Law and regulation

Most companies strongly protect their crown jewels: internal sales figures, product development plans, account numbers and customer transaction information. Typically lower down the priority list are customer relationship management systems and databases of clients' contact information.

A U.S. probe into how Morgan Stanley client information ended up for sale on the Internet is examining whether a financial adviser was targeted by hackers after he took data from the bank, two people briefed on the inquiry said.

A U.S. probe into how Morgan Stanley client information ended up for sale on the Internet is examining whether a financial advisor was targeted by hackers after he took data from the bank, two people briefed on the inquiry said.

Bradley Birkenfeld, the former UBS Group banker who won a $104 million whistle-blower award after serving time in prison for tax conspiracy, won a U.S. judge’s permission to testify in France in a separate probe of the Swiss bank.

Charles Schwab and New York agreed to settle a 2009 lawsuit in which the state accused the firm of promoting auction-rate securities as safe while failing to disclose the risks before the market for them froze.

The Obama administration is expected to endorse more stringent fiduciary rules requiring brokers to have their clients' best interest in mind when recommending retirement-account investments; Plus, the retirement investment mistake clients don't know they're making.

A recent research paper found that community banks' assets, along with market share in most types of commercial lending, have fallen since the Dodd-Frank Act was passed. The report is giving advocates of smaller institutions more data to rally around.

Industry leaders at NICSA's strategic leadership forum in Hollywood, Fla., reached quick consensus on the twin challenges at the top of every organization's strategic priority list: managing cybersecurity threats and responding to increased regulatory demands.

The International Organization of Securities Commissions said that it will publish a second batch of draft plans on Feb. 20 for identifying funds or particular investing practices that could present systemic risks.

Local investing opportunity networks can bring in a healthy income stream -- but advisors need to make sure compliance is squarely on their side.

Obama signs executive order encouraging businesses to share more information about new and emerging threats as regulators warn the advisory industry that they're watching closely.

Top official says the industry regulator is combing through hundreds of comment letters on controversial broker data-reporting rules, vowing close consideration of privacy and security concerns.

The SEC barred an RIA from the industry after the firm was charged with misleading investors -- including falsely claiming that its fund was "SEC approved."

Support for fully exempting community banks from the Volcker Rule continues to grow, but advocates fear it could be waylaid by a larger fight in Congress over changes to the Dodd-Frank Act.

No clarity on how regulators will decide to handle fiduciary standard proposed for broker-dealers, Schapiro said.

Ballentine Partners is a wealth management firm with roots in an unusual institution: a summer camp.

With mutual fund assets growing exponentially, more private fund managers are taking advantage and launching retail funds. They might be unfamiliar with the scrutiny faced by traditional mutual funds, especially since Sarbanes-Oxley was passed. There are things to keep in mind when considering the best Sarbanes compliance practices.

Too many companies skip this important step when confronted with a breach, but financial services firms are a critical line of defense against threats to client data.

The three join a growing roster of J.P. Morgan alumni suspended and fined by FINRA since January.

Government and industry regulators release results of sweep exams evaluating digital defenses at advisor and broker firms, the latest indication that the groups are getting serious about cybersecurity.