The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) recently reached a settlement sum of $5.5 billion with the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) in the agency’s lawsuit. One down, one to go This settles at least one of the the two mortgage-baked securities lawsuits against RBS in U.S. courts. Another lawsuit…
Amid the fallout of 2008, when the nation’s banking giants toppled and our economy was sent reeling, Federal legislators and regulators decided that changes were needed. Most of these changes took shape as the Dodd-Frank Act, which provide the framework for much of our current banking regulation and oversight. You’re…
A 2016 study by the Tax Policy Center comparing Trump’s then-stated plan and the current tax ratesOne of the big platforms that boosted Trump to the Oval Office was his promise to let business operate unencumbered. Throughout his campaign, he promised a hands-off approach to business, including wide-scale financial deregulation…
Retirees and pensioners will now have a voice at the negotiating table during Puerto Rico’s bankruptcy, according to a Reuters report. This month, the U.S. Trustee overseeing the filing procedure announced the appointment of a retiree committee. While retiree committees are usually appointed in municipal bankruptcy filings, it is typically…
We all remember that nastiness about Wells Fargo, right? You know, that little PR debacle where it turned out that, due to unrealistic sales initiatives, Wells Fargo employees initiated accounts fraud against millions of consumers. After the story broke, Wells Fargo lost a major vote of consumer confidence. The following…
Brexit, Meet ‘Banxit’ When Britain announced its decision to formally leave the European Union (EU), it raised a lot of uncertainty. While the decision caused global unsettling, probably the most anxious was the international investment banking community. Until now, Britain, specifically London, has been the undisputed epicenter of investment banking,…
A recent New York Times article spotlights a renewed approach and increased legislative response to financial elder abuse. Featured in the article are personal accounts of real people whose family members and close friends have been affected by elder financial abuse. Investment fraud and financial abuse directed towards seniors and…
Last week, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) amended standing rules regarding broker-dealer securities transaction settlement cycles. The new rules shorten the amount of time between when an investment transaction is placed and when it is actually processed. Previously, the transaction settlement cycle was set as “T+3”. This refers to…
Customer Advisory Centers vs. Call Centers Although they sound similar, customer advisory centers differ from call centers in several important ways. Securities firms and investment broker-dealers typically rely on call centers to handle basic customer service issues and administrative functions. They do not provide investment or trading advice, nor do…
Each month, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) publishes a complaint report outlining and highlighting volume and percentage of consumers’ reported financial complaints. The CFPB is an agency tasked with providing consumers with financial protection and empowerment by improving existing consumer protection rules, enforcing rules and providing tools and resources…