Practice

If regulators can't tell the cultural differences between wirehouses and independent RIAs, Bob Veres has put together a few survey questions they can use.

Investigators will remain focused on RIAs, the commission's enforcement chief told lawmakers in his appeal for funds to add staffers.

Nicholas Kramer, an ex-Wells Fargo advisor, and Louis James Deeley, a former J.P. Morgan registered rep, were kicked out of the industry for alleged financial wrongdoing.

I don't want to be a distraction, I don't want to be irrelevant -- and I don't want to be wrong. Perhaps you shouldn't be making predictions either?

This week's notable news from the asset management industry includes a recent SEC roundtable meeting where some participants discussed the potential "unintended consequences" of universal proxy ballots, global ETP flows in February reached a record $50 billion, the fastest start to any year on record, and leadership at Vanguard were tasked with new roles within the firm.

F-Squared Investments, which last year admitted to misleading investors about its performance, has eliminated about 25% of its staff, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

The IRS is reminding taxpayers who turned 70-1/2 during 2014 that they most likely need to start taking required minimum distributions from their IRAs and other retirement plans by April 1.

A tax-efficient strategy to best index funds; Plus, six reasons why investing in a taxable account is underrated, and how to capitalize on capital gains tax rules.

Clients who turned 70 1/2 last year need to take their first required minimum distribution by April 1 or face a tax of 50%; Plus, reducing fees is the best way to boost investment returns.

A FINRA arbitration panel also orders the expungement of the advisor's termination records.