Compliance

Asset management industry critics of the Department of Labor's fiduciary initiative issued a torrent of comments blasting the proposed regulation as costly, unworkable and harmful to low- and middle-income investors.

A New York-based hedge fund manager traveled to Tehran to do scouting work. During a 10-day trip, he liked much of what he saw.

Advisors' use of social media is on the rise. Here's how you can be both social and compliant.

For the third time in the past year, the wirehouse discharged a long-time advisor with a big book of business, this time alleging "inappropriate workplace behavior."

The firm reported solid growth and record advisor productivity in its wealth management business.

Though the industry reaped 34% profit margins and global AUM rose 10.5% to $67 trillion in 2014, revenues rose only 6.3% to $319 billion, while fees dropped an average 40 basis points.

Critics charge that the fiduciary proposal will be a death knell for the brokerage model in the retirement space, leaving low- and middle-income investors without advice.

While most people in the retirement industry agree that the Department of Labor has its heart in the right place in wanting to protect individuals from conflicts of interest, many don’t believe the agency has gone about its rule-making in the right way.

Digital-first firms gravitate toward a blogging website that has aired several heated industry debates, a markedly different approach from the cautious way traditional firms present themselves online.

The advisor agreed to a lifetime bar from the industry after a hacker who impersonated a client persuaded him to illegally transfer $160,000 of client funds.

Holding special events and activities for clients can strengthen relationships with wealthy individuals in your business, as long as advisors keep within compliance.

The Obama administration on Tuesday finalized new regulations designed to crack down on high-cost loans to members of the military.

The SEC, not the Department of Labor, should "be driving this train," says SIFMA CEO Ken Bentsen.

An SEC compliance official says it's not a good idea for firms to "go in and very narrowly answer the questions, [not] volunteer anything, particularly if you're not trying to keep something from our attention."

A new study breaks down the compliance challenges advisors are most worried about and what they're doing about it.

A senior Labor Department official says his team is amenable to tweaks in the proposed rules so long as the fiduciary relationship is formalized with the client.

Regulators say that as threats continue to mount, they are expecting more formal policies and procedures from the firms they examine.

Even as a first step for clients seeking information on advisors, BrokerCheck is under scrutiny by advocacy groups.

Regulators have cracked down on LPL advisors in Massachusetts for using terms like "Retirement Specialist" and "Retirement Income Planning Specialist" -- while its planners use them elsewhere.

Head of industry group lobbying against the Labor Department's proposal is hopeful that the final regulation will address compliance objections and expand permissible transactions.