Week ending May 5th, 2017

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Happy Friday, readers! This week brought the appointment of a new Chair at the Securities and Exchange Commission, Jay Clayton. Under the outgoing chair’s leadership the SEC took a more direct and aggressive role in policing the retirement investment marketplace. It remains to be seen what approach Clayton will take as chair, but it stands to reason that, as a Republican-appointed official, he will be more laissez faire in his approach to government intervention in the client-adviser relationship. Stay with www.planadviser.com for the latest coverage of SEC, DOL, FINRA and more.

Editor's choice

Jay Clayton Named SEC Chair At Pivotal Time For Industry

President Donald Trump nominated Clayton on January, 20, 2017, and he was confirmed by the Senate on May 2. The nomination by President Trump sends a clear signal to advisers about the likely style and character Clayton will bring to the Commission, especially compared with the ostensibly aggressive approach outgoing Obama-era Chair Mary Jo White brought to the role. Read more >

Mandatory RIA Succession Planning in the Works at SEC

The Securities and Exchange Commission is proposing a new rule and rule amendments under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 aimed at bolstering advisory industry succession planning. Read more >

Broad SEC Initiative Targets RIAs and Brokers

SEC staff intends to revamp focus on registered investment advisers and broker/dealers selling investment products to retail investors and retirement savers. Read more >

Inside Look At SEC Deficiency Letter Trends

A new publication from the SEC outlines the five most frequent compliance topics identified in deficiency letters sent to SEC-registered investment advisers. Read more >

Rumbles of SEC Uniform Broker Standard Growing Louder

The Securities and Exchange Commission has given several signs that it could soon introduce a uniform standard of client care for registered brokers and advisers. Read more >

MOST POPULAR STORIES

Education About Tax Treatment and Fees Could Boost 401(k) Participation

Findings from a Capital One survey about why employees do not participate in their employer-sponsored retirement plan offers opportunities for education, according to Stuart Robertson.

IRS to Focus on Retirement Plan Distributions and 403(b) Plan Rules in 2019

A Program Letter lists compliance strategies for the agency for next year.

How Rising Interest Rates Affect Stable Value Funds

While money market funds may look more appealing in the short run, this is not expected to last.

Inertia Remains a Plan Sponsor Problem, Too

The language of “inertia” and “disengagement” are often used to describe the natural state of retirement plan participants, but new research from Wells Fargo suggests plan sponsors are also prone to settling with the status quo.

Kaleida Health Faces 403(b), 401(k) Plan Fee Lawsuit

The complaint specifically calls out the 11 T. Rowe Price target-date funds (TDFs) offered by the plans, saying they are all adviser or retail class funds—as opposed to investor or institutional class funds.

Editorial: Alison Cooke Mintzer alison.mintzer@strategic-i.com

Advertising: Paul Zampitella paul.zampitella@strategic-i.com

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