The New Fiduciary Rule (38):The Fiduciary Acknowledgment
Key Takeaways The DOL’s fiduciary regulation will be effective on September 23 of this year. As a result, beginning on September 23 one-time recommendations to retirement investors can be fiduciary advice and, where the advice is conflicted, the protection afforded by a prohibited transaction exemption will be needed. While some of the requirements (called “conditions”) […]
The New Fiduciary Rule (26): Changes to PTE 2020-02 (1): Affecting the Advisor
In November 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor released its package of proposed changes to the regulation defining fiduciary advice and to the exemptions for conflicts and compensation for investment recommendations to retirement plans, participants (including rollovers), and IRAs (including transfers). On March 8, 2024, the DOL sent the final rule to the Office of […]
The New Fiduciary Rule (22): Can Wholesalers Become Fiduciaries
The U.S. Department of Labor has released its package of proposed changes to the regulation defining fiduciary advice and to the exemptions for conflicts and compensation for investment recommendations to retirement plans, participants (including rollovers), and IRAs (including transfers). Key Takeaways It is, by now, well known that the expansive definition of fiduciary in the […]
The SEC’s 2024 Examination Priorities: Impact on IRAs and Retirement Plans
Key Takeaways The SEC Division of Examinations is focused on advice to older investors and retirement investors. Advisors and their firms should review their practices for those investors. Among the concerns of the Division of Examinations is whether conflicts are adequately disclosed so that investors can provide informed consent. Off-the-shelf disclosures may not have sufficient […]
Discretionary Management of IRAs: Conflicts and Prohibited Transactions
Key Takeaways Where an investment adviser charges different fees for managing fixed income in a portfolio than for managing equities, and has discretion to determine the allocation between the two in an IRA, the investment adviser has control over its fees, which appears to violate a prohibited transaction provision in the Internal Revenue Code. The […]
Investment Advisers: The Independent Duties of Care and Loyalty
Key Takeaways Recent SEC guidance has clarified that the investment adviser duties of care and loyalty are separate, independent duties. A reasonable interpretation of the SEC and Staff guidance is that the satisfaction of one will not satisfy the other–both must be individually satisfied. As a result, the SEC appears to be saying that, even […]
Best Interest Standard of Care for Advisors #64: Compliance with PTE 2020-02: Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
The DOL “Fiduciary Rule,” FAQ 14: Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest This series focuses on the DOL’s new fiduciary “rule”, which was effective on February 16. This, and the next several, articles look at the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) issued by the DOL to explain the fiduciary definition and the exemption for conflicts of interest. […]
Best Interest Standard of Care for Advisors #20
Regulation Best Interest: Rollover Recommendations and Form CRS/ADV Part 3 Disclosures (Rollovers Part 6) The SEC has issued its final Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI), Form CRS Rule, RIA Interpretation and Solely Incidental Interpretation. I am discussing the SEC’s guidance in a series of articles entitled “Best Interest Standard of Care for Advisors.” This is […]
Best Interest Standard of Care for Advisors #19
Regulation Best Interest: Rollover Recommendations for Investment Advisers (Rollovers Part 5) The SEC has issued its final Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI), Form CRS Rule, RIA Interpretation and Solely Incidental Interpretation. I am discussing the SEC’s guidance in a series of articles entitled “Best Interest Standard of Care for Advisors.” This is the 5th of […]