Tag Archives: RIA compliance

Has Schwab Opened Pandora’s Box for RIAs? – Part Two

In a recent post, I suggested that the recent court decision upholding Schwab’s class action waiver in customer’s contracts could have potential liability implications for RIAs and other fiduciaries that recommend or use Schwab, or for that matter any other … Continue reading

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Gifts and Conflicts of Interest

I received a call yesterday from an RIA firm that had been providing magazine subscriptions and other gifts to clients that referred new clients to the firm.  The managing member of the RIA firm said that he had attended a … Continue reading

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Fiduciaries, We Ain’t No Stinkin’ Fiduciaries: Help for Fiduciaries and Unsuspecting Fiduciaries

As a securities attorney that represents investors and provides consulting and compliance services to RIA firms, I can honestly say that one of the most common problems I encounter with RIA firms is a failure to develop an effective risk … Continue reading

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The Active Management Value Ratio™- Revealing the Undisclosed Cost of Actively Managed Mutual Funds

Despite overwhelming evidence that actively managed mutual funds generally under-perform passively managed index funds, the evidence indicates that most investors continue to purchase and hold actively managed funds.  Even when an actively managed fund does outperform its relevant index, the … Continue reading

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Is ERISA Section 408(b)(2) the New 401(k) Fiduciary’s Achilles’ Heel

On July 1st, the disclosure requirements of ERISA 408(b)(2) go into effect with regard to plan providers and plan sponsors.  Disclosure requirements between plan sponsors and plan participants are scheduled to go into effect at the end of August. Plan … Continue reading

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Integrated Estate Planning: A Win-Win for Both Clients and Wealth Managers

The concept of wealth management is an interesting proposition.  A recent study by CEG Worldwide concluded that only 6 percent of those holding themselves out as wealth managers actually provided comprehensive wealth management services, with the remaining 94 percent simply … Continue reading

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Five Legal Decisions Every RIA and Fiduciary Should Know

In his most recent book, “The New Wealth Management, “ respected industry expert Harold Evensky noted that investment advisers have an obligation to understand both their professional duties and their legal responsibilities.  While compliance violations often result in fines, legal … Continue reading

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SEC Focuses on Compliance and CCOs

SEC alert demonstrates need for CCOs to focus on both compliance and risk management, both for firm and personal protection.  http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20120205/REG/302059986

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Running the Investment Compliance “Gauntlet”

As most people know, I focus on helping RIA professionals with both compliance and risk management issues.  Far too many times I have performed compliance audits where the RIA has all of the required files and manuals, but a poor … Continue reading

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New Compliance and Liability White Paper

With the new year comes the renewal of the debate over one universal fiduciary standard for those providing investment advice to the public.  What many compliance professionals do not realize is that many jurisdictions already impose a fiduciary standard on … Continue reading

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