Republican-led leadership before formally undertaking investigations.
A petition by the famed short seller argues recent enforcement actions "create a chilling effect on free speech and market participation" in stock trading.
The state's order is a step in negotiating a potential fine with the firm.
The advisor “failed to disclose multiple conflicts of interest and misappropriated client assets," the SEC said.
"Whatever we decide, someone's going to be potentially unfairly treated," Justice Sonia Sotomayor said during oral arguments Wednesday.
While promising to halt offshore wind projects, open up wild lands for drilling, and cull incentives for electric vehicles, Trump's first round of actions may not necessarily boost energy companies or hold back renewables, observers said.
The group led by Commissioner Hester Peirce will take input from within and outside the agency to create a clear regulatory framework for crypto assets.
The newly inaugurated Trump White House taps the contrarian commissioner as temporary head amid a slew of walk-outs from the agency.
The mutual fund titan harmed investors by failing to disclose risks relating to capital gains distributions in its retail target-date retirement funds, according to the SEC.
“These penalties are certainly significant enough to draw the big firms’ attention," one executive said.
SEC charges describe multiple failures in customer identification programs and shortfalls related to high-risk accounts linked to cannabis and foreign entities.
SEC says two firms breached their fiduciary duties and whistleblower rule.
Provisions of the Secure 2.0 Act took effect Jan. 1, but regulators only last week proposed rules to govern new automatic enrollment requirements for 401(k)s and other plans, as well as new quirks for catch-up contributions.
It's been an awful road for investors in GWG bonds.
12 firms agreed to pay the fines to settle charges.
SEC says 10 separate provisions of the law were violated by two firms.
Plaintiffs successfully sued American Airlines over an asset manager's ESG considerations in the proxy-voting process, and that could get the plaintiffs' bar quite interested in filing similar claims against 401(k) sponsors.