WHERE HAVE YOU GONE, CHIP HILTON?
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Investment Management Roundtable Discussion – Personal Estate Planning
The stay of the effective dates of the amended fiduciary regulation and amended exemptions means that the “old” fiduciary regulation (the 5-part test) and the amended exemptions continue in effect indefinitely. As a result,...more
The US Department of Labor has released its package of proposed changes to the regulation defining nondiscretionary fiduciary advice and to the exemptions for conflicts and compensation for investment recommendations to...more
Regulators Hit Jackpot: Off-Channel Communications - Several years before announcing the first “off-channel” communications enforcement action, the SEC and FINRA cautioned broker-dealers and investment advisers about...more
UPDATE: On August 8, I posted this blog article in contemplation of the DOL sending a new fiduciary proposal package to the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) in the White House. One month later, to the day, the receipt of...more
The DOL has not appealed the decision in the Florida Federal District Court that vacated its fiduciary “re-interpretation.” That re-interpretation, in effect, said that ongoing investment advice to a rollover IRA could be...more
To date, 27 states have adopted rules that follow the Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model Regulation issued by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Recent additions reflected in the following...more
The Department of Labor’s “Fiduciary Rule,” PTE 2020-02: The FAQs - Key Takeaways - ▪️ The DOL has issued FAQs that generally explain PTE 2020-02 and the expanded definition of fiduciary advice. ▪️ In FAQ 18, the DOL...more
In February 2020, the NAIC approved revisions to the Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model 275, adopting a four-part best interest obligation, including the following obligations: care, disclosure, conflict of interest,...more
Idaho and North Dakota have adopted wholesale the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) model suitability standard. Ohio also finalized its proposed rule adopting the NAIC model rule...more
Arizona has become the second state after Iowa to enact a best interest standard for the sale of annuities. Like the Iowa law, both of which become effective January 1, 2021, Arizona’s law is modeled after the National...more
On February 13, 2020, the NAIC Executive Committee adopted revisions to the Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model Regulation (#275) (Revised Suitability Model), which incorporates a best interest standard of conduct for...more
On December 30, 2019, the Life Insurance and Annuities (A) Committee approved a revised Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model Regulation (Revised Suitability Model), ending a flurry of activity over the past year....more
Arizona jumped out front of the pack with the introduction of Senate Bill No. 1557, titled "Annuity Transactions; Requirements," which would amend Arizona's suitability requirements for annuity transactions. Senate Bill No....more
On February 1, 2020, the New York Department of Financial Services’ Regulation 187 will go into effect for life insurance products. Although Regulation 187 went into effect with regard to annuity products on August 1, 2019,...more
With M&A activity for life insurers or blocks of in-force business poised for a possible spike, acquirers of life businesses should consider factors that are peculiar to, or disproportionately affect, the life and annuity...more
The NAIC Annuity Suitability Working Group (Suitability WG) spent the summer at the July 23, July 29, and August 3 Suitability WG meetings trying to get out of the parking lot and discussed several issues to frame up the...more
Ohio Department of Insurance Director Jillian Froment, the new chair of the Annuity Suitability Working Group (Working Group), invited regulators and interested parties to build the required standard of care foundation for...more
Broker-dealers selling annuity products in New York will soon need to comply with new best interest requirements imposed by New York’s amended Insurance Regulation 187. These requirements, which will take effect for annuities...more
Recent challenges filed by trade associations representing insurance agents in the state of New York seek to overturn the amendment of Regulation 187, which will impose a “best interest” standard on life insurance agents in...more
On October 22 and 23, the NAIC Annuity Suitability (A) Working Group (Suitability WG) held an interim meeting to review comments received on the Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model Regulation (Model 275) (Suitability...more
In June, we circulated our fifth article on the continuing saga regarding the standard of conduct for sales of securities and annuities — and the efforts of federal and state regulators to impose new conditions on the...more
On July 18, New York's Department of Financial Services (the "NY DFS") issued the final version of its Suitability and Best Interests in Life Insurance and Annuity Transactions Regulation (the "Suitability and Best Interest...more
The NAIC and the State of New York continue racing as each is revising its suitability regulation to incorporate enhanced standards of care. Only time will tell which version will gallop to victory....more
During the past two years, we have written about potential litigation arising under the Department of Labor’s, first proposed, then adopted fiduciary rule. In the first of those articles, when the Rule was initially proposed,...more
In response to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) Annuity Suitability Working Group’s (Suitability WG) proposed revisions to the "Suitability and Best Interest Standard of Conduct in Annuity...more