After Senator Christopher Dodd’s surprise announcement last week declaring he would not seek reelection, many have begun to wonder about the policy ramifications this development will have on the remainder of his term in office. Financial reform is one such area of policy reform that the senator is tackling with much speculation over his resolve […]
FINRA has issued a regulatory notice this month that stresses the need for brokerage firms to disclose the risk to investors in so-called Principal-Protected Notes. The notice, which may be viewed here, cautions firms from overstating the level of protection inherent in this structured product. When marketing this product, firms may overstress the principal protection […]
In an effort to get its advisers to focus on snagging more of their existing clients’ assets, along with new clients, Wells Fargo Advisors LLC has introduced a new rewards program in its deferred-compensation plan. Until Jan. 1, the firm’s 12,000 advisers were eligible for a bonus based on growth in revenue. Now the bonus […]
The investment adviser world is frenzied over a provision included in the financial services reform legislation recently approved by the House of Representatives. The so-called, “hat switching,” provision is one sentence long and buried within the expansive legislation. The provision, part of H.R. 4173, reads as follows: “Nothing in this section shall require a broker […]
James Shorris, executive director of enforcement at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has been quoted by Investment News as saying that enforcement cases on multiple private placement deals can be expected to begin by next year. Private placement memorandum (PPM) deals, also known as Reg D offerings, have come under increased scrutiny after enjoying […]