FINRA May Put Forward Another Proposal About Possible SEC Rule Regarding Fiduciary Duty

According to FINRA CEO and Chairman Richard G. Ketchum, the SRO may put out a second concept proposal about its stance regarding disclosure obligations related to a possible Securities and Exchange Commission rulemaking about formalizing a uniform fiduciary duty standard between broker-dealers and investment advisers. Currently, the 1940 Investment Advisers Act defines the investment advisers’ fiduciary obligation to their clients, while broker-dealers are upheld to suitability rules that will be superseded next August by two FINRA rules regarding broker-dealer suitability standards.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act’s Section 913, however, said that it is SEC’s responsibility to determine whether these current regulatory and legal standards s are still effective and if any regulatory shortcomings that exist need to be filled. In July 2010, the SEC asked stakeholders for feedback about this mandates. After receiving over 3,000 public comments, it issued a study recommending that there be a uniform fiduciary standard for both types of representatives when giving advice to retail clients. The SEC could put out its proposed rule by the end of this year.

FINRA is working with the Commission on this and plans to stay involved in the process. It was just last year that the SRO put out a concept proposal seeking public comment about the idea that broker-dealers should have to provide retail investors with certain disclosures at the start of a business relationship. These clients would be required to give a written statement detailing the kids of services and accounts they provide, any conflicts of interests, and limits on duties that they are entitled to expect. FINRA said that regardless of what a unified fiduciary standard would look like, retail investors would benefit from getting this disclosure document at the start and that such a mandate is an “outright necessity.

Regard this proposed fiduciary standard rule, Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas founder and stockbroker fraud lawyer William Shepherd said: “The goal is to lower the duties of Wall Street. The term “fiduciary duty” was defined by courts centuries ago. Since passage of the Investment Advisor’s Act of 1940 – 71 years ago – no special definition of the “fiduciary duty” of financial advisors has been necessary. Current law does not exempt stockbrokers from a fiduciary duty when the circumstances arise in which the broker has assumed the role of a fiduciary. Example: ‘I will take care of you and properly invest your money for you.’ What is being currently proposed is nothing more than a “safe harbor” for brokerage firms to disclose their conflicts, etc. Is it time to occupy Wall Street?”

Our securities fraud attorneys are committed to helping our institutional investor clients recoup their losses from negligent broker-dealers and investment advisers.

Disclosure of Services, Conflicts and Duties, FINRA, October 2010

Study on Investment Advisers and Broker-Dealers, SEC (PDF)

More Blog Posts:
Don’t Create Uniform Fiduciary Standard for Broker-Dealers and Investment Advisers, Say Some Republicans to the SEC, Institutional Investor Securities Blog, October 7, 2011

SEC’s Proposal on Implementing Whistleblower Rule Draws Mixed Reactions, Institutional Investor Securities Blog, January 3, 2011

Advisory Performance Fee Rule Limit Adjusted by the SEC, Stockbroker Fraud Blog, July 30, 2011