Does Merrill Lynch have an employee attendance problem? Nah, Mother Merrill may have been too generous, is all. The firm recently announced a new sick-day protocol that, upon first blush, appears to be rather severe. Gawker.com, the pop-culture...
Deborah McWhinney, president of Schwab Institutional, retired this morning at the age of 52, something communicated to the firm’s advisors and employees via a trio of e-mails--first from Schwab chairman and CEO Charles “Chuck”...
This week Massachusetts fired a round in the new regulatory war waged by state securities regulators against the use of senior designations to commit senior fraud. The Massachusetts State Securities Division adopted the nation’s first...
The SEC isn’t going to fight the March 30 D.C. Court of Appeals ruling that vacated Rule 202, the broker/dealer exemption (a.k.a. the Merrill Lynch rule)—they’re just asking for a little mercy for firms that have to adjust. The...
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Speaking at the 49th annual Investment Company Institute general membership meeting, NASD Chairman Mary Shapiro told mutual fund executives she sees better regulation of investment products as a result of the expected...
Crooks come in all shapes and sizes—even, apparently, in the guise of SEC examiners and staff. The SEC issued an alert Thursday to securities industry firms, warning them to keep an eye out for impostors—individuals pretending to work...
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Speaking at the Investment Company Institute’s general membership meeting here today, Chairman Martin Flanagan told attendees that legislators’ concerns over mutual fund fees, particularly in 401(k) plans, may...
Today the Securities Exchange Commission announced Morgan Stanley will pay $7.96 million and penalties to settle the SEC’s charges against the firm for failing to provide best execution to clients. More specifically, the SEC charged Morgan...
Smith Barney has begun the job of consolidating some branch offices, as part of a larger cost-cutting program in the works at parent Citigroup. Sources close to the firm say Citi’s retail broker/dealer arm has closed 5 satellite branches...
There are a lot of millionaires in the United States. More than ever, in fact, according to recent research published by London-based market research firm TNS. But are they turning to financial advisors for help? Well, yes, and no.