Advisor News

Displaying 26713 results
Obama proposes $300M in increased SEC funding
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION FEB 17, 2011
Obama proposes $300M in increased SEC funding

President Barack Obama and House Republicans are headed for a collision over support for the Securities and Exchange Commission.

By Mark Schoeff Jr.
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION FEB 17, 2011
Ketchum to firms: Single standard of care a done deal

Financial advisers should rethink the way that they disclose information to clients, and investment firms should review and debate possible sales conflicts regularly, Finra chief executive Richard Ketchum said last week

By Liz Skinner
Will SEC decision open brokers up to litigation?
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION FEB 17, 2011
Will SEC decision open brokers up to litigation?

A new regulation that would allow investors to choose an all-public arbitration panel in disputes with brokers is being hailed as a step toward making the process fairer — and criticized as a half-step toward giving investors the option of litigation.

By Dan Jamieson
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION FEB 17, 2011
Crawford stepping down as Texas' top securities cop

High-profile advocate of state regulatory powers also served as president of NASAA

By Dan Jamieson
RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 17, 2011
Workers, retirees worried about finances: Survey

American workers and retirees are more hopeful about the economy now than they were in the third quarter, but both groups remain worried about their own finances, according to a survey released today.

By Mark Schoeff Jr.
Think tank urges cutting contributions to tax-deferred plans
RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 17, 2011
Think tank urges cutting contributions to tax-deferred plans

A proposal to cut by more than half the total amount employers and employees may contribute to their defined-contribution plans could spur some employers to kill the plans, industry lobbyists say.

By Doug Halonen
GOP lawmakers aim to balance budget — by 2040
RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 16, 2011
GOP lawmakers aim to balance budget — by 2040

Rep. Ryan's plan envisions big cuts to Medicare, Social Security, but also caps tax rate at 25%

By John Goff
Ketchum to firms: Single standard of care a done deal
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION FEB 16, 2011
Ketchum to firms: Single standard of care a done deal

Finra boss says advisers should be acting ahead of rule change by SEC; customers' best interests paramount

By Liz Skinner
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION FEB 16, 2011
Securities regulators target peer-to-peer Internet lenders

State securities regulators are warning investors to be careful about peer-to-peer lending over the Internet, a trend that they say is on the rise as conventional loans have become scarcer and more costly

By Liz Skinner
Schapiro: SEC can't enforce Dodd-Frank rules without more bucks
RIA NEWS FEB 15, 2011
Schapiro: SEC can't enforce Dodd-Frank rules without more bucks

GOP budget cuts could end up declawing financial reform, the SEC boss warns

By Mark Schoeff Jr.
RIA NEWS FEB 15, 2011
House subcommittee chairman sees merits of SROs, fiduciary standard

The new chairman of a House subcommittee with jurisdiction over investment adviser issues is holding his fire on two crucial questions effecting the industry — until he reads upcoming reports addressing the topics.

By Mark Schoeff Jr.
FINTECH FEB 15, 2011
Tool provides college-planning edge

College planning is one area where financial advisers can really stand out from the crowd

By Davis Janowski
RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 15, 2011
Are guaranteed 529 plans a losing proposition?

College savers are flocking to 529 plans that offer principal protection. But critics says investors in these structured products are likely to come up short when tuition time arrives.

By Bloomberg
Obama budget would exempt IRA distributions for small accounts
RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 14, 2011
Obama budget would exempt IRA distributions for small accounts

Retirees with less than $50,000 in their individual retirement accounts may not have to take required withdrawals under President Barack Obama's proposed budget.

By Mark Bruno
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT FEB 14, 2011
New Finra reporting rule alarms B-Ds

Industry observers are worried that a new Finra reporting rule — set to go into effect July 1 — could open up brokerage firms to enforcement actions.

By Dan Jamieson
RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 14, 2011
Investors staged last-minute rush to Roth IRAs

Affluent clients of two large financial services companies converted billions of dollars held in conventional IRAs to Roth IRAs in 2010, particularly at the end of the year

By Darla Mercado
GOP zeroing in on fiduciary study
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION FEB 13, 2011
GOP zeroing in on fiduciary study

Senate memo asks regulators to slow down implementation of Dodd-Frank; single standard of care biggest concern

By Mark Schoeff Jr.
FINTECH FEB 13, 2011
Business as usual on snow days, but at slower pace

Most business came to a halt throughout the Midwest two weeks ago when a massive blizzard forced workers to take a snow day, but financial advisers said they were good to go

By Lavonne Kuykendall
RIA NEWS FEB 13, 2011
Hard to understand

Summary prospectuses for variable annuities are supposed to help consumers make informed decisions about buying these complicated investments

By Liz Skinner
FINTECH FEB 13, 2011
A simple SMA analytics tool for financial advisers

Zephyr Associates Inc., probably best known to financial advisers for its StyleAdvisor and AllocationAdvisor products, is now providing a free peek at separately managed accounts performance analytics

By Davis Janowski