Budgeting Now For Smarter Compliance In 2026
As we move through the final stretch of the year, many organizations are entering a pivotal moment: budgeting season. This is when priorities are weighed, strategies are sharpened, and resources are committed for the year ahead. One area that deserves a front-row seat in these conversations is your employee compliance program.
By setting aside budget now for compliance training, automation, and system enhancements, you lay the foundation for a resilient framework that keeps pace with evolving regulations and the ever-growing expectations of modern stakeholders. Investing today positions your organization to thrive in 2026.
The alternative is costly. Skipping investments in compliance creates strain on your IT and compliance teams, heightens the risk of regulatory missteps, and can expose your business to financial penalties. Even more damaging is the erosion of trust when reputational harm occurs. Protecting your credibility with clients, partners, and regulators must remain a top priority, and that begins with proactive budgeting.
Why Review Your Compliance Program Now
Employee compliance is not static. It evolves alongside regulatory changes, market shifts, and the unique risks your business faces. Reviewing and updating your program ensures alignment with both regulatory requirements and your organization’s ethical commitments. A forward-looking compliance strategy is an essential safeguard that supports long-term stability and growth.
A New Tool to Help with Your Review
StarCompliance (Star), a global leader with over 25 years of innovation in SaaS based employee and firm compliance solutions, is proud to continue its support the compliance community with the launch of the Compliance Risk Review, a free tool that asks just eight quick questions to give you an instant snapshot of where your program stands today and where it can be stronger tomorrow.
In just a few minutes, the Compliance Risk Review gives compliance officers a clear benchmark and practical baseline for improvement, with instant insight to help anticipate risks, strengthen controls, and stay ahead of regulators. It also provides the facts you need to defend your compliance budget for 2026.
Compliance Risk Review
Partnering for Success
If modernization is part of your 2026 strategy, now is the time to explore partnerships. Star offers best in class tools to simplify the management of personal trading, conflicts of interest, insider information, and crypto assets trading. Partnering with a trusted provider not only strengthens your compliance program but can also create meaningful career opportunities for those leading the effort within your organization.
Four Essential Areas of Compliance Focus
When allocating resources for compliance in 2026, focus your attention on these critical areas:
1. Personal Account Dealings
Automating oversight of personal trading is now essential. The right systems help reduce manual workload, detect conflicts early, and protect against reputational and legal risks.
Star’s Personal Account Dealing Compliance Software monitors employee trading, automates approvals across asset types, and provides an easy experience for employees and compliance teams.
2. Crypto Assets Trading
With global regulators intensifying oversight of digital and crypto assets, firms must be prepared to monitor and manage employee trading in this rapidly evolving space. Allocating budget for crypto compliance tools ensures you can track activity, prevent misuse, and stay aligned with regulatory expectations.
Star’s Crypto Dealing Compliance Software gives compliance teams the visibility and control they need as digital assets become part of both corporate and employee financial strategies.
3. Outside Business Activities
Conflict of interest management in areas involving outside business activities carry the potential for compliance pitfalls. Automation helps reduce manual effort and ensures issues surface quickly. This not only strengthens defenses against bribery and corruption risks but also demonstrates your company’s commitment to integrity.
Star’s Outside Business Activities Compliance Software streamlines employee declarations with configurable forms, approvals, and alerts. Proxy submission, in-app Q&A, and comments make collaboration between employees and compliance teams simple and efficient.
4. Insider Information Management
In today’s environment, insider information must be tightly controlled. Automation provides a secure and efficient way to handle sensitive data, material non-public information (MNPI), reducing the likelihood of misuse and ensuring your organization stays ahead of scrutiny.
Star’s MNPI Management Software helps firms control material non-public information by making it easy for employees to report MNPI, link details to projects, and request approvals directly from the portal. Compliance teams gain transparency with surveillance across trading, research, and conflicts, while wall crossing and market sounding requests are tracked, recorded, and monitored in one place.
The Moment is Now
Budget season is not just about balancing numbers. It is about preparing for the future. By prioritizing compliance today, you send a powerful signal to stakeholders that your organization is committed to resilience, trust, and sustainable growth.
Do not wait until regulatory pressures force your hand. Take proactive steps to modernize your compliance tech stack now and ensure your organization is ready to succeed in 2026 and beyond.
Ready to begin? Request a demo of Star’s platform and see how best in class compliance solutions can elevate your program and position your business for success in the year ahead.
Compliance Risk Review
