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April 7, 2020

Examinations that Focus on Compliance with 

Regulation Best Interest

I. Introduction

The Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”)1

is issuing this Risk Alert to provide broker-dealers with information 

about the scope and content of initial examinations after the 

compliance date for Regulation Best Interest.2 Regulation Best 

Interest establishes a new standard of conduct under the Exchange 

Act for broker-dealers and associated persons of a broker-dealer 

(collectively “broker-dealers” or “firms”).3 When making a 

recommendation of any securities transaction or investment strategy 

involving securities (including account recommendations) to a retail 

customer,4 a broker-dealer must act in the best interest of the retail 

customer at the time the recommendation is made, without placing its

own financial or other interest ahead of the retail customer’s interest.

5

 This general obligation is 

satisfied only if a broker-dealer complies with four component obligations: a Disclosure 

Obligation, a Care Obligation, a Conflict of Interest Obligation, and a Compliance Obligation.

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After the compliance date, OCIE will begin examinations to assess implementation of

Regulation Best Interest. These initial examinations, which will likely occur during the first year 

after the compliance date, are designed primarily to evaluate whether firms have established

policies and procedures reasonably designed to achieve compliance with Regulation Best 

Interest. OCIE will also evaluate whether firms have made reasonable progress in implementing 

those policies and procedures as necessary or appropriate, including making such modifications 

 1 This Risk Alert represents the views of the staff of OCIE. It is not a rule, regulation, or statement of the U.S. 

Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”). The Commission has neither approved nor disapproved 

its content. This Risk Alert, like all staff guidance, has no legal force or effect: it does not alter or amend 

applicable law, and it creates no new or additional obligations for any person.

2 On June 5, 2019, the Commission adopted Rule 15l-1 (“Regulation Best Interest”) under the Securities 

Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), which has a compliance date of June 30, 2020. Exchange Act 

Release No. 86031 (June 5, 2019) (“Regulation Best Interest Adopting Release”). Additional information on 

Regulation Best Interest, including frequently asked questions, is available at: https://www.sec.gov/regulationbest-interest.

3 Regulation Best Interest Adopting Release at 19. 

4 A “retail customer” is “a natural person, or the legal representative of such natural person, who: (A) receives a 

recommendation of any securities transaction or investment strategy involving securities from a broker, dealer, 

or a natural person who is an associated person of a broker or dealer; and (B) uses the recommendation 

primarily for personal, family, or household purposes.” Exchange Act Rule 15l-1(b)(1).

5 Exchange Act Rule 15l-1(a)(1). 

6 Exchange Act Rule 15l-1(a)(2). 

In this Alert: Examinations 

related to Regulation Best 

Interest. 

Key Takeaways: After the 

compliance date, OCIE 

staff intends to engage in 

examinations to assess

broker-dealers’

implementation and 

operational effectiveness of 

Regulation Best Interest.
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as may be necessary or appropriate, in light of information gained from the implementation 

process and other facts and circumstances. 

OCIE stands ready to work with firms and our colleagues in the Division of Trading and Markets 

on issues that may arise in the course of examinations and understands that the coronavirus 

disease 2019 (COVID-19) has created challenges for firms.7

This Risk Alert is not intended to be an explanation of the requirements of Regulation Best 

Interest. Firms are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the specific requirements of 

Regulation Best Interest by reviewing the Regulation Best Interest Adopting Release and the 

Small Entity Compliance Guide.

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 Questions regarding Regulation Best Interest may be directed 

to: IABDQuestions@sec.gov.

II. Examinations for Compliance with Regulation Best Interest 

Initial examinations will focus on assessing whether firms have made a good faith effort to 

implement policies and procedures reasonably designed to comply with Regulation Best Interest, 

including the operational effectiveness of broker-dealers’ policies and procedures. Examples of 

areas the staff may focus on are discussed below. 

