RIAs

As fiduciary debate heats up, Garrett takes advantage of presidential spotlight to tell advisors to sign a fiduciary pledge.

Online competitors like Wealthfront and Betterment are taking issue with Schwab's characterization of its automated investment service as cheaper, better and not just skewed to millennial investors.

The divide within the financial industry creates confusion that ultimately puts the financial security of everyday consumers at risk, write NAPFA execs Dave O'Brien and Geoffrey Brown.

Yes and no, experts say. But it's a thorny issue given that many IBD advisors consider themselves fiduciaries and do most of their business through RIAs.

The review is likely to start with broker-dealers and their platforms; It will coincide with a second, more targeted phase of the commission's cybersecurity sweep.

The SEC acknowledges that cybersecurity requirements vary from one practice to the next, but insists that the tone from the top is critical.

Getting to intimately know the business and culture of CapGroup Advisors was key to this week's merger, says Michael Nathanson, chairman and chief executive of Colony Group.

"I live in fear, quite honestly, of FINRA assuming the responsibility of examining investment advisors," a former SEC attorney told advisors at the Investment Adviser Association regulatory and compliance conference.

Advisors who can bring in and work with clients, wealth strategists with tax and accounting expertise and successor CEOs are in greatest demand.

Raymond James & Associates tapped a former Morgan Stanley exec and RIA co-founder as regional director.