Cassie Miller

CFP Mandates Background Checks Of Its Approved Advisors

The Certified Financial Planner Board unveiled enhanced oversight actions after media scrutiny poked holes in its self-reporting model. A Wall Street Journal article found that thousands of financial planners under the board’s jurisdiction had troubling records of misbehavior.

ETFs Still Growing Fast With A New Inflow Record

ETF net inflows increased from $219 billion in 2018 to $222.5 billion, according to ETFGI, a research and consulting firm. So, what’s caused the growth of ETFs so well over the past year?

Money Talks: How Advisors Can Talk Finances With Clients

According to a TD Ameritrade survey on Financial Taboos, Americans would rather talk about health issues, politics and religion than money or personal finance. So how do advisors get clients and their families talk about money when they’re so unwilling to talk about it?

Advisors Help States Spread Financial Literacy, Personal Finance Ideas

Personal finance can be a daunting maze for many, especially as technology like Artificial Intelligence continues to grow. These changes have increased the need for consumers to be more financially literate than ever before, which is why in 2019, 40 states have set out to help consumers increase their understanding of personal finance.

FAQ: SEC Addresses Delivery And Formatting Questions For Reg BI Form

The SEC’s Division of Investment Management and Division of Trading Markets published a list of the four most frequently asked questions regarding Form CRS, which firms will need to be following by June 2020 as part of the SEC’s adoption of a four-part rulemaking package last June.

The Advisor’s Guide To Year-End Prep

End-of-the-year planning is an important step for advisors to get their clients in a position to take 2020 by financial storm. As advisors guide their clients through the remaining weeks of 2019, keeping these tips in mind will go a long way for advisors and clients.

Survey: Among Other Traits, Successful Advisors Favor A Fiduciary Standard

What makes a successful advisor? Nationwide has been trying to answer this question through its 2019 Advisor Authority Report. What they found through their conversations with over a thousand advisors is that, like a good recipe, there are many ingredients to make a successful advisor, among them a desire for a strong, uniform fiduciary standard.

Raymond James Settles SEC’s Excess Fee Case

Raymond James agreed to pay $15 million to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges that three of its entities overcharged advisory fees on inactive retail accounts and charged excess commissions for brokerage investments in unit investment trusts.

Once SECURE, Retirement Bill Now In Limbo

It was supposed to be an all-in, surefire thing back in May when the Setting Every Community Up For Retirement Enhancement Act passed the House of Representatives in an overwhelming 417-3 vote of support. Proponents of the bill had hoped for a quick passage in the Senate, but two months later, the proposed retirement legislation seems destined to hang in limbo for the remainder of the summer due to a Republican hold on the bill in the Senate and the budget agreement closing off additional measures.

Implementing Reg BI: What Advisors And Their Firms Need To Know

The new law of the land is layered and its potential impacts, numerous. The fiduciary governance experts over at Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young said firms and advisors need to be well-informed and proactive to make sure they’re Reg BI-ready come next year.

House OKs Bill That Blocks Funding For Reg BI

By a 227-200 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives today approved a package of amendments to HR 3351, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, that includes a provision to prohibit the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from implementing or enforcing Regulation Best Interest.

Waters Tries Blocking Reg BI Funding With Amendment

Rep. Maxine Waters is pushing an amendment to block funding that the Securities and Exchange Commission needs to implement its newly enacted Regulation Best Interest rule. The House Rules Committee last night accepted the amendment for House floor consideration.

Bulls And Bears And Wolves, Oh My?

We’ve all heard of bull and bear markets, but what about an eagle market or a wolf market – not so much, right? Well, according to one industry professional, there are actually four market environments, not just the two we all love to obsess over when the market turns.