Regulation

The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged RS Investment Management, CEO Randall Hecht and Steven Cohen, former chief financial officer, with allowing certain mutual fund investors to market time the firm's funds. These investors profited from the trades, potentially at the expense of other shareholders, and RSIM was able to earn "substantial advisory fees."

In a year filled with securities industry scandals and settlements, the Securities and Exchange Commission has uncovered a new source of potential conflicts of interest. It could be yet another reason to expand the already overwhelming number of disclosures required of investment advisors and broker/dealers.

Having watched a number of mutual fund companies mishandle inquiries from securities regulators for the past 12 months, fund-tracking firm Morningstar knew what to do when faced with its own brush with the law.

A new bill banning the sale of a certain type of mutual fund on military bases drew unanimous support from a House panel Wednesday, as lawmakers look to protect young American troops from shady sales practices and ill-suited investment products.

The National Association of Securities Dealers has widened its inquiry into sales of 529 plans by investment advisors and brokers, more than tripling the number of firms under scrutiny to 20. The regulator began its fact-finding investigation in June of 2003 with an analysis of six large broker/dealers.

As significant federal regulation passed earlier this year begins to take effect, industry professionals are seeking greater guidance from the Securities and Exchange Commission on specific reporting mandates and examining the benefits of implementing optional requirements.

Canadian regulators announced potential enforcement proceedings against four of the largest Canadian mutual fund companies last week, as the fund industry market-timing scandal expanded north of the border.

Daniel Calugar strikes again. If there is one name you don't want in your client book of business, aside from Eddie Stern, it is Calugar's. For the second time this summer, Franklin Resources has paid for its dealing with the mysterious Las Vegas investor.

DALLAS -- Separately managed accounts, now with a combined $529 billion in assets under management, appear headed for a more stringent regulatory landscape. While the tax-efficient investment vehicles geared toward the high net worth have enjoyed tremendous growth in the last five years with little agitation from regulators, the industry sees rougher terrain ahead.

Putnam Investments on Thursday made a "groundbreaking commitment" to provide retail investors much of the same information institutional clients often demand, according to an announcement by the firm, the California State Treasurer, and pension groups CalPERS and CalSTRS.