Legal & Compliance

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  FINRA: BDs Have a Failure to Communicate on Nontraded REITs

  By Melanie Waddell, AdvisorOne  |  May 6, 2013

  FINRA warned broker-dealers Friday that they were failing to properly communicate to investors the potential pitfalls of nontraded REITs.

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  How to Take the 'Gamble' Out of Retirement Planning

  By Ronald Delegge, ETFguide.com  |  May 6, 2013

  The financial-services industry has plenty of reasons to look at 12(b)-1 fees--especially when it comes to the need for client-friendly arrangements.

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  CFP Board’s CE Plan Rattles FPA Retreat Attendees

  By John Sullivan, AdvisorOne  |  May 5, 2013

  The CFP Board, which is currently tasked with setting the standards and regulating CFP CE providers, would become a provider itself if the plan were approved.

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  How to Protect Clients From Strippers and Cabana Boys

  By John Sullivan, AdvisorOne  |  May 4, 2013

  Speaking at FPA Retreat 2013, attorneys Basel and Grace Jamra focuses on advisors' role in client pre-nups and post-nups in a divorce-happy age.

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  SEC’s White: Money-Market Fund Reforms Coming in ‘Near Future’

  By Melanie Waddell, AdvisorOne  |  May 3, 2013

  But SEC Chairwoman Mary Jo White remained tight-lipped on the specifics of those changes.

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  SEC, FINRA Enforcement Roundup: City in California Charged With Fraud

  By Marlene Y. Satter, AdvisorOne  |  May 2, 2013

  Among recent enforcement actions, the SEC went after the city of Victorville, Calif., for defrauding municipal bond investors. In addition, FINRA took action against John Thomas Financial for intimidation of its own staff.

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  SEC Exam Chief Di Florio Jumps to FINRA Post

  By Melanie Waddell, AdvisorOne  |  May 2, 2013

  In a surprising move, Carlo di Florio will leave the agency and become an executive vice president of FINRA.

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  Trust Co. of America Aligns With RIA in a Box to Help Breakaway Brokers

  By Melanie Waddell, AdvisorOne  |  May 1, 2013

  The alliance will help breakaway brokers in Trust Co.’s Advisor Pathways program decide whether they want go independent, join an existing RIA firm, or sell their practice and exit the market.

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  Offshore Tax Evaders Taking Big Risk, Former IRS Attorney Says

  By Gil Weinreich, AdvisorOne  |  April 30, 2013

  Many taxpayers, in an effort to avoid onerous penalties and back taxes, are not joining the IRS’ tax amnesty programs, instead making "quiet disclosures" that could backfire, a former IRS attorney says.

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  Sen. Franken Urges SEC to Ban ‘Unfair’ Arbitration Agreements

  By Melanie Waddell, AdvisorOne  |  April 30, 2013

  Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., told SEC Chairwoman Mary Jo White in a Tuesday letter to act now to prevent Wall Street brokerage firms from forcing investors into “unfair” arbitration agreements.