It is time for politicians of all stripes to stop blaming the financial crisis on "Wall Street greed" and level with the American public.
Now is the time for financial planners and investment advisers to demonstrate that they are what they have always claimed to be: trained, capable, cool-headed professionals.
Public officials in all branches of government have a fiduciary duty to the citizens of the United States.
Perhaps, but not without a strong sales job to overcome the inherent inertia
For as long as I can remember, there has been a business in helping investors minimize taxes withheld on dividends.
InvestmentNews argued last week that the entire regulatory system for the financial industry needs to be revamped, after an independent commission has thoroughly reviewed the factors that contributed to the mess.
The crisis that has swept the financial markets in the past few months, beginning with the collapse of The Bear Stearns Cos. Inc. of New York and continuing with the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and now the government takeover of American International Group Inc. of New York, makes obvious the need to revamp totally the nation's financial-markets regulation.
The immediate reaction to last week's federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was overwhelmingly positive.
Judging by newly proposed regulations on investment advice, it looks as if the Department of Labor is trying hard to engineer a sharp turn from the course established by Congress.
Financial planners and investment advisers are likely to have a hard time calming their clients over the next few months as the mortgage crisis continues to roil the financial markets.
According to a report by the Government Accountability Office, 28% of large U.S. corporations paid no income tax in 2005.
Whether done voluntarily, as in the case of Merrill Lynch, or as the result of settlements with regulators, as with Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, UBS and Wachovia, the buy-backs of failed auction rate securities that giant Wall Street firms have agreed to undertake are significant.
Providing financial advice is similar to providing medical advice in that there is inherent uncertainty about whether recommended actions will achieve the desired results.
Advisers have a fiduciary responsibility to educate their clients that generating enough cash to fund lifetime goals and objectives adequately is the key to financial success
