Investment Advisor vs. Financial Advisor: The Differences Explained

Daniel Strong

Investment advisor and financial advisor. While many investors use the terms interchangeably, they are very different. For both the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), investment advisors and financial advisors are distinct roles. The training they must complete is different, including the exams they must pass to use their title.…

The Discovery Process in FINRA Arbitrations

Daniel Strong

After an arbitration claim proceeds past the initial pleadings phase, parties must participate in the exchange of documents and information also known as discovery.  But what documents do you have to turn over to the other side?  What documents and information should you expect to receive from your current or former customer?  This article explains…

Regulation Best Interest and Customer Dispute Arbitrations: Uncertainty Ahead

Daniel Strong

As the industry moves past the “good faith effort” and “reasonable progress” standards of the first six months of Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI), the SEC’s standard of conduct for broker-dealers and associated persons when making a recommendation to a retail customer of any securities action or investment strategy involving securities, broker-dealers and associated persons…