Practice

WASHINGTON - UBS Financial Services, Inc has agreed to pay $160 million to settle securities fraud and other charges with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Internal Revenue Service and 25 state attorneys general over alleged fraudulent bidding practices and kickbacks involving muni investment and financial contracts.

Advisers want technology that will give them a comprehensive view of a household’s assets so that they can rebalance and deliver goals-based guidance more effectively. On Thursday, Fiserv, Inc., of Brookfield, Wis., announced a plan to deliver such a solution.

As trusted and respected advisors, clients often look to us for guidance. Successfully handling those situations where there is no financial solution requires us to recognize two things: First, our role changes, and second, a different skill set is required to preserve and strengthen the client relationship.

The head of the American Bankers Association on Tuesday quickly reneged on his endorsement of Elizabeth Warren as director for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

We have heard of firms winning employee loyalty by paying them more, but never—until we spoke to the principal at Colorado West Investments—by paying them less. At the Montrose, Colo.-based wealth management firm, that is what Kevin Sanderford ended up doing to rationalize the firm’s compensation plan. After the awful downturn in 2008, Sanderford had to lower compensation for his practice manager, who also had a series 7 license. She was not drawing a huge salary—indeed,…

The timing of such a nomination could not be better for the president, who is now flush with political capital after the death of Osama bin Laden.

Banks continued to ease lending standards over the first quarter due in part to increased competition and a less uncertain economic outlook, a Fed survey found Monday.

The Securities and Exchange Commission will revisit 12b-1 fees in July, potentially putting a cap of 25 basis points on them and renaming them to clearly indicate their use for marketing purposes, said SEC Commissioner Elisse Walter.

Emotions are mixed near the site of Sept. 11.

Baird announced on Monday that it added a team of four to its Portland, Oregon wealth management office.