Description
The SEC was founded to help the United States respond to the Great Depression and has since served as the primary federal regulator of the securities industry. It oversees securities exchanges, brokers and dealers, investment advisors, and mutual funds, and enforces securities laws to protect investors. Its activities include rulemaking through a transparent process guided by the Administrative Procedure Act, reviewing and processing corporate and municipal securities filings (via EDGAR), enforcement actions against securities law violations, and initiatives such as a Crypto Task Force to address digital asset regulation. The agency also runs Investor.gov, a resource site providing financial tools, calculators, investing FAQs, fraud-avoidance tips, and investor alerts for everyday investors, business owners, and market participants.