FINRA Doesn’t Want Oversight Over Financial Advisers, Says CEO Ketchum

According to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority CEO Richard G. Ketchum, the regulator no longer wants to be given oversight over financial advisers. Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Ketchum said the self-regulatory agency had done all it could to be granted authority over investment advisers and has decided to stop with additional attempts.

FINRA currently oversees brokers. Meantime, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the states oversee registered investment advisers. The SEC had been exploring having FINRA or another agency police RIAs instead. However, the majority of investment advisers were against such a move because of the way FINRA handles enforcement. They don’t think the regulator understands the way investment advisers operated.

Ketchum is now saying that Congress should give the SEC the resources it needs to enhance its examination program of advisers. The Commission has been asking for more money because it can only afford to examine investment advisor firms about once a decade, which isn’t much oversight at all.

Ketchum also said that he approves of the way investment advisers, like brokers, must now uphold fiduciary standards that mandate that they always act in the best interests of a client. However, it is only brokers who need to ensure that the investment strategies and products they recommend are suitable for a customer.

Meantime, reports InvestmentNews, a five-year bull market is causing advisers to experience the highest levels of compensation and assets under management in seven years. A study just released by Fidelity Investments reports that in the last year approximately 95% of advisers saw their business grow. Also, average compensation was at about $24,000 and average assets under management was at around $60 million. However, many advisory firms are finding it hard to draw in young clients, which could slow long-term growth.

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Financial Industry Regulatory Authority

Finra Backs Off From Expanding Oversight, The Wall Street Journal, April 10, 2014

Advisers’ business booming, but dark clouds looming, Investment News, April 10, 2014

More Blog Posts:
SEC Says Investment Advisors Can Publish Third-Party Endorsements Online, Stockbroker Fraud Blog, April 1, 2014

SEC Reveals Plans to Examine Never-Before-Inspected RIAs, Stockbroker Fraud Blog, February 24, 2014

SEC Sanctions Three Investment Advisory Firms for Custody Rule Violations, Institutional Investor Securities Blog, October 30, 2014