Charles R. Schwab last week called the fundamental indexes underlying his company’s three newest mutual funds “a better mousetrap,” but The Vanguard Group Inc. and Barclays Global Investors smell a rat.
Many Americans are paying high fees in their 401(k) plans for insurance they don’t need, and their employers often are unaware, some observers say.
As reported here last week, a federal appeals court has struck down the Securities and Exchange Commission’s broker-dealer exemption, stating that the commission lacks the authority to grant brokers broad exceptions to rules that apply to investment advisers.
NEW YORK — Raymond James & Associates Inc. recruited 36 registered representatives during the first quarter, compared with the 43 reps hired during the year-earlier period.
The securities industry is coming to grips with the defeat of the broker-dealer exemption rule.
All eyes are on the Securities and Exchange Commission now that a federal appeals court has overturned its controversial broker-dealer exemption rule.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Friday overturned the Securities and Exchange Commission’s broker-dealer exemption rule in a 2-1 decision.
A federal judge last week ordered NASD and the New York Stock Exchange to supply an initial batch of documents to a broker-dealer that sued to stop the proposed merger of the organizations’ regulatory units.
NASD will put increasing emphasis on “principles based” regulation rather than “one size fits all” rulemaking, even as it concedes that such a move could confuse many in the brokerage industry.
In an effort to connect better with customers, financial services companies of all stripes are spending more on information technology, according to one analyst.
SAN FRANCISCO — The days when registered investment advisers could remain as cloistered and mysterious to outsiders as a John Grisham-style law firm may be drawing to a close.
LOS ANGELES — Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox is on a mission to wipe out the legalese in corporate-disclosure documents.
The financial planning world has been focusing too heavily on the act of accumulating assets, according to an academic speaking at the InvestmentNews Retirement Summit in New York this afternoon.
Initial reactions to the proposed changes to the ethical standards for certified financial planners have been favorable, but the other shoe could drop this week.
Seizing an opportunity to exploit the perceived integration problems of Advent Software Inc.’s offerings to financial advisers, 19 technology companies have formed YourSilverBullet.net.
IRVINE, Calif. — The Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed that firms beef up their disclosure of cash sweep policies. The proposal, part of a little-noticed package of rules floated by the SEC this month, would require broker-dealers to provide a quarterly notice to customers telling them that they can opt out of a default sweep option and choose another vehicle for their cash.
NEW YORK — National Financial Partners Corp. will continue to pour money into acquisitions this year. At a recent conference for analysts and investors, company officials disclosed that they have earmarked $20 million to spend on acquisitions this year, a $5 million increase over 2006’s allocation.
