August 24, 2010
Call me simplistic, but I believe that anyone calling themselves a financial planner/ adviser / counselor, or charging fees for their services, should be subject to a fiduciary standard, period. As things stand currently, it is very confusing - and frankly unfair - to the public that two people who use the same or very similar job title and compensation method may owe them two starkly different standards of care, not to mention disclosures about potential conflicts of interest, etc. I think it's high time to end this state of affairs, and level the playing field for the benefit and protection of consumers.