“A possible new motto for the Securities and Exchange Commission: Less is more.

“As the agency pushes into a new era of enforcement not dominated by the financial crisis, it is bringing fewer cases, according to figures released by the SEC Tuesday.

“In addition, the rate at which the SEC is starting early-stage probes, known as matters under inquiry, has fallen to its lowest level in at least a decade, according to previously unpublished figures released separately to The Wall Street Journal.

“But the more selective approach presents risks for SEC Chairman Mary Jo White if she fails to win some blockbuster cases to support her get-tough rhetoric, legal experts said.”

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Read full Wall Street Journal article here