Tag Archives: investment advisers

Risk Management and Liability Housekeeping for RIAs

In providing consulting and compliance auditing to investment advisers, I often see what they often consider meaningless issues, but I see as potentially significant issues. Two such issues are improper identification of the registered investment adviser and improper handling of … Continue reading

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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

Point to Ponder: A Reverse BICE Cause of Action?

In talking with some of my colleagues on both the legal and financial planing sides, an interesting question has come up with regard to potential liability under the new BICE provision of the DOL’s new fiduciary standard. I’m writing this … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 404c, BICE, compliance, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, investment advisers, investments, IRAs, pension plans, retirement plans, RIA, RIA Compliance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Fiduciary Blueprint: The Restatement of Trusts, the Prudent Investor Rule and the DOL’s New Fiduciary Rule

A [fiduciary] is held to something stricter than the morals of the market place.  Not honesty alone, but the punctilio of an honor the most sensitive, is the standard of behavior…. Meinhard v. Salmon, 249 N.Y. 458, 464 (1928) Ever … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 404c, 404c compliance, Annuities, BICE, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, investment advisers, investments, IRAs, pension plans, retirement plans, RIA, RIA Compliance, securities compliance, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Mr. Schlichter Understands…and Plan Sponsors and Investment Fiduciaries Need to Understand As Well

This week attorney Jerome Schlichter, already known for his actions against 401(k)s and plan sponsors for alleged breaches of their fiduciary duties, added a new category of defendants to his practice, 403(b) plans of private colleges and universities. By my … Continue reading

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

401(k) Alert: Protecting Plan Sponsors and Plan Participants Under the BICE Exemption

Most of the litigation against 401(k) plans has focused on excessive fees and/or the poor quality of investment options within a plan. With the effective date of DOL’s new fiduciary standard and the Best Interests Contract exemption (BICE) coming in … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 404c, 404c compliance, BICE, compliance, DOL fiduciary standard, ERISA, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, investment advisers, investments, IRAs, pension plans, retirement plans, wealth management, wealth preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Two Minute ERISA Fiduciary Liability Risk Management Challenge

I love fiduciary law. In a world with so many legal uncertainties, indecision and “weasel words,” fiduciary law is demanding and direct. The Restatement (Third) of Trusts, specifically Section 90, the Prudent Investor Rule, sets out the basic fiduciary requirements. … Continue reading

Posted in 401k, 401k compliance, 401k investments, 404c, 404c compliance, compliance, ERISA, evidence based investing, fiduciary compliance, fiduciary law, investment advisers, investments, pension plans, retirement plans, RIA, RIA Compliance, securities compliance, wealth management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Liability Needle in the RIA Haystack

I have always enjoyed working with registered investment advisers (RIAs) and their representatives (IARs). I first got into the investment industry in 1995, shortly after the NASD issued Notice to Members 94-44. NTM 94-44 clearly stated that BDs had a … Continue reading

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The End of Human Investment Advisors Exaggeration

Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked. Warren Buffett This weekend I saw yet another story on the predicted end of the human investment advisors and the takeover of the robo-advisors. Whenever I see … Continue reading

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A Little More Knowledge on Reducing 401(k) Plan Sponsor Liability

As I have mentioned several times, I believe that the current environment presents investment advisors with a perfect opportunity to enter the 401(k) arena and prove the value added proposition that they can provide. The DOL’s recently announced fiduciary standard … Continue reading

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