Why Free Reg S-P Templates Will Fail Your SEC Exam (And What to Use Instead)
If you search for “Reg S-P compliance templates” or “Reg S-P Incident Response Plan template,” you will find no shortage of options. Free PDFs from compliance consultants trying to capture your email address. Low-cost document packages from legal technology platforms. Editable Word documents from industry associations. Many of them cost nothing, or a few hundred […]
SEC Exam Priorities 2026: What RIA Firms Need to Prepare for Right Now
Every year, the SEC’s Office of Examinations publishes its examination priorities for the coming year. In 2026, the relevant section for registered investment advisers is not buried in the document — it is prominent, specific, and unambiguous. The SEC is checking Reg S-P compliance. They are looking specifically for written Incident Response Plans. Firms without […]
Reg S-P Compliance for Solo and Small RIAs: You’re Not Exempt and Here’s Exactly What You Need
The misconception is understandable. Large firms have compliance departments. They have CCOs with staff, outside counsel on retainer, and enterprise IT security teams. When you read about new SEC regulations, the mental image is a 50-person RIA with a dedicated compliance infrastructure. You run a one-person or three-person shop. Surely there is a size threshold […]
Is Your MSP Making Your RIA Reg S-P Compliant — Or Creating Your Biggest Liability?
Most RIA principals assume their managed service provider is handling the security side of their business. The MSP manages the firewall, monitors the network, keeps the software patched. That should count for something under Reg S-P, right? Here is the hard truth: your MSP’s technical competence is not the issue. The issue is contractual and […]
The 5 Documents Every RIA Must Have for Reg S-P Compliance (And What Each One Must Actually Say)
Most RIAs do not fail Reg S-P exams because they ignored the rule. They fail because their documentation does not hold up when an examiner opens the file. During an exam, an SEC examiner is not going to hack your network to see if it is secure. They are going to ask for your documents. […]
How Long Does Reg S-P Compliance Actually Take? The Honest Timeline for Small RIAs
The Question Behind the Question When a small RIA principal asks “how long does Reg S-P compliance take?” what they are really asking is: “How much runway do I have left?” The compliance deadline for firms under $1.5 billion RAUM is June 3, 2026. The SEC has made Reg S-P incident response plan readiness an […]
What Does a Complete Reg S-P Compliance Package Actually Include?
Five Documents. Defined Requirements. No Ambiguity. What do you actually need to have? Under amended Reg S-P, the answer is five specific documents. No more, no less. Here is what each one must contain — and what distinguishes one that passes examination from one that doesn’t. The compliance deadline for firms under $1.5 billion RAUM […]
Reg S-P Compliance Cost Comparison: DIY, Attorney, Consultant, or Package?
The compliance market for small RIAs has historically offered two choices: cheap templates that fail examination scrutiny, and expensive professional engagements designed for larger firms with larger budgets. The June 3 Reg S-P deadline has not changed that — it has just made the gap more visible and the cost of the wrong choice more […]
What Happens If Your RIA Firm Fails an SEC Reg S-P Examination?
The Question Every RIA Principal Is Avoiding In a solo or small RIA practice, the CCO and the principal are often the same person — which means an SEC examination is a deeply personal experience, not a corporate bureaucratic event. When an examiner identifies deficiencies, it is not your compliance department that has to respond. […]
5 Signs Your RIA Firm Is Not Reg S-P Compliant
The Compliance Gap Most RIA Principals Don’t Know They Have The SEC’s amended Regulation S-P (Release No. 34-100155) goes into full effect for firms under $1.5 billion in regulatory assets under management on June 3, 2026. That deadline is not moving. The SEC has already identified Reg S-P incident response plan readiness as an explicit […]