August 23, 2004
I urge the Commission to WITHDRAW, not amend, the S7-25-99 file proposal. I believe that the rule is harmful to consumers by creating two different standards of conduct for persons offering financial planning services: a higher fiduciary standard for registered investment advisers and a lower one under NASD suitability rules. In my opinion the rule also exempts, in effect, stockbrokers from being required to disclose conflicts of interest in connection with the offer of financial planning services. I feel like this rule unfairly targets those of us who are trying to complete planning on a comprehensive basis while leaving open a door for brokers to continue status quo and thus ultimately confusing the financial planning consumer.