• Disclosure Obligation. The Disclosure Obligation requires a broker-dealer, prior to or at 

the time of the recommendation, to provide a retail customer, in writing, full and fair 

disclosure of: 

o all material facts relating to the scope and terms of the relationship with the retail 

customer; and 

o all material facts relating to conflicts of interest that are associated with the 

recommendation.9

 

Specific Disclosures. Staff may assess how the firm has met the Disclosure Obligation’s 

requirement to disclose material facts relating to the scope and terms of the relationship, 

including: (i) the capacity in which the recommendation is being made, (ii) material fees 

and costs that apply to the retail customer’s transactions, holdings, and accounts, and (iii) 

 7 While the Commission and staff across Commission divisions and offices continue to monitor the effects of 

COVID-19 on market participants, including broker-dealers, the Commission has not extended the compliance 

date for Regulation Best Interest. OCIE staff remains fully operational nationwide and continues to execute its 

investor protection mission. See OCIE Statement on Operations and Exams (Mar. 23, 2020), available at:

https://www.sec.gov/ocie/announcement/ocie-statement-operations-health-safety-investor-protection-andcontinued. 

8 The Regulation Best Interest Adopting Release is available at: https://www.sec.gov/rules/final/2019/34-

86031.pdf; the Small Entity Compliance Guide is available at: 

https://www.sec.gov/info/smallbus/secg/regulation-best-interest. 

9 Exchange Act Rule 15l-1(a)(2)(i) (“The broker, dealer, or natural person who is an associated person of a 

broker or dealer, prior to or at the time of the recommendation, provides the retail customer, in writing, full and 

fair disclosure of: (A) All material facts relating to the scope and terms of the relationship with the retail 

customer, including: (1) That the broker, dealer, or such natural person is acting as a broker, dealer, or an 

associated person of a broker or dealer with respect to the recommendation; (2) The material fees and costs that 

apply to the retail customer’s transactions, holdings, and accounts; and (3) The type and scope of services 

provided to the retail customer, including any material limitations on the securities or investment strategies 

involving securities that may be recommended to the retail customer; and (B) All material facts relating to 

conflicts of interest that are associated with the recommendation.”).
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material limitations on the securities or investment strategies involving securities that 

may be recommended to the retail customer. 

Document Requests. To assess compliance with this obligation, staff may review the 

content of the disclosures, and other firm records, to determine if the disclosures provide 

the required information to retail customers. Staff may also review the timing of the 

disclosures. Staff may review documents such as:

o Schedules of fees and charges assessed against retail customers and disclosures 

regarding such fees and charges, including disclosures regarding the fees and 

costs related to services and investments that retail customers will pay or incur 

directly and indirectly (e.g., custodian fees, account maintenance fees, fees related 

to mutual funds and variable annuities, and other transactional fees and productlevel fees);

o The broker-dealer’s compensation methods for registered personnel, including (i) 

compensation associated with recommendations to retail customers, (ii) sources 

and types of compensation (e.g., direct payments by an investor, payments by a 

product sponsor), and (iii) related conflicts of interest (e.g., conflicts associated 

with recommending proprietary products or with receiving payments for inclusion 

on a product menu);

o Disclosures related to monitoring of retail customers’ accounts;

o Disclosures on material limitations on accounts or services recommended to retail 

customers; and

o Lists of proprietary products sold to retail customers. 

• Care Obligation. The Care Obligation requires a broker-dealer to exercise reasonable 

diligence, care, and skill when making a recommendation to a retail customer. The 

broker-dealer must understand potential risks, rewards, and costs associated with the 

recommendation. The broker-dealer must then consider these factors in light of the retail 

customer’s investment profile and make a recommendation that is in the retail customer’s 

best interest.

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Document Requests. To assess compliance with this obligation, staff may review:

o Information collected from retail customers to develop their investment profiles

(including any new account forms, correspondence, and any agreements the 

customer has with the broker-dealer). 

o The broker-dealer’s process for having a reasonable basis to believe that the 

recommendations are in the best interest of the retail customer (which may 

 10 Exchange Act Rule 15l-1(a)(2)(ii) (“The broker, dealer, or natural person who is an associated person of a 

broker or dealer, in making the recommendation, exercises reasonable diligence, care, and skill to: (A) 

