Tag Archives: FINRA

“Fair Dealing”-The Key to Navigating the Suitability, Best Interest and Fiduciary Standards

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex… It takes a touch of genius-and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction. – Albert Einstein With FINRA’s recent announcement that it will keep its suitability rule and … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c compliance, Active Management Value Ratio, AMVR, best interest, closet index funds, compliance, consumer protection, cost consciousness, cost-efficiency, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary liability, fiduciary standard, pension plans, Reg BI, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2019: The Battle of the “Best Interests” – Part Deux

The Chinese calendar designates each year in terms of an animal. I am not sure what the animal is for 2019. However, for the investment industry, 2019 clearly represents the continuation of the battle of the “best interests” between consumers … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, best interest, cost consciousness, cost efficient, ERISA, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, prudence, Reg BI, retirement plans, RIA, SEC | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Unintended Consequences: Financial Advisers and Potential Liability Issues Under State Fiduciary Laws

With the investment industry driving and celebrating the continuous efforts of the DOL and Congress to emasculate the DOL’s fiduciary rule, I have received emails from stockbrokers and RIAs/IARs as to what the practical meaning of these actions, from a … Continue reading

Posted in BICE, compliance, cost consciousness, DOL fiduciary rule, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, fiduciary compliance, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, Impartial Conduct Standards, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, RIA, RIA Compliance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Open Letter to the OMB: No Further Delays in the DOL Rule and BICE

August 11, 2017 Open Letter to the Office of Management and Budget Re: Department of Labor’s Request for Additional Delay of Full Fiduciary Rule The Department of Labor recently filed a request to delay the full effectiveness of the Department’s … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, BICE, DOL fiduciary rule, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary standard, Impartial Conduct Standards, investment advisers, pension plans, prudence, retirement plans, RIA, securities compliance, wealth management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Upon Further Review: Do We Already Have a Universal Fiduciary Standard?” Redux

Back in 2013 I posted an article dealing with the controversy over the DOL’s proposed fiduciary standard. In that article, I suggested that a universal fiduciary standard was already in place that applied to stockbrokers, investment advisers and anyone else … Continue reading

Posted in BICE, compliance, DOL fiduciary rule, DOL fiduciary standard, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, financial planning, Impartial Conduct Standards, investment advisers, investments, RIA, RIA Compliance, securities compliance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Investor Revolution: A “Best Interests” Checklist for Investors and Fiduciaries

The DOL recently announced that it will not seek to delay the effective date of the department’s new fiduciary law. Beginning June 9, 2017, anyone providing advice to pension plans and plan participants will be deemed to be a fiduciary, … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, Fiduciary prudence, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, retirement plans, securities compliance, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fiduciary Standard vs. Suitability Standard: The “Gotcha” That Won’t Go Away

There is currently a lot of speculation on how and if the new Trump administration will attempt to undo the DOL’s new fiduciary rule. Opinions range from an attempt to delay the effective date of the new rule to a … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, retirement plans, RIA, RIA Compliance, securities, securities compliance, wealth management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2017: Brave New World

2016 will be remembered by most financial advisers as the year of the fiduciary standard, the year everything changed forever. Some would challenge this statement, claiming that the Trump administration will make sure the DOL’s new fiduciary rule is reversed. … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 403b, 404c, 404c compliance, compliance, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, fiduciary standard, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, retirement plans, RIA, RIA Compliance, securities compliance, Trust marketing, trust realtionships | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Make a Little Magic: Developing Trust Relationships With Clients

As both a securities attorney and a CFP® professional, I get to see a side of the financial planning and wealth management industries that few get to see – the consumer’s inside viewpoint on the marketing and service practices side … Continue reading

Posted in DOL fiduciary standard, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, investment advisers, Trust marketing, trust realtionships, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Going Forward: Quantifying “Best Interest,” Reasonable Compensation and Suitability for Investment Professionals

With the DOL’s recent release of their new fiduciary rule (Rule)and the related Best Interest Contract Exemption (BICE), there has been an increased interest in the concepts of “best interest” and prudence, two of the key concepts involved with both … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 404c, 404c compliance, compliance, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, investments, pension plans, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment