Promote Effective Disclosure and Reliable Financial Reporting

Investors and other market participants depend on prompt, transparent disclosure of important corporate financial information. High-quality, timely disclosure gives investors a full picture of a company’s businesses and helps them price risk.

Investors are the primary users of financial reporting information, and they do not view “information overload” as a problem. A CFA survey of investors found that 80% of respondents did not think reducing the volume of financial statement disclosure was important. Investors are more concerned with obtaining meaningful information. While eliminating disclosure overlap makes sense, regulators should focus on protecting investors—the owners of public companies—when considering appeals for reduced disclosure. Congress and the SEC should balance corporate demands for less disclosure with investors’ need for effective disclosure.