August 29, 2010
FILE NUMBER 4-606
DEADLINE AUGUST 30, 2010
Today's paper mentioned the SEC study and the different standards for brokers, dealers, and investment advisers. Although I DO have investments (and a masters degree), I did NOT have any idea that "unlike investment advisers, brokers and dealers don't have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of their customers". It makes me sick to know these professionals could be advising based on how much of a commission goes into their pockets. The titles do NOT differentiate, nor do the people with those titles. I will certainly be investigating this further.
In addition, it is quite difficult to uncover the fees that are being charged. For the 'novice', the statements are almost impossible to translate into understandable terms. Thank you for looking into this.
I also do NOT think you should mandate that names be available to the public when these comments are submitted to you.