FSI Adds 1,000 Advisor Members

In a continued push to reform regulation for advisors, five independent financial firms have joined the Financial Services Institute.

G.A. Repple & Co., in Orlando; International Assets Advisory in Orlando; Prospera Financial Services in Dallas; Western International Securities in Pasadena, Calif.; and Williams Financial Group in Dallas, have joined FSI’s ranks, adding 1,000 independent financial advisors to the ranks of the advocacy organization for independent financial services firms and independent financial advisors.

In July, FSI added more than 2,500 advisor members with the addition of NEXT Financial Group, Transamerica Financial Advisors and The Strategic Financial Alliance as first-year members.

“Numbers and grassroots engagement matter on Capitol Hill and in the states,” said Dale Brown, FSI’s president and CEO. “Regulators and lawmakers pay attention when constituents are engaged in the policy making process. So our collective voice is getting stronger and more influential. Our members are choosing to say ‘Yes We Will’ reform regulation through education and representation.”

Established in January 2004, FSI has over 100 financial services firm members and over 35,000 financial advisor members. FSI member firms have more than 180,000 advisors affiliated with them.

FSI is working with regulators to “create a more responsible regulatory environment for independent broker-dealers and their affiliated independent financial advisors through effective advocacy, education and public awareness.:

FSI's strategy includes involvement in FINRA governance, constructive engagement in the regulatory process and effective influence on the legislative process.

“Given all the dramatic changes in the industry, we believe it is crucial to have an advocate in Washington like FSI, who truly understands our segment of the market and how we differentiate ourselves from the other players,” said Harry Sze, a national sales manager for International Assets Advisory.

In addition to advocacy, FSI financial advisor members receive access to analyses of regulatory and legislative proposals; an Advocacy Action Center to easily communicate with legislators and regulators; opportunities to visit Capitol Hill and state legislatures in efforts to educate lawmakers; the twice-weekly FSI Newsbrief; and exclusive FSI publications and communications.