From: Chad Courtois |
Nancy M. Morris, Secretary Dear Ms. Morris: I am a licensed insurance professional and mutual funds salesperson & even though you may think differently, we are a valuable asset to our clients. Not just @ the sale of a product, but for the rest of there life. The minuscule fee (Example below) that is applied to give them comfort in knowing we are there to educate on how products may be applied to give them even more control of there life & assets is much greater than advertisement & what is heard in the media, etc….It’s kind of like having air bags in your car. You a little upset that you paid a little more to have them, but when it saves your life, the minuscule fee you paid is nothing. As with all our elected officials in gov’t , I’m sure they believe the fee we are paying for them is well worth the cost, or is it…? In return for providing ongoing service and continuing advice to my clients regarding their investments, I receive trailing compensation much in the same way that insurance agents receive renewal commissions on the life insurance policies they sell. This trailing compensation is typically paid under a written plan adopted pursuant to SEC Rule 12b-1. The amount of this compensation is relatively modest; on a $10,000 investment in a mutual fund's "A" shares, the annual "12b-1 fee" that is paid for providing ongoing service equals 25 basis points, or $25. Investors receive substantial value for these fees--in exchange for a small annual payment, they have access to a financial services expert to answer their questions and address their concerns. Without their advisor, investors would have nowhere to turn to (except for perhaps a stranger at the end of a 1-800 phone number) when they needed some reassurance in a shaky market or assistance in rebalancing their portfolios, understanding their investments and the investment choices available. I believe the elimination of 12b-1 fees would do considerable harm to those investors who need and want ongoing investment planning advice and counsel. A significant majority of my clients expect our office to be available and to respond quickly to a variety of questions regarding their investments. I have never received complaints from my clients about the small amounts they are charged for the services I provide to them. My clients expect me to be compensated for helping them achieve their long-term financial goals. If 12b-1 fees were eliminated, while the client might save a small amount in 12b-1 fees he or she would end up paying a much larger amount in hourly or asset-based fees to receive the same service. For these reasons, I urge the SEC to reject any proposal to eliminate or restrict the payment of 12b-1 fees to registered representatives for providing continued service to their clients. Thank you for your consideration of my views on this subject. |