Legal & Compliance

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  Without Fiduciary Rule Collaboration, Cost-Benefit Analysis ‘Worthless’

  By Melanie Waddell  |  April 29, 2013

  Comments have been flooding into the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the agency’s March 1 request for input on the costs and benefits of putting brokers under a fiduciary mandate.

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  FPA Makes Two Big Pushes in Washington

  By Melanie Waddell, AdvisorOne  |  April 26, 2013

  The FPA is “well under way” in putting its advocacy infrastructure in place, FPA President Michael Branham told AdvisorOne in an interview Thursday.

• SEC Acts to Halt JOBS Act Scam

  By Melanie Waddell, AdvisorOne  |  April 25, 2013

  The SEC on Thursday announced fraud charges against a Spokane Valley, Wash., company and its owner for misleading investors with claims it was raising billions in investment capital under the JOBS Act—before the law's rules are even finished.

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  SEC Enforcement Roundup: Ralph Lauren Corp. Admits to Bribing Argentine Officials

  By Marlene Y. Satter, AdvisorOne  |  April 25, 2013

  Recent actions include a nonprosecution agreement with Ralph Lauren Corp. in a bribery case and the halting of an immigration scheme.

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  Too-Big-to-Fail Bill DOA: Commentators

  By Melanie Waddell, AdvisorOne  |  April 24, 2013

  Washington Analysis says the “headlines, hearings and speeches” around the measure will amount to “mere noise,” while SIFMA says the bill would dampen business lending.

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  FINRA Pulls Plug on BrokerCheck Social Media Plan

  By Melanie Waddell, AdvisorOne  |  April 24, 2013

  After complaints, FINRA on Wednesday withdrew its proposed requirement that advisory firms include a reference and a link to BrokerCheck on their websites.

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  Raymond James Upbeat on Regulation

  By Janet Levaux, AdvisorOne  |  April 23, 2013

  Private Client Group CEO Chet Helck says much work lies ahead for advisors and the industry groups representing their interests on Capitol Hill.

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  Obama’s Associate Counsel Small Named SEC General Counsel

  By Melanie Waddell, AdvisorOne  |  April 23, 2013

  The SEC announced Tuesday that Anne Small, President Obama’s special assistant and associate counsel, has been named general counsel of the agency.

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  Online Sales Tax Bill Seen as Rife With Unintended Consequences

  By Melanie Waddell, AdvisorOne  |  April 23, 2013

  Lawmakers and officials from the retirement planning and securities industries are coming out against an online financial transaction tax bill that they say would hurt retirement savers, small businesses and investors.

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  The CFPB Warning on Senior Designations: Off the Mark

  By Bob Clark, AdvisorOne  |  April 23, 2013

  Is cracking the whip on deceptive seminars for seniors really the most important issue a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau should be pursuing?