Industry News

Regulators turn a skeptical eye to soft dollars

(July 19, 2004) They’ve been castigated as the brokerage industry’s dirty little secret and praised as an important funding source for independent research. Whatever your opinion on soft-dollar arrangements, regulators are taking notice and there seems little doubt they will soon be subjected to increased disclosure, according to one industry expert. That new transparency could […]

By Doug Watt |July 19, 2004

3 min read

SEC proposes limited registration for hedge fund managers

(July 16, 2004) A year after convening a two-day conference on hedge funds, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has tabled a proposal to force hedge fund managers to register with the commission. In part, the proposal reflects the fact that the SEC knows so little about hedge funds. The proposal “would provide the […]

By Scot Blythe |July 16, 2004

2 min read

Independent brokers take on bank-owned firms

(July 16, 2004) Independent brokerage houses are using the carrot of higher payouts to attract advisors from the big bank-owned firms. And the strategy appears to be paying off. The IDA sampled 27 established independent retail firms with assets of at least $500 million for its latest Wealth Watch report. Those firms all experienced healthy […]

By Doug Watt |July 16, 2004

2 min read

Divorce costly but few seek financial advice

R elated Stories Divorce specialist designation picks up steam Your clients are splitting up. What’s an advisor to do? Add value by helping clients through life transitions Power your prospecting by creating a community referral network “My job is to keep people grounded and focused on realistic expectations,” he says. “My value is not only […]

By Staff |July 16, 2004

4 min read