SEC Chair Mary Jo White delivered a speech about the SEC Enforcement program and its use of criminal, civil and regulatory tools to enforce securities laws. Chair White explained that the SEC's cooperation and partnership with criminal authorities is essential to enforcement efforts, since there are "no more powerful tools than a criminal conviction and the prospect – and reality – of imprisonment." According to Chair White, the significant rise in criminal prosecutions of securities cases can be attributed to the SEC Enforcement staff's close work and parallel investigations with criminal

In testimony before the House Committee on Appropriations regarding the SEC's fiscal year 2015 budget, Chair Mary Jo White addressed the $1.7 billion budget request, stating that the funds would enable the SEC to accomplish several key and pressing priorities. Among these priorities, Chair White focused on the following: Bolstering examination coverage for investment advisers and other key areas within the agency's jurisdiction; Strengthening the agency's enforcement program's efforts to detect, investigate and prosecute wrongdoing; Continuing the agency's investments in the technologies

The Managed Funds Association ("MFA") published an educational presentation intended to provide an overview of the current 2014 legislative and regulatory agenda for hedge funds. The presentation details a wide range of legislative and regulatory initiatives that are likely to affect the global alternative investment industry in the year ahead, including: United States: tax reform; the JOBS Act; CFTC nominations and reauthorization; CPO/CTA regulation; and FATCA. EU: EU Commissioner elections; MiFID II legislation and implementation; financial transaction tax; and EMIR/AIFMD. See: MFA's 2014

The FDIC released its 2013 Annual Performance and Accountability Report, which includes the audited financial statements of the Deposit Insurance Fund ("DIF") and the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation Resolution Fund. According to the report, 24 banks failed in 2013, the fewest since 2008. Additionally, the report includes a future policy agenda for the FDIC, information about activities related to systemically important financial institutions, and other financial highlights. See: FDIC 2013 Annual Report.

The SEC issued an Investment Management ("IM") Guidance Update regarding the application of Investment Advisers Act Section 206(4) and Rule 206(4)-1(a)(1) (the "testimonial rule"), which generally prohibits investment advisers from using testimonials in their advertisements. The Guidance answers questions concerning investment advisers' use of social media and discusses the situations in which investment advisers may tout their "likes." See: SEC IM Guidance Update.