Fiduciary Rule

As the financial planning industry nears a fee-only, fiduciary world, independent broker-dealers will face some important choices about their future business models.

IBDs and regional firms are making the biggest changes, but RIAs have room for growth as well.

Instead of harmonizing standards of client care across the industry, it may be better to re-differentiate them in light of the fiduciary rule's recent court loss.

After a federal appeals court strikes down the fiduciary rule, a legal path forward seems uncertain, but the regulation has already made its mark.

Merrill Lynch, UBS and others made considerable alterations to policies and procedures in order to be compliant with the Labor Department regulation.

Even after a federal appeals court struck down the rule, more clashes over the regulation of sales versus advice are inevitable.

Seniors should consider designating joint agents, reviewing the security features on their financial accounts, and having their names removed from credit card solicitations.

Industry insiders see the agency proceeding with its rule to harmonize standards for brokers and advisors.

The Department of Labor has an incentive to defend its rule-making authority even though it is considering revisions to the regulation.

A federal court has struck down the rule and the industry’s top online advice executives are speaking out.