Regulation and Compliance News from Financial Planning

Financial planners who joined the Transparent Advisor Movement's first "Flat Fridays" meetup touched on the difficulty of explaining the industry to consumers.

The Securities and Exchange Commission rescinded a policy Monday requiring defendants in settled enforcement actions not to publicly deny the SEC's allegations.

Oppenheimer said it had calculated its potential liability in its cash sweeps lawsuit at more than $440 million. Rather than face a jury, it's settling the class action lawsuit.

A series of settlements and arbitration awards since late 2022 require Stifel to pay hundreds of millions over recommendations made by its former broker Chuck Roberts.

NASAA's proposal would align state laws with the SEC's marketing rule, eliminating concerns advisors have about running afoul of more local laws as they accept testimonials and reviews.

A lawyer representing a former UBS investor said he proved to FINRA arbitrators that his client would have been much better off simply putting her money into the stock market.

A new study from the Center for Retirement Research suggests there is a large gap in economic outlook between financial advisors and mass affluent investors.

Thirty advisors recruited by LPL Financial from Ameriprise had objected to a court order that they turn over their cell phones, computers and other devices to be searched by a third-party forensic examiner.

A GAO report suggests that blanket rules on spousal consent for 401(k) withdrawals could solve "financial infidelity problems — and exacerbate them.

The proposal is part of what SEC Chairman Paul Atkins calls his "Make IPOs Great Again" agenda.

With about 41 million American workers lacking access to a retirement plan through their jobs, experts say advisors could play a pivotal role.

As judges have shown in other recent cases involving UBS and Stifel, firms have a high bar to clear if they want an arbitration award vacated.

The Trump administration's push for alternative investments in 401(k)s steamrolls ERISA law, argues Knut Rostad.

A federal judge finds that the embattled brokerage Alpine Securities' argument that FINRA should answer to the federal executive branch amounts to " wishful thinking" that "collapses under the weight of spiraling aspiration."

The firms' collaboration shines a light on how the wealth management business works today and how it is evolving, as advisors weigh independence against the risks of "poking the bear" when they leave.

Court decisions vacated the Biden administration's DOL rule — but that didn't make rollover rules easy, experts say. Firms that get compliance right will have an edge in tapping a trillion-dollar-plus market.

New research from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute shows pessimism about retirement preparedness is on the rise — that could open doors for advisors.

A California man's complaint alleges that Morgan Stanley's website enabled tracking tech from Google and Microsoft to collect web visitors' browsing data for targeted online ads.

A three-judge panel on the Fourth Circuit Appeals agrees with Merrill that its deferred compensation policies are a bonus used to reward brokers for loyalty to the firm.

For advisors like Chris Diodato of WELLth Financial Planning, everything from insurance to industry software is costing more these days.