Most firms have the right policies. Fewer can prove they work. Assess your operational readiness with our comprehensive SEC-focused checklist.

    SEC exams are changing, and many Registered Investment Companies (RICs) are not prepared for what comes next.

    Regulators are no longer satisfied with documented policies. They are testing whether firms can:

    • Produce evidence quickly and completely
    • Demonstrate real-time oversight and governance
    • Validate that controls are operating as designed
    • Show consistency across compliance, risk, and operations
       
    This shift is exposing gaps in even well-established programs.

    Download the Checklist

    What You'll Evaluate

    The Operational Readiness Review Checklist for RICs is designed to give you a clear, practical view of your firm’s readiness across the areas the SEC is actively scrutinizing. It helps you move beyond assumptions and answer a critical question:

    If you were examined tomorrow, would your program withstand scrutiny?

    Regulatory Readiness and Exam Preparedness

    Are your policies current, and can you produce them without delay?

    First-Time and Newly Registered Fund Preparedness

    Have your controls been tested, or just documented?

    Governance and Fund Oversight

    Are roles, escalation protocols, and board reporting clearly defined and consistently executed?

    Cybersecurity and Operational Resilience  

    Do your controls align with evolving Reg SP expectations, and have they been tested?

    Complex Strategies and Risk Oversight

    Can your valuation, liquidity, and disclosure processes withstand scrutiny?

    Treasurer Oversight and Financial Controls

    Is financial reporting accurate, controlled, and defensible?

    Vendor and Service Provider Oversight

    Are you actively monitoring third parties or relying on periodic reviews?

    Operating Model and Resource Capacity

    Is your team structured to handle increasing regulatory demands?

    Something Powerful

    Tell The Reader More

    The headline and subheader tells us what you're offering, and the form header closes the deal. Over here you can explain why your offer is so great it's worth filling out a form for.

    Remember:

    • Bullets are great
    • For spelling out benefits and
    • Turning visitors into leads.

    See Where You Stand

    Once completed, use your score to benchmark your readiness:

    • 30+ checks: Strong position
    • 20–29 checks: Gaps to address
    • Below 20: Elevated risk; immediate action needed

     

    The most prepared firms are not those with the most documentation.
    They are the ones that can demonstrate:

    • Consistency across processes and controls
    • Accountability across leadership and governance
    • Resilience across operations and third-party relationships


    In today’s environment, operational readiness is not a compliance exercise; it’s a proof point of how your firm runs.

    Turn Insight Into Action

    This checklist will help you identify gaps, but closing them requires perspective, prioritization, and experience.

    If your results raise questions, we’re here to help.

    Download the Checklist
    Checklist RIC