Advisor News

Displaying 26703 results
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION AUG 24, 2009
No suit for you: Judge throws out $1B case against AIG

A federal judge in Chicago last week threw out a $1 billion lawsuit that accused AIG of committing fraud against insurance carriers in a workers' compensation pool.

By Darla Mercado
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES AUG 23, 2009
Advisers at peace with NAIC proposal for more annuity rules

Although members of the insurance industry and some broker-dealer executives are butting heads with state regulators on tougher annuity regulation, financial advisers cheered the proposed use of Finra-esque suitability layers for all annuity sales.

By Darla Mercado
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION AUG 23, 2009
Finra sticks to its guns in flap about oversight of B-Ds dishing advice

Finra isn't backing down from its position that it has jurisdiction over broker-dealers' financial planning activities.

By Sara Hansard
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION AUG 23, 2009
Finra gives Michigan firm the boot

Finra has expelled an investment firm in Southfield, Mich., for inappropriate practices that occurred in its retail foreign-currency business and repeated violations of registration and related rules, according to a statement.

By Sue Asci
FINTECH AUG 23, 2009
Compliance technology comes into its own as cost, time saver

In the wake of last year's market meltdown and the ensuing spate of financial scandals, many advisory firms are taking a second look at their compliance technology.

By Davis Janowski
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS AUG 23, 2009
LPL reps on Pershing platform are seeking new B-D homes

In the wake of a decision last month by LPL to bring in-house the clearing function at three subsidiary broker-dealers, about 200 financial advisers at those firms have moved to other firms or are planning to do so.

By Lisa Shidler
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION AUG 23, 2009
Offshore banking on endangered list

Legitimate offshore banking by wealthy Americans may be the next casualty of the UBS AG tax evasion case.

By Charles Paikert
RETIREMENT PLANNING AUG 23, 2009
Account balances taken to next level

Retirement account holders at the Principal Financial Group Inc. can now receive weekly text messages outlining their 401(k) balances.

By Lisa Shidler
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION AUG 23, 2009
NBA star sues adviser over $2 million account transfers

Denver Nuggets basketball star Carmelo Anthony filed a lawsuit in federal court last week alleging that his former financial and business adviser transferred more than $2 million from his accounts without his knowledge or consent.

By Sue Asci
FINTECH AUG 21, 2009
Curian Capital rolls out unified-managed-household solution

The registered investment advisory firm Curian Capital this week launched a platform that it is classifying as a unified-managed-household solution.

By Davis Janowski
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION AUG 21, 2009
AIG fights lawsuit filed by customers who lost millions with Madoff

American International Group Inc. yesterday dismissed as “without merit” a lawsuit filed by two investors who claim the insurer should have covered the losses they suffered because they invested with Bernard L. Madoff.

By Bloomberg
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION AUG 20, 2009
Peeved about losses, Bahamas couple files $5M arbitration claim against Merrill

A securities arbitration claim of $5 million has been filed against Merrill Lynch by a Freeport, Bahamas couple who say the preferred financial company stocks the company sold them were unsuitable, according to the law firm representing the couple.

By Bloomberg
ETFS AUG 20, 2009
Two law firms weigh class action over sales of non-typical ETFs

Two law firms are investigating potential claims on behalf of retail investors who purchased leveraged, inverse and leveraged-inverse exchange traded funds and held them in their brokerage accounts for longer than one day.

By Bloomberg
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES AUG 20, 2009
Florida Atlantic University strips Barry Kaye's name from business school

Florida Atlantic University's College of Business yesterday stripped life insurance guru Barry Kaye's name from the school, according to published reports.

By Darla Mercado
OPINION AUG 19, 2009
A Conversation in Sarch's office. In 2016. (Part 1)

Hold onto your books. Because Management is not what is used to be--Or will be.

By Danny Sarch
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION AUG 18, 2009
Fidelity, Vanguard, others spent big bucks on 2Q lobbying

Boston's Fidelity Investments spent $940,000 — both directly and via third-party firms – during the second quarter to lobby Washington lawmakers on financial regulatory reform, retirement, taxes and other issues, according to recent filings with the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

By David Hoffman
OPINION AUG 18, 2009
Windows 7: What advisers need to know

Microsoft's latest operating system will become available to advisers and the rest of the world Oct. 22. The system will grace the shelves of retailers in all its shrink-wrapped glory, but most folks will be buying it pre-installed on new desktop or laptop PCs. Experts believe that the buy-it-installed route is the way most users,

By Davis Janowski
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION AUG 18, 2009
FPA urges SEC to restrict Finra's enforcement authority

The Financial Planning Association has urged the Securities and Exchange Commission to restrict the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc.'s enforcement power.

By Sara Hansard
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION AUG 16, 2009
Former executive at Securities America feared a "run on the bank'

A former top executive of Securities America feared “a panicked run on the bank” from clients who invested in private securities of Medical Capital Holdings Inc., which the Securities and Exchange Commission sued last month for fraud.

By Bloomberg
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION AUG 16, 2009
Merrill Lynch confronts arbitration claim involving financials' preferred stock

A retired Michigan couple has filed a securities arbitration claim against Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. alleging that improper sales practices led to a loss of $650,000 — the latest example of what some securities lawyers see as a rising tide of claims involving the preferred stock of financial firms.

By Sue Asci