More trouble on the DOL fiduciary front (or not, depending on your perspective). A group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives outlined an alternative on Thursday to the DOL’s proposed fiduciary rule that they say “will help strengthen the retirement security of working families and ensure retirement advisors protects their clients’ best interests.”
The bipartisan group is still in the concepting stage, but says the initiative grew from a fear that the DOL’s proposal will make it harder for low- and middle-income families to plan for retirement.
The members—which include Representatives Peter Roskam (R-IL), Richard Neal (D-MA), Phil Roe (R-TN), and Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM)—are working together to introduce a bipartisan legislative that they say reflects the following principles:
- Promoting families and individuals saving for a financially-secure retirement is an essential public policy good.
- Retirement advisors must serve in their clients’ best interests and must be required to do so.
- Retirement advisors must deliver clear, simple, and relevant disclosure of material conflicts, including compensation received and all investment fees to individuals saving for retirement.
- Public policies must protect access to investment advice and education for low- and middle-income workers and retirees.
- Public policies should never deny individuals the financial information they need to make informed decisions.
- Investor choice and consumer access to all investment services – such as proprietary products, commission-based sales, and guaranteed lifetime income–should be preserved in a way that does not pick winners and losers.
- Small business owners should have access to the financial advice and products they need to establish and maintain retirement plans and help workers save for retirement.
The members also released the following statement: “
We are concerned that the Department of Labor’s current fiduciary proposal may have unintended negative consequences that could harm individuals and families saving for retirement. We acknowledge the Department of Labor’s pledge to change aspects of the regulation before final issuance, but feel more must be done to adequately address concerns about the rule’s impact on the ability of low- and middle-class families to save for retirement.
“The Department of Labor has said it will change certain aspects of the regulation before final issuance. However, if the final rule has flaws, damage can be done upon the rule’s release due to the immediate changes the retirement savings industry would have to make and the likelihood that those changes could limit access to services and education for those saving for retirement. To protect the retirement savings of all Americans, we intend to introduce a bipartisan legislative solution.
“Our legislative proposal will ensure that all Americans have access to the financial advice they need to prepare for retirement, protect individuals from conflicted advice, and require advisors serve the best interests of retirement savers. We look forward to the work that lies ahead and urge all our colleagues to join this important effort.”
With more than 20 years serving financial markets, John Sullivan is the former editor-in-chief of Investment Advisor magazine and retirement editor of ThinkAdvisor.com. Sullivan is also the former editor of Boomer Market Advisor and Bank Advisor magazines, and has a background in the insurance and investment industries in addition to his journalism roots.
