Rate hikes on the way The Federal Reserve recently announced that interest rate hikes likely, causing trading and investing to slow. Fed Chairwoman, Janet Yellen will most likely announce increases later this week, with several more expected throughout 2017. Rates will likely increase 0.75-1.00 percent, initially, according to a Reuters…
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…
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released an investor bulletin for investors to understand the fundamentals of robo-advisor investing, or the practice of using automated investment platforms. Robo-advisor investing has risen in popularity, especially among d-i-y and at-home investors due to the relatively low cost compared to traditional investing…
Senior Scams: Preying on the Nation’s Vulnerable Senior scams being perpetrated against some the country’s seniors and the elderly has been on the rise over the past few years. Seniors are especially vulnerable to fraud due to health issues or the natural effects of aging. A USA Today report states…
U.S. stock markets continue to rally this week amid optimism around President Trump’s economic plans. Reaching a historic high on Monday, S&P 500 topped $20 trillion. This latest rally is a part of the ongoing boost stock market indices have been enjoying as economists wait for the Trump Administration to…
Uncertain Future for Dodd-Frank Last week, President Trump ordered a review of major banking regulations put in place following the 2008 financial crisis, largely comprising Dodd-Frank regulations. President Trump has made clear that rollbacks are a main objective for these reviews. Though the executive order only calls for a review,…
Setting a Record The Dow has done it. On Wednesday Jan. 25, the Dow hit a record high of 20,069 amid celebration from broker-dealers and investors alike. The 20k mark is an important milestone for the industrial market index. It not only represents the U.S. economy’s turnaround following the recession,…
Many passive investors are happy just leaving their investments at the hands of their brokerage firms. Many investors opt review brokerage activity via a monthly overview statement rather than from a hands-on approach. Broker-dealers handling investment accounts are free to make most decisions on quantity and frequency of investment securities.…
By the end of 2017, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) will open up its trading floor to all U.S. securities. Currently, NYSE restricts securities trading on the floor to the top 3,166 stocks, according to a Reuters report. The change means that, now, up to 8,600 securities can be…
The Financial Industry Regulation Authority (FINRA) announced fines against 12 securities firms for their failure to accurately protect consumer records. FINRA carried out fines, totaling $14.4 million, against 12 securities brokerage firms, including some of the largest-backed firms in the country. FINRA found that these firms storing broker-dealer and consumer…