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Industry veterans put short-squeeze bedlam in perspective
INDUSTRY NEWS JAN 28, 2021
Industry veterans put short-squeeze bedlam in perspective

The so-called short squeeze that drives up share prices by forcing investors betting on a stock to go down to buy more of it to hedge potential losses is not new to the 2020s, but it is easier to execute.

By Jeff Benjamin
Fiduciary advocates urge SEC to rename Reg BI, eliminate broker conflicts
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION JAN 28, 2021
Fiduciary advocates urge SEC to rename Reg BI, eliminate broker conflicts

In addition changing Reg BI's nomenclature, the Institute for the Fiduciary Standard called for eliminating some broker conflicts of interest, such as compensation incentives for product sales, revising the disclosure Form CRS and clarifying that investment advisers must avoid conflicts of interest rather than just disclosing them.

By Mark Schoeff Jr.
Atria acquires another indie B-D, SCF Securities
INDUSTRY NEWS JAN 28, 2021
Atria acquires another indie B-D, SCF Securities

Fresno, California-based SCF has 150 affiliated reps; once the deal closes, Atria will have more than 2,500 reps and nearly $95 billion in assets.

By InvestmentNews
OneDigital acquires benefits consultant and adviser
RETIREMENT PLANNING JAN 28, 2021
OneDigital acquires benefits consultant and adviser

The deal for Florida-based Fulcrum Partners will expand the footprint of the giant insurance broker’s registered investment adviser.

By InvestmentNews
MassMutual to buy Great American Life Insurance
RETIREMENT PLANNING JAN 28, 2021
MassMutual to buy Great American Life Insurance

The deal will reinforce MassMutual’s focus on its retail annuities business. Last year, the company sold its defined-contribution record-keeping business to Empower Retirement via a reinsurance transaction with a ceding commission of $2.35 billion.

By Emile Hallez
Finra bars former Merrill Lynch rep
WIREHOUSES JAN 28, 2021
Finra bars former Merrill Lynch rep

Atlanta-based broker Tyler Delahunt had been discharged by the wirehouse over alleged outside investments.

By InvestmentNews
Jackson National to be spun off by UK insurer Prudential
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES JAN 28, 2021
Jackson National to be spun off by UK insurer Prudential

An initial public offering of a stake in Jackson, one of the biggest annuities providers in the U.S., will be held in the first half of 2021, according to a Prudential statement.

By Bloomberg
Gensler poised to confront stock market hit by historic mania
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION JAN 28, 2021
Gensler poised to confront stock market hit by historic mania

As President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission, he will be faced with a run-up in share prices with few parallels.

By Bloomberg
Wells Fargo bans advisers from recommending GameStop, AMC
WIREHOUSES JAN 28, 2021
Wells Fargo bans advisers from recommending GameStop, AMC

Clients can still call their advisers to initiate trades in those stocks, a bank spokesperson said. Both companies' shares have surged amid a push from retail traders.

By Bloomberg
How social media fueled the GameStop stock surge
FINTECH JAN 27, 2021
How social media fueled the GameStop stock surge

The market frenzy was spurred by social media posts from prominent CEOs and internet influencers. The tweets and threads created internet mayhem and ultimately pushed the video game retail business to a $24 billion market cap.

By Nicole Casperson
The latest in financial #AdviserTech — January 2021
FINTECH JAN 27, 2021
The latest in financial #AdviserTech — January 2021

The big news, announcements and underlying trends emerging in the world of technology solutions for financial advisers!

By Michael Kitces
Experts anticipate SEC probe of GameStop trading fluctuations
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION JAN 27, 2021
Experts anticipate SEC probe of GameStop trading fluctuations

The agency is likely parsing the activity to see if there’s deliberate manipulation or collateral effects more broadly on stock prices. Shares of the video game and consumer electronics retailer soared 93% on Tuesday and are up more than eightfold for the month.

By Mark Schoeff Jr.
Brokerage platforms falter during GameStop surge
FINTECH JAN 27, 2021
Brokerage platforms falter during GameStop surge

The brokers with outages or problems include the most prominent names in the discount and online brokerage industry, including Fidelity, the Charles Schwab Corp., TD Ameritrade, ETrade Financial Corp. and Robinhood.

By Bruce Kelly
Carson Group acquires $200 million firm
INDUSTRY NEWS JAN 27, 2021
Carson Group acquires $200 million firm

Doylestown-based Strategic Wealth Partners is Carson's first foray into Pennsylvania.

By InvestmentNews
Advisers ponder systemic risks to markets as GameStop stock spins out of control
FINTECH JAN 27, 2021
Advisers ponder systemic risks to markets as GameStop stock spins out of control

A social media platform and ready access to mobile trading apps have helped push an otherwise obscure, money-losing videogame retail business to a $21 billion market cap.

By Jeff Benjamin
It's not just GameStop – trading frenzy spreads to many other shorted stocks
ALTERNATIVES JAN 27, 2021
It's not just GameStop – trading frenzy spreads to many other shorted stocks

Since the GameStop stock options frenzy that quietly began early this month and exploded over the past week, some traders have followed by investing in other shorted stocks, with prices surging far past the returns seen in the indexes that include them.

By Emile Hallez
Delaying RMDs would have minimal tax impact, study finds
RETIREMENT PLANNING JAN 27, 2021
Delaying RMDs would have minimal tax impact, study finds

TIAA Institute research paper finds that even eliminating RMDs would have little effect on government revenues and says the effect on retirees depends on whether they have a bequest motive.

By InvestmentNews
Labor rule on ESG already trimming fund options for retirement plans
RETIREMENT PLANNING JAN 27, 2021
Labor rule on ESG already trimming fund options for retirement plans

Some retirement plan advisers have cut green investing options from 401(k) plans following Trump's last-minute rule change.

By Bloomberg
GameStop whipsaws as short sellers capitulate
INDUSTRY NEWS JAN 27, 2021
GameStop whipsaws as short sellers capitulate

The stock has gyrated wildly since Tuesday’s 93% surge, a move that meant GameStop has risen more than eightfold this month in a dizzying rally fueled by Reddit-charged day traders.

By Bloomberg
When eligibility for retirement and disability benefits overlaps
TAX JAN 26, 2021
When eligibility for retirement and disability benefits overlaps

A new report from the Social Security Administration provides a road map for maximizing benefits for individuals who qualify for both programs.

By Mary Beth Franklin