FINRA CHIEF (US): FIDUCIARY STANDARD WILL TAKE TIME, FINESSE

PHOENIX-- During his keynote address opening the OneVision 2011: FSI Broker-Dealer conference Monday night, FINRA President and CEO Rick Ketchum did his best to assuage the fears of independent financial advisors in the wake of two recent SEC studies birthed from the controversial Dodd-Frank law and provide a little insight into what they can expect from Washington in the near future.


The studies, both released within the past two weeks, made two things abundantly clear: consumers need more protection in the form of increased regulation of brokers and dealers -- independent or not-- and the SEC doesn't have the cash, resources or institutional knowledge to do it itself.


Ketchum, who presides over the agency responsible for overseeing more than 4,500 brokerage firms and some 162,000-plus branch offices, told attendees the recent SEC developments were predictable and signal the beginning of what will be a long and complex journey toward implementing any new regulations-- a process that Financial Services Institute members will take an active role in defining.


"We're still at the beginning," Ketchum said. "There's no way to understate the critical importance of these years. For better or worse, we're going to make history."


And that history, in the view of the most prominent advocacy and lobbying organization for independent broker-dealers and financial advisors, should be written with FINRA at the center of whatever regulatory policies are derived from impending legislation.


But how exactly will this be accomplished in an industry that grows more complex and cluttered with ever-more-imaginative products each day just as a tidal wave of retirement-ready and understandable circumspect Baby Boomers are starting to hit the magical age of 65 in unprecedented numbers?


For its part, the SEC has posited a trio of options to protect consumers both from themselves and from unscrupulous advisors.


One option, panned by FSI President and CEO Dale Brown, would have the SEC take on the task itself and charge fees from investment advisors.


The second option, which the FSI officially endorses even though Brown acknowledged that some members may disagree, would have the SEC grant oversight of all advisors to FINRA.


The third option and perhaps least palatable option in the opinion of the FSI would allow the SEC to designate one or more self-regulated organizations (SROs) to oversee advisors.


"There's a good deal of care throughout the study and the effort is there to insure the recommendations will be in the best interest of investors, Brown said. "But solutions shouldn't be driven in a rigid way that discourages competition."


Ketchum said FINRA has "no intentional of front-running" the SEC process but does want to "get out in front" to provide a forum and mechanism to discuss the issues-- down to subtleties as basic but important as what constitutes "personalized investment advice"-- and "rethink the way information is disclosed to customers.


"It will be collegial effort with the SEC," he added. "We're in an environment where nobody likes disclosure. Advisors are not good about delivering it and we need to get to a better place."


Ketchum told attendees he prefers the idea of layered disclosure delivered from the Internet but recognizes that a one-size-fits-all approach won't work for every client, advisor and transaction.


"Frankly, the only way it's going to work is for everyone, including regulators and advocates, to work together."


Thanks in no small part to the radical reshaping of Congress in the November election, Ketchum said whatever new legislation and enforcement apparatus created will be rolled out "carefully and in pieces."


"It's difficult for me to imagine a legislative process playing out any time before September or October and that's extremely ambitious," he said. "I would expect it won't be until the latter half of 2012 before an exam program is replaced."


Larry Barrett

OnWall Street
January 31, 2011