Dale Brown, Financial Services Institute

About the Author

Dale Brown, Financial Services Institute

Dale Brown is the president and CEO of the Financial Services Institute (FSI), an advocacy organization for independent broker-dealers and independent financial advisors. Established in January 2004, FSI has over 120 broker-dealer members and over 35,000 financial advisor members.

Dale brings over 20 years of association management experience to FSI, most recently as the associate executive director of FPA. For IAFP, one of FPA’s predecessor organizations, he led the government relations program and the broker-dealer program, which grew to more than 130 member firms by the time FPA was created in January 2000. Dale also led the successful fight in the mid-1990s against the IRS’s attempts to force broker-dealers to reclassify independent contractor representatives as statutory employees. In both IAFP and FPA, Dale played a critical role in the senior management team and brings broad leadership experience to FSI in his role as founding president & CEO.

FSI’s mission is to create a healthier regulatory environment for independent broker-dealers and their affiliated independent financial advisors through aggressive and effective advocacy, education, and public awareness. For more information, visit financialservices.org.

• A Battle Won Over Independent Contractor Status, but War Persists

  By Dale Brown, Financial Services Institute  |  February 19, 2013

  In the continuing struggle to retain independent contractor status for IBD advisors on both the state and federal level, broker-dealers have a key ally in FSI. The Waddell & Reed lawsuit is a case in point.

• Advisors May Still Lose Right to Earn Commissions on IRA Advice

  By Dale Brown, Financial Services Institute  |  January 15, 2013

  The Department of Labor will likely issue a reworked version of its fiduciary proposal in late Q1 or early Q2, and concerns about its potential impact remain very real.

• 4 Common-Sense Requests for Congress From the FSI

  By Dale Brown, Financial Services Institute  |  November 30, 2012

  No more kicking the can down the road. The lame-duck Congress can and should avoid going over the fiscal cliff by acting on these four modest proposals.

• A Securities Transaction Tax Will Hurt Advisors and Clients

  By Dale Brown, Financial Services Institute  |  October 4, 2012

  Yes, limiting market volatility and increasing government revenue are worthy goals, but legislation imposing a securities transaction tax is the wrong way to reach those goals.

• Yes We Will!: FSI’s Growth and Advocacy Success

  By Dale Brown, Financial Services Institute  |  September 26, 2012

  In an open letter to FSI members from Dale Brown, how the Financial Services Institute has made progress in 2012, and will see more success in 2013, with its members’ continued engagement.

• FSI Advisors Weigh In on Presidential Race, Economy & More

  By Dale Brown, Financial Services Institute  |  August 15, 2012

  Financial advisors in an FSI member poll show a decided preference for Romney, predict a flat economy and suggest a continued move toward fees.

• FSI to FINRA: This Is the Wrong Time for Higher Fees

  By Dale Brown, Financial Services Institute  |  July 26, 2012

  Part of FSI’s engagement with FINRA is to let them know when they have gone too far. That is clearly the case with the substantial fee increases the organization has proposed for broker-dealers and financial advisors, increases that would hit small firms the hardest.

• Why a Floating NAV for Money Market Funds Is a Bad Idea

  By Dale Brown, Financial Services Institute  |  July 3, 2012

  SEC Chairman Schapiro’s suggestion would drive up the cost of investing and doing business by imposing new record-keeping and tax reporting requirements.

• In FSI Testimony Before Congress on SRO, a Call for a Level Regulatory Field

  By Dale Brown, Financial Services Institute  |  June 6, 2012

  In voicing support for HR 4624, FSI believes an advisor SRO will close an unacceptable regulatory gap that leaves investors exposed to potential fraud and abuse at the hands of unscrupulous investment advisors.

• The Most Effective and Cost-Efficient SRO for Advisors? FINRA

  By Dale Brown, Financial Services Institute  |  May 9, 2012

  Fragmented oversight constitutes a serious risk for the Main Street investor; the established SRO is the best way to ameliorate that risk.