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November 29, 2011 at 07:52 AM
Here’s an exchange I recently had with an independent registered rep, who has been a friend of mine for a long time. I hope you’ll find this as enlightening as I did.
RR: “I recently sent out a client satisfaction survey to my rather well-educated clients (if I do say so myself) explaining the fiduciary vs. suitability standard and asked if they were aware of which standard applied to our relationship and if that mattered to them. So far the answers are all: ‘Don’t know and don’t care.’”
Me: “Thanks for the email. I’d love to see what you actually sent to your clients. Did you really explain to them that as a registered rep under the ‘suitability standard’ you are legally working for your BD and therefore are legally required to represent its interests, rather than those of the clients? And did you go on to explain to them that under a fiduciary duty to your clients, you would be legally required to represent the client’s interest, ahead of your own, or any other institution, including your BD? That’s the reality, and my sense is that not one financial consumer in 10,000 truly understands this and its ramifications for who’s really looking out for their best interests.”
