WE’s Michael Zeuner Authors Piece on The Fiduciary Debate in Family Wealth Report

September 30, 2015

In a recent article published by Family Wealth Report (FWR), WE’s managing partner, Michael Zeuner, discusses the current debate surrounding the fiduciary standard – a regulation that requires investment advisors to put the interests of their clients above their own. Currently, broker-dealer firms are not subject to the fiduciary standard, but the US Department of Labor is pushing to require anyone who advises an investor around their retirement assets to do so under the established fiduciary.

The Institute for The Fiduciary Standard has released “best practices for financial advisors” that seeks to educate investors and advisors around what it means to serve as a fiduciary. Mr. Zeuner delves into these best practices, such as providing written statements of total fees, requiring clear and truthful communication and considering peer group rankings, and why embracing these practices will ensure industry-wide transparency and ethics. “For too long the prevalence of conflicts of interest and misalignment of interests has harmed investors and reduced the trust investors have in the financial advisory industry. The best practices announced by the institute are an attempt to restore that trust and provide clarity to investors and advisors around what true fiduciary advice looks like,” states Mr. Zeuner.

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To read the full article, click here: http://www.fwreport.com//article.php?id=165110#.Vi91lqRWnsA