The Institute for the Fiduciary Standard

A resource site for investors, brokers, academics and the media.


Building a fiduciary culture of honesty, integrity, and expertise.

Legislation and Rulemaking

Rulemaking Re: Brokers, Dealer and Investment Advisers

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On July 14, 2011 SIFMA submitted comments to the SEC on a proposed framework for establishing a uniform fiduciary standard of conduct for broker-dealers. SIFMA’s proposal departs from the fiduciary standard as set forth under the Advisers Act of 1940 and, if adopted, would be particularly harmful to retail investors.

Comments on Definition of Fiduciary Proposed Rule

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Disclosures and client consent are insufficient – by themselves – to satisfy the fiduciary standard. Investors must be able to rely on and have confidence in the expertise of their advisor. This can only be accomplished by applying a standard that prohibits all conflicts of interest.

Dodd-Frank Act, Section 913: Study and Rulemaking Regarding Obligations of Brokers, Dealers, and Investment Advisers

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Rulemaking – The Commission may commence a rule-making, as necessary or appropriate in the public interest and for the protection of retail customers, to address the legal or regulatory standards of care for brokers, dealers, investment advisers, persons associated with brokers or dealers, and persons associated with investment advisers for providing personalized investment advice about securities to retail customers.

New SEC Rule helps investors sort out brokers from investment advisers, requires a brokerage account disclosure, “Our interests may not be the same as yours”

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Many people have asked about the origins of the “Butcher versus Dietitian” white board video recently popularized by Hightower Advisors and Tony Robbins. Its an excellent video, no doubt. Full disclosure, the first rendition of this story line to explain the differences between a broker and investment adviser in recent times (that I am aware of) was actually ten years ago when Harold Evensky and I collaborated on the idea in a different format and medium. Click the link above to see the PSA and news release. Knut

Dan Moisand

 

Dan Moisand is a nationally recognized fiduciary fee-only financial planner, an Institute Real Fiduciary™ Advisor and Chair-elect of the CFP Board.

The Institute has enshrined the ‘Moisand Rule’ on fiduciary practices. It is basic and is more important today than ever: “You have to avoid conflicts. If I avoid a conflict, I don’t worry about it.”

Watch the video of Moisand speaking here.

Bob Veres

 

Bob Veres is a long term observer of financial planning. His Newsletter, “Inside information” Is a staple of leading planners. In the May edition he writes about fiduciary and the Institute.

"But a much bigger point is that the fiduciary standard—as Knut Rostad of the Institute for the Fiduciary Standard has pointed out—has been determined by the Supreme Court (1963 ruling) to be at the very heart of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. It is the foundation of what it means to be an RIA registered with the SEC instead of a tipster or a tout."

- Bob Veres, Parting Thoughts ... The SEC's Own Compliance Culture