Law and regulation

Sean Walters, chief executive officer of Investment Management Consultants Association, discusses how the organization's examination curriculum is changing to account for the evolving needs of high net worth clients and why certification programs in general will face increased scrutiny from regulators.

After an investigation reveals mislabeling, advisors told to stop describing themselves as "fee-only" on the CFP website.

A Supreme Court ruling highlights the problems that may ensue when an ex-spouse remains a beneficiary for death benefits.

The agency's chief administrative law judge has dismissed a commission order instituting cease and desist proceedings against two UBS executives in Puerto Rico for allegedly misleading mutual fund investors.

The processes used by the IRS to verify taxpayers’ income and withholding status are inadvertently resulting in the issuance of potentially fraudulent tax refunds, according to a new report.

A measure that would put the brakes on the Department of Labor's proposal to establish a fiduciary standard for advisors to retirement plans was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives in a largely party-line vote on Tuesday.

The CFP Board’s highly publicized $36 million 'Let's Make a Plan' campaign may have misled consumers.

The firms have been sanctioned by the SEC for violating the custody rule that requires them to meet certain standards when maintaining custody of their clients’ funds or securities.

Lawmakers are set to begin debate today on a bill that would delay, perhaps indefinitely, a proposal by the Department of Labor to impose a fiduciary standard on advisors to retirement plans.

Sendhil Mullainathan, the former head of research at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, speaks in an interview about when it's appropriate, and when it's not, for the government to try to influence consumer behavior.

The SEC is conducting nationwide, "limited scope examinations" of certain mutual funds that invest in Puerto Rico securities, according to a document obtained by The Bond Buyer and knowledgeable sources.

JPMorgan, under siege on multiple fronts by state and federal prosecutors investigating alleged wrongdoing at the largest U.S. bank, is in talks with federal prosecutors in New York to resolve allegations it helped facilitate Bernard Madoff’s crimes.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has voted unanimously to propose rules under the JOBS Act allowing companies to offer and sell securities through crowdfunding.

A renewed federal emphasis on financial literacy education could have an ancillary payoff for the financial planning profession: more new planners.

A former UBS AG banker surrendered to U.S. authorities to face a 2011 indictment that he conspired to help wealthy Americans evade taxes by hiding accounts in a smaller Swiss regional bank.

Three investment advisory firms have been sanctioned by the SEC for repeatedly ignoring problems with their compliance programs.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission voted unanimously to seek comment on a proposal to allow businesses to sell ownership stakes in their companies by soliciting investors over the Internet.

A former Merrill Lynch broker has been ordered to serve 38 months for allegedly bilking clients of almost $2 million.

Citing concerns, FINRA says it may make it harder for advisors to get records cleared.

CEO Jamie Dimon went to Washington almost a month ago to see if U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder would settle a criminal probe of mortgage fraud at the bank if it paid more money to resolve related civil investigations.