One Year Of A Little Bit Of Leila

It’s hard to believe that these Little Bit of Leila emails only started this year. But wow, was it a big year in the world of compliance. While things have been moving slowly in terms of compliance rollout, that doesn’t mean that nothing has been happening.

Below, I’ve pulled together some of the key updates to do with compliance for this year and I want to cover some of the topics that will keep you ahead of the curve as we head towards 2026.

Key Updates

• The SEC saw major changes with a new chair and several new directors stepping in as we experienced a change in administration
• The SEC renewed their focus on cases that caused client harm
• A new crypto task force was established
• Compliance dates were extended

My Take

Although there was a shake up in the SEC early in the year with many regional directors positions getting removed after DOGE investigations, the number of SEC investigations and examinations has not decreased. This is not a surprise, as we saw similar disruptions five years ago, and during that time, the SEC also managed to stay on top of their investigations. Extended compliance dates have given firms and advisors an opportunity to catch up, and if you haven’t yet gotten ahead on your compliance requirements, it may be time to get some help. I don’t doubt that 2026 will see even greater enforcement, particularly in areas that could increase client harm, such as disclosures and The Marketing Rule.

Is AI Making Us Dumb?

AI has been a hot topic all year. Whether you are pro or against, there are many conversations that we need to have to ensure that our choices today are going to align with the future we are building for ourselves. Are we becoming too dependent on AI? Is it making us lazy or is it actually increasing productivity? We talk all this an more in this episode of Regulate THIS!

Ask Leila

Question: What is the most important compliance task to get completed before 2026?

Answer: If you do nothing else, get going on your annual compliance review. The SEC has made it clear through risk alerts, enforcement actions, and exams that:

• Failure to perform or document the annual review is one of the most common deficiencies.
• The review is foundational—everything else (annual amendment, testing plans, risk assessments, policy updates) flows from it.
• It demonstrates that your firm has an effective, living compliance program that evolves with risks and business changes.

If you don’t get this one done, you’ll be starting the new year with no idea as to the quality of your compliance program or what an examination could uncover. Don’t pretend that everything is ok, or that your business is simple

Responsible Entrepreneurs

Is your 2026 compliance plan ready?

Most RIA firm owners are so busy serving clients that the next year’s regulatory deadlines don’t get attention until they’re knocking on the door. The problem is… regulators don’t wait. And neither should you.

That’s why we created the 2026 Compliance Checklist. It’s a clear, streamlined guide to every key date you need to track next year. No digging. No guessing. No scrambling at the last minute.

Whether you want to stay ahead of SEC expectations, avoid costly oversights, or simply free up more time to focus on growth, this checklist gives you the clarity and control you need.

If you want 2026 to feel organized instead of overwhelming, start HERE.