Understand the potential risks, rewards, and costs associated with the recommendation, and have a reasonable 

basis to believe that the recommendation could be in the best interest of at least some retail customers; (B) Have 

a reasonable basis to believe that the recommendation is in the best interest of a particular retail customer based 

on that retail customer’s investment profile and the potential risks, rewards, and costs associated with the 

recommendation and does not place the financial or other interest of the broker, dealer, or such natural person 

ahead of the interest of the retail customer; and (C) Have a reasonable basis to believe that a series of 

recommended transactions, even if in the retail customer’s best interest when viewed in isolation, is not 

excessive and is in the retail customer’s best interest when taken together in light of the retail customer’s 

investment profile and does not place the financial or other interest of the broker, dealer, or such natural person 

making the series of recommendations ahead of the interest of the retail customer.”).
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include, e.g., any process for establishing, understanding, and implementing the 

scope of reasonably available alternatives when making a recommendation).

 The factors the broker-dealer considers to assess the potential risks, 

rewards, and costs of the recommendations in light of the retail customer’s 

investment profile.

 The broker-dealer’s process for having a reasonable basis to believe that it 

does not place the financial or other interest of the broker-dealer ahead of 

the interest of the retail customer.

o How the broker-dealer makes recommendations related to significant investment 

decisions, such as rollovers and account recommendations, and how the brokerdealer has a reasonable basis to believe that such investment strategies are in a 

retail customer’s best interest. 

o How the broker-dealer makes recommendations related to more complex, risky or 

expensive products and how the broker-dealer has a reasonable basis to believe 

that such investments are in a retail customer’s best interest. 

• Conflict of Interest Obligation. The Conflict of Interest Obligation requires a brokerdealer to establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably 

designed to address conflicts of interest associated with its recommendations to retail 

customers.11 

Document Requests. To assess compliance with this obligation, staff may review the 

broker-dealer’s policies and procedures to assess: 

o Whether and how the policies and procedures address the following, as required 

by Regulation Best Interest: 

 conflicts that create an incentive for an associated person to place its 

interest or the interest of a broker-dealer ahead of the interest of the retail 

customer; 

 conflicts associated with material limitations (e.g., a limited product menu,

offering only proprietary products, or products with third-party 

arrangements) on the securities or investment strategies involving 

securities that may be recommended to a retail customer; and 

 the elimination of the following conflicts: sales contests, sales quotas, 

bonuses, and non-cash compensation based on the sale of specific 

securities or specific types of securities within a limited period of time.

 11 Exchange Act Rule 15l-1(a)(2)(iii) (“The broker or dealer establishes, maintains, and enforces written policies 

and procedures reasonably designed to: (A) Identify and at a minimum disclose, in accordance with paragraph 

(a)(2)(i) of this section, or eliminate, all conflicts of interest associated with such recommendations; (B) Identify 

and mitigate any conflicts of interest associated with such recommendations that create an incentive for a 

natural person who is an associated person of a broker or dealer to place the interest of the broker, dealer, or 

such natural person ahead of the interest of the retail customer; (C)(1) Identify and disclose any material 

limitations placed on the securities or investment strategies involving securities that may be recommended to a 

retail customer and any conflicts of interest associated with such limitations, in accordance with subparagraph 

(a)(2)(i), and (2) Prevent such limitations and associated conflicts of interest from causing the broker, dealer, or 

a natural person who is an associated person of the broker or dealer to make recommendations that place the 

interest of the broker, dealer, or such natural person ahead of the interest of the retail customer; and (D) Identify 

and eliminate any sales contests, sales quotas, bonuses, and non-cash compensation that are based on the sales 

of specific securities or specific types of securities within a limited period of time.”).
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o How the policies and procedures establish a structure for identifying the conflicts 

that the broker-dealer or its associated person may face. Staff may request

documentation identifying all conflicts associated with the broker-dealer’s 

recommendations. 

o How the policies and procedures establish a structure to identify and assess 

conflicts in the broker-dealer’s business as it evolves. Staff may request to see all 

policies and procedures in place during the scope period of the examination. 

o How the policies and procedures provide for disclosure of conflicts and what 

conflicts are disclosed.

o How the policies and procedures provide for mitigation or elimination of conflicts

and what conflicts are mitigated or eliminated.12

• Compliance Obligation. The Compliance Obligation requires a broker-dealer to 

establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to 

achieve compliance with Regulation Best Interest as a whole.

