BlogLine

Duties of Care and Loyalty Coming to Investments Near You

6/28/19

By: Matthew Jones
The approval of Regulation Best Interest by the Securities and Exchange Commission last month continues to spark debate and controversy, and the future of the Rule remains uncertain.  The Rule’s implementation was set for June 30, 2020. However, on June 27, 2019, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill that would strip the SEC of its ability to implement the Regulation Best Interest package. The bill would prohibit the SEC from spending funds for Regulation Best Interest and the other items included in the Regulation. It is unclear whether the bill will pass both the Senate and White House, but the initial reaction is that the President will likely be advised to veto the bill.
Perhaps anticipating this potential obstacle, last week, Massachusetts released its own proposed fiduciary rule and is accepting comments until July 26, 2019. Its proposed rule requires that advice must be provided in the best interest of the customers without regard to the interests of the broker-dealer, advisory firm, or its personnel. The proposed standard permits the payment of transaction-based fees if the fee is reasonable, is the best of the reasonably available fee options, and the “care” obligation is complied with. This proposal applies to recommendations, advice, and the selection of account types. The stated goal of this standard is to protect the public interest and investors alike. This idea is nothing new, as the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest was designed to address and prevent similar issues. However, Massachusetts points out that the SEC Regulation fails to establish a strong and uniform fiduciary standard and fails to define the term “best interest.”
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Matthew Jones at mjones@fmglaw.com.