May 15, 2013
A single fiduciary standard is necessary to prevent further confusion in the marketplace. Either a professioinal is acting in a fiduciary Standard, or he or she is not. Many definitions have been confused by the public surrounding the term financial advisor, and as such the public is not sure who is acting in a fiduciary capacity and who is acting in a Registered Representative capacity under the suitablility standard, as opposed to the "best interest" standard required of a fiduciary. To further blur the lines will only further complicate the publics confusion. Either a consumer is dealing with a professiional in a ficudiary capacity or not. Having multiple standards will only further the confusion and further blur the lines separating the two standards, in my view.