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Document Requests. To assess compliance with this obligation, staff may review the 

broker-dealer’s policies and procedures and evaluate any controls, remediation of 

noncompliance, training, and periodic review and testing included as part of those 

policies and procedures.

While these are the primary focus areas for the initial Regulation Best Interest examinations, 

staff may select additional areas for review based on risks identified during the course of the 

examinations. As part of OCIE’s efforts to promote compliance, OCIE is including, as an

Appendix to this Risk Alert, a sample request for information and documents to be reviewed

during these examinations. 

III. Conclusion

In sharing the focus for these initial examinations, OCIE encourages firms to assess their 

implementation plans for Regulation Best Interest. Not every document listed in this Risk Alert 

will be applicable to every firm, and OCIE will conduct examinations based on the profile of 

each broker-dealer. OCIE is providing transparency into its plans regarding Regulation Best 

Interest examinations to empower broker-dealers to assess their level of preparedness as the 

compliance date nears.

 12 Under Regulation Best Interest, a broker-dealer must establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and 

procedures reasonably designed to mitigate or eliminate certain conflicts of interest. Conflicts related to 

incentives to associated persons must be identified and mitigated. Exchange Act Rule 15l-1(a)(2)(iii)(B). 

Conflicts related to any sales contests, sales quotas, bonuses, and non-cash compensation that are based on the 

sales of specific securities or specific types of securities within a limited period of time must be identified and

eliminated. Exchange Act Rule 15l-1(a)(2)(iii)(D).

13 Exchange Act Rule 15l-1(a)(2)(iv) (“In addition to the policies and procedures required by paragraph (a)(2)(iii) 

of this section, the broker or dealer establishes, maintains, and enforces written policies and procedures 

reasonably designed to achieve compliance with Regulation Best Interest.”).
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This Risk Alert is intended to highlight for firms risks and issues that OCIE staff has identified. In 

addition, this Risk Alert describes risks that firms may consider to (i) assess their supervisory, compliance, 

and/or other risk management systems related to these risks, and (ii) make any changes, as may be 

appropriate, to address or strengthen such systems. Other risks besides those described in this Risk Alert 

may be appropriate to consider, and some issues discussed in this Risk Alert may not be relevant to a 

particular firm’s business. The adequacy of supervisory, compliance and other risk management systems 

can be determined only with reference to the profile of each specific firm and other facts and 

circumstances.
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APPENDIX

This document provides a sample list of information that the U.S. Securities and Exchange 

Commission’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”) may request when 

conducting examinations of broker-dealers regarding Regulation Best Interest. OCIE has 

published this document as a resource for broker-dealers. This document should not be 

considered all-inclusive of the information that OCIE may request or the validation and testing 

OCIE may perform of firm policies and procedures. Accordingly, OCIE will alter its requests 

for information as it considers the specific circumstances presented by each firm’s business 

model. OCIE understands that not every document listed below will be applicable to every firm.

The following document requests apply to a broker-dealer’s (“Registrant’s”) business units that 

may open accounts for and/or make recommendations to natural persons or their legal, nonprofessional representatives, including high net worth individuals, primarily for personal, family, 

or household purposes (“retail customers”). For purposes of this request, “Relationship 

Summary” refers to the document completed pursuant to Form CRS. In addition, broker-dealers 

should be aware that the “Scope Period” will differ for each examination and may include a time 

period prior to the compliance date. 

A. General Information. To the extent applicable, provide the following information as of the 

date of this request and identify any changes made over the Scope Period (e.g., under item 1, 

any account types introduced; and under item 6, any products that have been removed from 

the list).

1. Description of available brokerage account types that a retail customer may establish, 

including any limitations on the types of retail customers that may establish such account 

types (e.g., high net worth only or based on minimum account values), the basic features 

of such account types, and any services or products (including account monitoring) 

associated with such account types. 

