Fiduciary Rule

About 75% of what's in the proposal will probably stick, says a leading retirement expert. Here's what advisors can expect.

Why the compensation model for variable annuities may need to change because of the Labor Department's fiduciary proposal; plus, the pros and cons of 401(k) loans and six critical moves for a carefree retirement.

Pooled employer plans and auto-enrollment gain Senate support, but advisors working with those plans could soon be held to a higher fiduciary standard.

Telling clients what it means to be a fiduciary is vital, but it shouldn’t come across canned and wordy.

The proposal landed at the White House's Office of Budget and Management yesterday for one last review.

Depending on what is permissible under the Labor Department's forthcoming rule, "there will have to be adjustments on the part of the advisor and on the part of the firm," CEO Jim Cracchiolo says.

The Obama administration wants to ensure its plans can withstand congressional opposition before the president leaves office, experts say.

SEC Chairwoman Mary Jo White says they are working on a fiduciary rule, but declined to provide a timeline, saying it's "not a short, quick uncomplicated rule making."

Banks are working quietly behind the scenes to determine whether they should take the exemption that will allow them to charge commissions on retirement business.

Why some analysts say the proposed fiduciary standard could mean fewer and more costly investment choices for clients; Plus, five money milestones for clients to hit in their 40s.

Head of industry group lobbying against the Labor Department's proposal is hopeful that the final regulation will address compliance objections and expand permissible transactions.

Labor Secretary tells skeptical lawmakers fiduciary proposal is a needed investor protection, as industry representatives contend rules would force them out of retirement segment.

Industry leaders believe the plan isn't ready.

Public hearings begin on Aug. 10 and comments may stretch beyond four months.

Advocates are calling on the head of the SEC to move forward with a uniform fiduciary proposal, even if that means pushing the rules through a divided commission split along party lines.

The SEC is weighing a requirement that brokers tell investors exactly where their stock trades go to be executed, a proposal that may address complaints that the decisions are sometimes made against the client’s best interests.

A measure that would put the brakes on the Department of Labor's proposal to establish a fiduciary standard for advisors to retirement plans was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives in a largely party-line vote on Tuesday.

As regulators continue their work implementing the numerous provisions of the Dodd-Frank financial reform act, a leading Wall Street trade group is hoping that 2013 will see movement on the controversial effort to implement a uniform fiduciary duty for investment advisors and broker-dealers when providing personalized advice to retail clients.

Leaders of the Financial Services Institute expressed cautious optimism about their efforts to dilute or derail an initiative under way at the Department of Labor to broaden the scope of the term "fiduciary," a top policy priority for the advocacy organization.