Regulatory reform

A weaker U.S. dollar and a rollback of some of the 2017 tax cuts are just two possibilities, experts say.

A Democratic-led SEC could revisit Reg BI, advocacy groups and industry observers say.

The change is one of several made to the board’s disciplinary reporting process following a report by an independent task force that found “systemic, long-standing, governance-level weaknesses.”

FSI aims for a pragmatic approach when advocating on behalf of more than 90 independent broker-dealers and 30,000 financial advisors, Deputy General Counsel Robin Traxler says in an episode of the Financial Planning podcast.

Only a firm “actively swindling funds” would trigger an onsite visit, according to Peter Driscoll.

The policy change may prompt more defendants to reach settlements, an attorney says.

Some attorneys say it's welcome relief, but how long will it take to get new hearing dates?

"If rules are too broad or vague, we may end up circumscribing conduct that we never intended to capture,” Commissioner Allison Herren Lee said.

In an hour-long session, justices considered the agency's use of “disgorgement” to collect money from someone the commission sues in federal court.

The IBD advocacy group expects no letup in enforcement by the regulator — with wide ramifications across wealth management hanging in the balance.