Financial regulations

One expert suggests the SEC could develop a new system to evaluate firms' conflicts, assigning scores similar to those from Consumer Reports.

Medium-sized RIAs have few options, but the SEC’s examination priority list makes this a hot topic.

Dec. 11: Asset management experts say these topics will be key drivers in 2018.

Investors would be required to sell the shares they purchase first, which often is the lot that has the most gains and thus generates the bigger tax hit.

Analysts are worried that flows to passive funds may create lockstep moves between shares, distorting the market.

Some fund managers specializing in distressed debt smell an opportunity.

Most of the barriers protecting wealth management from tech competitors have been chipped away, executives say.

Chairman Jay Clayton and top SEC brass are putting advisors on notice. The regulator is drilling down on investor protections, while warning firms on cybersecurity and AML compliance.

"Data analytics is critical," says FINRA's chief risk officer.

Smaller and midsized firms typically have fewer resources, limiting the time available to complete annual examinations of their policies and procedures.