Fiduciary Rule

“The broker-dealer world has tried to hang their hat on suitability, and if you close your eyes a little and squint, they almost look like fiduciaries — but not really,” one advisor says.

If it's not uniform, and it's not a fiduciary standard, then it is at best a modest step forward, investor advocates say.

It appears the regulator bought into the investor choice argument of sales reps right from the beginning.

New rules recognize the fact that commission-based transaction services can be the most cost effective way for Main Street investors to receive financial advice.

New rules would set standards of conduct for brokers, require new disclosures and offer interpretive guidance for fiduciary advisors.

The commission's approach stands a good chance of superseding the Labor Department's fiduciary rule.

A spike in volatility and changes in U.S. tax law are some of the reasons why the firm says clients have moved their money in the quarter.

The new fee system will impact more than 800,000 customers.

A new survey finds that investors prize full and upfront disclosures about fees and conflicts of interest, but advisors fall short.

Investors brought a class-action suit against brokerage alleging a "scheme to churn revenue from essentially dead assets."

As the financial planning industry nears a fee-only, fiduciary world, independent broker-dealers will face some important choices about their future business models.

IBDs and regional firms are making the biggest changes, but RIAs have room for growth as well.

Instead of harmonizing standards of client care across the industry, it may be better to re-differentiate them in light of the fiduciary rule's recent court loss.

After a federal appeals court strikes down the fiduciary rule, a legal path forward seems uncertain, but the regulation has already made its mark.

Merrill Lynch, UBS and others made considerable alterations to policies and procedures in order to be compliant with the Labor Department regulation.

Even after a federal appeals court struck down the rule, more clashes over the regulation of sales versus advice are inevitable.

Seniors should consider designating joint agents, reviewing the security features on their financial accounts, and having their names removed from credit card solicitations.

Industry insiders see the agency proceeding with its rule to harmonize standards for brokers and advisors.

The Department of Labor has an incentive to defend its rule-making authority even though it is considering revisions to the regulation.

A federal court has struck down the rule and the industry’s top online advice executives are speaking out.