A New Rule Won’t Make Your Broker an Angel

Image Credit: Alex Nabaum

Next week, the Securities and Exchange Commission is expected to approve a rule that will require brokers to act in the best interest of their customers—rather than their own wallets—when offering investment advice.

That’s good, so far as it goes.

It probably won’t go far enough, however. The new rule is also likely to lead many investors to drop their guard, in the misguided belief their brokers now can do no wrong. And it may create a marketing bonanza for brokers and investment advisers….

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This article was originally published on The Wall Street Journal.


Further reading

Benjamin Graham, The Intelligent Investor

Patrick A. Lach et al., “Brokers or Investment Advisers? The U.S. Public Perception” (Financial Analysts Journal, 2019)

Nicole M. Boyson, “The Worst of Both Worlds? Dual-Registered Investment Advisers” (working paper, 2019)