Regulatory reform

Former SEC economists faulted the regualtor for what they called “weak and incomplete” economic analysis.

“The board's record of summarily approving mergers raises doubts about whether it will serve as a meaningful check on this consolidation that creates a new too big to fail bank,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in a letter to the Fed.

House Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters said the merger is a direct result of a regulatory relief bill that was signed into law in May.

A handful of states are pushing their own advisor regulations, potentially setting up a legal showdown.

A new FINRA initiative to root out breaches of supervisory rules on 529 plans provoked criticism from the IBD advocacy group.

The move follows calls for reform. Banned brokers, acting in lieu of attorneys, have made a living for decades representing investors.

The certification could stop being the gold standard and become the requirement, if only the regulatory path were clearer.

Why new rules won’t necessarily prevent bad behavior.

Like everything else on Wall Street, this dispute is about the bottom line.

The regulator is living up to its promise to overhaul exams and engage more — and one potential rule in the works would be “monumental," according to the IBD.

The midterm elections virtually eliminate the chance that progress will be made on financial services legislation.

The focus since the 2016 election on easing rules, tax cuts and expanding access to credit is about to be turned on its head.

Several Senate, House and gubernatorial battles are of interest to financial firms. Here is a spotlight on specific contests, with updates as they become available.

There are good reasons to worry that brokers are unfairly maligned.

Noting how retirement saving has changed, the executive says the “responsibility we have for people’s savings is awesome.”

It’s another example of how impactful an update to broker standards of conduct could be.

While the IBD advocacy organization supports the proposal’s approach, key questions loom over the timeline and makeup of the potential regulation.

Bari Havlik says she needs to know when examiners’ rulings appear out of step with the actual guidelines.

Observers expect only modest changes from comment letters, and look ahead to a vote to enact new advisor and broker regulations.

Piwowar was appointed to the SEC by President Obama in 2013.