News

Displaying 43040 results
INDUSTRY NEWS FEB 20, 2011
Finra smacks National Securities with Wells notice

National Securities Corp. is the latest broker-dealer to face disciplinary action from Finra over the sale of private placements gone bust

By Bruce Kelly
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION FEB 20, 2011
Finra proposes marking up its markup guideline

Finra is proposing to drop its 5% markup-markdown guideline, which can be traced back to the 1940s.

By Dan Jamieson
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION FEB 20, 2011
SEC caught in ideological budget battle

The Securities and Exchange Commission has found itself in the cross hairs of House Republicans determined to deny it the funding it says it needs to implement the many mandates called for by the Dodd-Frank reform bill

By Mark Schoeff Jr.
Schwab targets smaller RIAs to help expand branch network
RIAS FEB 18, 2011
Schwab targets smaller RIAs to help expand branch network

Charles Schwab aims to attract smaller RIAs by expanding its retail network

By Dan Jamieson
'Smash and grab' for 400 reps at failed B-D
INDUSTRY NEWS FEB 18, 2011
'Smash and grab' for 400 reps at failed B-D

QA3, the brokerage founded by Steve Wild, is closing its doors on Friday, according to an internal e-mail. Recruiters, who have been flying lazy circles over the firm, are now descending on the B-D -- and its highly prized 400 registered reps.

By Bloomberg
BROKER DEALERS FEB 18, 2011
<font color=red>INTV:</font> Is a broker hiring boom just getting under way?

Independent broker-dealers depend on hiring new advisers to keep their businesses growing -- and in 2011 they're likely to ramp up recruiting in the first half before the onset of new Dodd-Frank rules, according to an <i>InvestmentNews</i> analysis.

By Mark Bruno
&lt;font color=red&gt;INTV:&lt;/font&gt; One B-D's secret for recruiting top-producing advisers
BROKER DEALERS FEB 18, 2011
&lt;font color=red&gt;INTV:&lt;/font&gt; One B-D's secret for recruiting top-producing advisers

Among the largest independent broker-dealers, Commonwealth Financial Network has the highest concentration of financial advisers who produce more than $500,000 annually, according to InvestmentNews <a href=http://www.investmentnews.com/section/broker-dealer-data>data. And it's reached the top by getting people out the door: Namely, its advisers.

By Mark Bruno
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION FEB 18, 2011
B-D seeks to combine 36 legal claims

A cash strapped independent broker-dealer that sold $65.3 million in high-risk oil and gas private placements is seeking to combine 36 separate arbitration claims and lawsuits as part of a class action settlement

By Bruce Kelly
Will insurers ape Aviva and peel back benefits on fixed annuities?
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 18, 2011
Will insurers ape Aviva and peel back benefits on fixed annuities?

Carrier rejiggers pricing and products due to low interest rates; 'small window' for rivals

By Darla Mercado
Warren Buffett: The worst stock I 'ever bought'
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 18, 2011
Warren Buffett: The worst stock I 'ever bought'

Warren Buffett, who amassed the world's third-biggest personal fortune through decades of stock picks and takeovers, told CNBC his worst investment was the textile mill that gave its name to Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

By Bloomberg
Why Edward Jones could add 2,400 new reps this year
BROKER DEALERS FEB 17, 2011
Why Edward Jones could add 2,400 new reps this year

Brokerage firm Edward Jones this week announced that it plans to add up to 20 branch offices to the more than 60 it has in the state of Utah.

By Andrew Osterland
Obama takes tax whack at insurers
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 17, 2011
Obama takes tax whack at insurers

President's budget would end break on corporate-owned insurance; dividends-received reduction also targeted

By Darla Mercado
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 &#8212; and criticized as a half-step toward giving investors the option of litigation.

By Dan Jamieson
RIAS FEB 17, 2011
Prudential's pared-down VA has some advisers grumbling

Prudential once again has pulled back on the living benefits in one of its most popular variable annuities

By Darla Mercado
RIAS FEB 17, 2011
Other VA players may follow Genworth out door

Genworth Financial Inc.'s decision to leave the variable annuities business could herald more departures by other peripheral players this year.

By Darla Mercado
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
Fidelity VA slow to catch on with fee-based advisers
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 17, 2011
Fidelity VA slow to catch on with fee-based advisers

Group still 'kicking the tires' on MetLife annuity; offering is popular with firm's reps, however

By Darla Mercado
RIAS FEB 17, 2011
LPL expanding menu of fee-based VAs

LPL Financial soon will unveil to its representatives an expanded menu of fee-based VAs &#8212; a product that has proved unpopular among brokers so far.

By Darla Mercado