The midterm election results are still fresh and Wall Street’s grin, with a friendlier Congress in hand, is still wide. Voters sent a message and both sides agree on this much: the election was a referendum on the president and he lost.
Fiduciary September and What’s Possible
After five years and thousands of pages of commentary and analysis since the Obama Administration called for subjecting brokers to the fiduciary standard in June 2009, is there anything new?
An ‘adviser’ in name only
Calling a broker an adviser is dangerous, and it’s time to embrace the black-and-white distinction Kudos to InvestmentNews! Fiduciary September comes to a close this week, and one of the central themes has been the vital importance of clearly separating sales from advice in law, practice and the minds of investors. A September 28 InvestmentNews […]
Schwab Ad Targets Costs of Opaque Brokerage Fees and Expenses
In another of its 30′ TV ads in its “Accountability” campaign, Charles Schwab hits the jackpot in deftly handling opacity around fees and expenses. In just seconds the ad speaks volumes about why not clearly reporting the total investment costs clients pay for brokerage or advisory services can be harmful…. and why the industry must […]
Key Principles for Fiduciary Best Practices and an Emerging Profession
Fiduciary law is complex in its nuances and structures; fiduciary principles are not so complex. Instead they reflect the wisdom of Emerson, who noted, “Nothing is more simple than greatness; indeed, to be simple is to be great.” So it is with principles on which fiduciary best practices and an emerging advisory profession must rest. This paper notes the attributes of character, suggests relevant operating principles or premises for best practices based on these attributes, why these principles matter, and how they starkly differ from principles underlying common brokerage sales practices aggressively advocated by brokerage lobbyists. Throughout, the simplicity of these principles and their meaning to investors stand out.
John Taft of SIFMA Explains Conduct Standards
Candid conversation with John Taft of SIFMA on conduct standards.