2. Description of any non-brokerage accounts, including advisory accounts, that a 

prospective customer who is a retail customer may establish through an associated person 

of the Registrant, even if the account will be held outside of the Registrant.

3. Copy of any schedule of fees and charges that may be assessed for retail customers.

4. Copy of any grid or schedule given to registered personnel that sets forth a compensation 

method, which may be limited to registered personnel who provide services or 

recommendations to retail customers.

5. If not covered by the prior item, description of the compensation method used for 

registered personnel that may be paid by any third party. Include any additional 

compensation that may be paid for certain types of products or accounts, or based on 

certain earning levels.

6. A list of any proprietary products sold to retail customers.

7. A list of any third parties or affiliates with which the Registrant has arrangements for sale 

of their products to retail customers.
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8. If the Registrant subjects any products or account types to a focused review to determine 

consistency with Regulation Best Interest or to consider potential modifications or 

limitations for consistency with Regulation Best Interest, a list of those products or

account types.

9. If not covered by the items above, a list of any other products offered by the Registrant

for sale to retail customers. 

10. Copies of marketing materials given to retail customers, including any that use the term 

“adviser” or “advisor.”

11. Documentation that identifies and analyzes all conflicts of interest associated with 

recommendations to retail customers. 

B. Copies of all written policies, procedures, memoranda, or other materials (including changes 

made over the Scope Period) on which the Registrant relies for compliance with respect to 

Regulation Best Interest, which may include, for example, documents that:

1. Include the process, as applicable, to (a) identify and disclose; (b) identify and mitigate; 

and (c) identify and eliminate any conflicts of interest related to recommendations to 

retail customers.

2. Include the process to create, update, file, and deliver the Relationship Summary and 

other disclosures to be made to retail customers under Regulation Best Interest.

3. Include the process to make and document oral disclosures.

4. Include the process to obtain and update customer investment profiles.

5. Include the process to understand the risks, rewards, and costs associated with products 

offered to retail customers.

6. Include the process for identifying implicit hold recommendations.

7. Include the process for how the Registrant determines that it has a reasonable basis to 

believe that a recommendation is in the best interest of the retail customer.

8. Provide to registered personnel of the Registrant any considerations and limitations on 

making recommendations to retail customers (including when recommendations must be 

documented) and the disclosures that must be made to retail customers.

9. Provide any supervisory or compliance reviews or authorizations prior to recommending 

any account or product, including any rollovers from other accounts.

10. Include the process to monitor or surveil trading or account establishment for compliance 

with Regulation Best Interest.

C. Copy of the Relationship Summary provided to retail customers and all other documents 

provided to retail customers for the purpose of meeting the Disclosure Obligation under 
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Regulation Best Interest. If different documents are used for different types of retail 

customers (e.g., based on business segment or account type), identify which documents 

would be given to each type of retail customer.

D. Copies of any training materials used to train employees on Regulation Best Interest.

E. Copies of any surveillance and monitoring reports designed to identify recommendations 

inconsistent with Regulation Best Interest, which may include any analysis of account type 

recommendations, rollovers, high account turnover, complex products, and high risk 

products.

F. For the Scope Period, provide:

1. A list of all new accounts established on behalf of individual customers (including new 

accounts established for existing customers), which may include some or all of the 

following: account identifying information; the date the account was opened; the date the 

Relationship Summary was delivered; the date any other documents were delivered for 

purposes of Regulation Best Interest and the type of document delivered; the type of 

account established; whether the account type was recommended; the registered person 

assigned to the account; and whether the assets in the account were transferred from 

another account at the Registrant or from a retirement account outside of the Registrant, 

and, if so, the type of account from which the assets were transferred. 

2. A blotter containing all trading conducted on behalf of individual customers, which may 

include some or all of the following: the trade date; whether the trade was a purchase or 

sale; the security name; the CUSIP; the share quantity; the share price; account 

identifying information; the account type; whether the trade was solicited or unsolicited;

and the name and CRD number of the registered person assigned to the account.

3. A list of retail customers for which a customer investment profile was created or updated, 

which may include some or all of the following: the date the information was received, 

account identifying information, and the types of accounts held at Registrant.