The Who, When and Why of Independent Fiduciaries - John Sohn and Stephen Wilkes, Benefits Magazine, May/June 2023
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SEC Issues New Guidance For Investment Advice Obligations
By Stephen Wilkes and Seth Gaudreau On April 26, 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) published a Staff Bulletin (the “Bulletin”) reiterating the care obligation standards of conduct for broker-dealers and investment advisers when providing...
Expectations of the Fiduciary and Retrospective Review
Expectations of the Fiduciary and Retrospective Review - Stephen Wilkes, panelist, National Society of Compliance Professionals (NSCP) Virtual Educational Seminar, May 3, 2023 - Click here for details
DOL Rule Permits Consideration of Climate and ESG Factors and Codifies Proxy Voting Responsibilities
By Stephen Wilkes, Izzy Goldowitz and John Sohn On November 22, 2022, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued a final rule modernizing and revising the long-standing Investment Duties Regulation. Among other things, the final rule clarifies that ERISA plan fiduciaries...
DOL “Clarifies” Guidance on the Bonding Requirements to PEPS and Their Pooled Plan Providers
By Stephen Wilkes, Seth Gaudreau and Susan Rees A recent Information Letter from Eric Berger, Chief, Division of Coverage, Reporting and Disclosure, in the Office of Regulations and Interpretations of the Employee Benefit Security Administration (“EBSA”) of the...
A Guide to the SEC’s Reg BI Bulletins
A Guide to the SEC’s Reg BI Bulletins - Stephen Wilkes and Seth Gaudreau, PLANADVISER, August 25, 2022 (PDF)
SEC Provides Further Guidance in its Staff Bulletin: Standards of Conduct for Broker-Dealers and Investment Advisers Conflict of Interest
By Stephen Wilkes and Seth Gaudreau The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) recently published a Staff Bulletin (the “Bulletin”) providing further fiduciary standards guidance for broker-dealers and investment advisers under Regulation Best Interest (“Reg...
Cetera Preps Advisors to Reap Benefits of New SEC Marketing Rule
Cetera Preps Advisors to Reap Benefits of New SEC Marketing Rule - Financial Advisor IQ, August 11, 2022 (PDF)
Department of Labor (“DOL”) Proposes to “Update” QPAM Exemption
One of the most frequently used of the prohibited transaction class exemptions is Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 84-14, which provides an exemption for Qualified Plan Asset Managers (the QPAM exemption). The QPAM exemption permits, subject to conditions, plan...
ERISA World Awaits Next EBSA Move on Proposed Restrictions on the Prohibited Transaction Exemptions Process
It has been almost four months since the Employee Benefit Security Administration (EBSA) of the Department of Labor (“DOL”) published its proposed amendments to regulations for the procedures by which applications for class and individual prohibited transaction...