Practice

In a move expected to draw the ire of some advisors, House Financial Services Committee Chairman Spencer Bachus (R-Ala) introduced legislation in the house Wednesday that could clear the way for FINRA to become the self-regulatory organization for retail investment advisors.

Ignore the rhetoric from both sides on the issue. The odds that the business lending bill will be enacted this year are significantly slimmer than they were just last week.

RBC Wealth Management, a division of the Royal Bank of Canada , said on Tuesday it hired four veteran Morgan Stanley Smith Barney brokers in Texas, including a top Morgan Stanley bond salesman.

Six teams officially joined HighTower in the first quarter, all transitioning from wirehouse firms, while an undisclosed number of others are now in the transition process. In 2011, a total of nine teams transitioned to HighTower.

“SIFMA’s views are not supportable and would make a mockery of the fiduciary standard,” according to The Institute for the Fiduciary Standard in a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The regulator cited the Egan-Jones Ratings Company and its president Sean Egan for “material misrepresentations and omissions” in its 2008 application to become a national ratings agency.

If you want to ace your examinations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, remember these three phrases: fund governance, fraudulent activities and performance and advertising.

On April 24, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company promoted Sri Dronamraju and Scott Palmer to the role of senior vice president.

Ameriprise Financial has bolstered its adviser base in Florida and Indiana with two veteran advisers from Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and Fifth Third Securities.

Legacy expert attorneys Andy and Danielle Mayoras say your clients have names and reputations that will live on after they’re gone. The estate planning guidance you provide them now will ensure their legacy and wishes are protected for generations to come.