Practice

The SPARK Institute filed a comment letter Thursday on the Employee Benefits Security Administration’s proposed guidance on 401(k) investment advice. SPARK’s concern is Department of Labor’s attempt to define acceptable investment practices and theory, instead of leaving the decision on what type of advice to offer, be it computer- or adviser-based, to plan sponsors and administrators.

WASHINGTON—Although some of the “most profound” proposals in regulatory reform made during the wake of the economic collapse are now not likely to happen, Richard Ketchum, chairman and CEO of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority said Thursday that the financial services industry still has a responsibility to act aggressively at detecting fraud before it’s cleaning up the mess at the end.

Although some of the “most profound” proposals in regulatory reform made during the wake of the economic collapse are now not likely to happen, FINRA's Ketchum said the financial services industry has a responsibility to act aggressively at detecting fraud before it cleans up the mess at the end.

Retirement and uninsured medical expenses are the most pressing financial concerns for Americans, according to a survey conducted for the American Institute of CPAs by Harris Interactive.

Investor confidence among millionaire rose to its highest level in more than two years as optimism about the economy increased.

Most of the trades involved a single penny-stock company.

Sen. Kohl applauds DOL, SEC providing more information to employers and investors alike.

The Department of Labor announced that beginning in August, it will require asset management firms to provide further information on the risks and benefits of investing in target-date funds, including details on their glidepaths, to employers and employees.

Seven of 10 employed individuals have given up on the idea of retirement, according to the 2010 EBRI Retirement Confidence Survey.

Seven of 10 workers expect they’ll need a job in retirement; only 23% of retirees currently have jobs.