The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced a new suite of Rules that are a game-changer for any Financial Institution that gives investment advice (including rollovers and distributions) to owners or beneficiaries of IRAs, HSAs, Archer Medical Savings Accounts, Coverdells, ERISA Plans and more.

I. What Do the Rules Do?

The Rules were designed to address conflicts of interest affecting investment advice to retirement investors when advisors who are fiduciaries receive compensation (direct or indirect) that may vary with the advice given ("differential compensation"). The Rules prohibit some activities and seek to provide measures to protect investors, while allowing some traditional compensation practices common in the market.