examination-readiness
Examination Readiness — SEC & FINRA Regulatory Examinations
Purpose
Prepare registered investment advisers, broker-dealers, and their compliance teams for SEC and FINRA examinations. This skill covers the full examination lifecycle — from risk-based selection and notification through document production, staff interviews, deficiency findings, remediation, and follow-up. It provides frameworks for mock examinations, annual compliance reviews, and proactive use of published examination priorities to reduce regulatory risk.
Layer
9 — Compliance & Regulatory Guidance
Direction
prospective
When to Use
- Receiving an SEC or FINRA examination notification letter and preparing a response
- Organizing and producing documents in response to an initial document request list (IDR)
- Responding to a deficiency letter or examination findings
- Designing or conducting an internal mock examination program
- Reviewing SEC or FINRA annual examination priorities for proactive compliance planning
- Conducting the annual compliance review required under SEC Rule 206(4)-7
- Assessing whether the firm's compliance program, policies, and procedures are examination-ready
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