The firm, which did business as Avatar, moved clients into newly created, higher-priced mutual funds without disclosing it.
Louis Martin Blazer III took about $2.35 million from five clients to invest in movie projects in Ponzi-like fashion.
The wirehouse advisers create independent wealth management firm We Are One Seven in Cleveland
Customizing portfolios introduces human frailty and failure.
The hybrid RIA firm collects both commissions and fees for advice provided to union workers and their families.
Sound Financial has $260 million in brokerage and advisory assets
They hold twice as much cash as boomers and only 29% are happy with their portfolios
The financial industry generally has not barked about the final fiduciary rule, but that doesn't mean that it won't eventually bite.
Benchmarking is how advisers become better at interpreting their firms' financials, helping to project future success.
U.K., Australia both passed fiduciary rules, though their versions weren't limited to retirement advice. How have they fared, and what can U.S. advisers learn from them? </br><b><i>(More: <a href="//www.investmentnews.com/section/fiduciary-focus"" target=""_blank"" rel="noopener noreferrer">Coverage of the DOL fiduciary rule from every angle</a>)</b></i>
Three GOP senators co-sponsor a resolution to kill the regulation, though it's seen as symbolic, as President Obama would surely veto the measure if it passed.
A professor formed an initiative to define the term and help advisers understand the DOL's fiduciary rule.
Firm owners attempt to balance rewarding adviser performance with keeping a lid on compensation. </br><b><i>(More: <a href="//www.investmentnews.com/section/specialreport/20151018/COMPSTAFF"" target=""_blank"" rel="noopener noreferrer">IN's 2015 Adviser Compensation and Staffing Study special report</a>)</b></i>
They will need to marginally modify their policies and procedures, adjust client agreements and other documents, as well as provide additional client disclosures.
The deal increases Merriman's assets to about $2 billion based on SEC documents filed last month.
The investment advisory firm is the third RIA to join the wealth management group this year.
Fee transparency can help boost retention and open pathways to increased referrals.
Robo-advisers might have more reasons to be worried about the next bear market than investors do.
The Labor Department will unveil a final version of the so-called fiduciary rule next Wednesday, according to a published report.
