Author

Guest Columnist Ron Rhoades

18 articles

Articles written by Guest Columnist Ron Rhoades

Page 1 of 2

Ron Rhoades: Simply put, at the age of 62, I was beginning to feel old.

May 7, 2021

The story of how Ron Rhoades sold his RIA to (and joined) a local $3.7-billion AUM firm to plan succession and to keep nearly a full professor's schedule

The ageless Kentucky-based advisor and fiduciary advocate is 63, plans to work to 77 and accepts his mortality but he doesn't want to choose between the teaching he loves and advising the clients he cherishes.

Ron Rhoades: Mr. Scaramucci likely saw the Department of Labor regulation as a threat to his firm.

Jul 22, 2017

In letter to RIABiz, Ron Rhoades reacts to the ardent DOL rule detractor commandeering the White House microphone

Citing the new voice of the White House as 'contrary' in his comments regarding the Labor Department's efforts to shift Wall Street's culture and ways, the fiduciary scholar beseeches Scramucci to think it over

Ron Rhoades: Certificants may choose to exit firms that do not follow the CFP Board’s lead.

Jun 20, 2017

The CFP Board's thunderbolt fiduciary play should proceed and likely will

The 'fiduciary at all times' approach is likely to be supported by the 77,000 CFPs themselves, if opposed by insurance lobbyists and their ilk

Ron Rhoades: Any 'complexity' ... is the direct result of their own appeal to the DOL to adapt the fiduciary principle to the conflicted compensation practices of the B-Ds and insurance companies.

Jul 19, 2016

The short scoop on Wall Street's claim that the DOL rule is too long

The core of the Labor Dept's rule is 237 words; blame the prolix portion on exemptions accorded to complainers' interests

Mark Egan: Holding brokers to a fiduciary standard over the period 2008-2012 would have increased investor returns by as much as 2.73% per annum.

Feb 1, 2016

Part II: Tick, tick ... How FINRA tramples on 'settled' principles of the Supreme Court, and even Adam Smith, in its sanctification of two-hatted advice

The 'best interests' standard of the stock cop ignores classical arm's-length principles, of economics and the law, implicit to the entrusting of care to professionals by evoking wonders of bare-knuckles capitalism

Richard Ketchum professed support for a fiduciary standard,then, in the same speech, opposed the DOL's proposed rule-making, calling it 'problematic.'

Jan 29, 2016

Tick, tick, tick ... FINRA rewrites 'culture,' 'conflicts of interest' and 'ethics' into a farcical 'best interests' code after DOL drops a bomb on its suitability ethos

In its latest burst of bureaucratic creativity, the wirehouse cop acknowledges the scourge of Wall Street culture then quickly excuses the behavior it elicits

Ron Rhoades: I say let these firms so depart the marketplace! There are many, many investment advisory firms willing to provide trusted advice for reasonable fees.

Jun 8, 2015

Why Wall Street's DOL killer threat -- that 'millions' of IRA investors will go unadvised under new rules -- is hogwash

Investors already have options and Wall Street's withdrawal, already in progress, can only improve investor outcomes

Ron Rhoades: Don’s view reflects a misunderstanding of the breadth of the fiduciary principle.

Feb 27, 2015

Why I disagree with Don Trone's characterization of Obama's fiduciary stance as 'punitive'

The essential component of fiduciary duty -- loyalty -- is what separates the advisor from the salesperson, according to fellow fiduciary advocate Ron Rhoades

Ron A. Rhoades: I don't believe that Republicans are immune to the persuasion of science.

May 20, 2014

Why RIAs (Republicans, too) need to snap out of willful ignorance about climate change to claim the mantle of wealth stewardship

Conscientious financial advisors must engage in real due diligence of original documents related to this subject

Ron Rhoades: There was a time when the SEC was respected. No more.

Dec 17, 2013

How the SEC has pulled a vanishing act, looking the other way while brokers with flimsy pretenses hold themselves out as trusted advisors

The federal keeper of the standards has stopped battling brokers from calling themselves 'wealth managers', advertising 'trust' or looking the other way on principal trades

Ron Rhoades: Here is the rub: the plan sponsor has great difficulty holding the "retirement plan consultant" to account, given the low standard of conduct applicable to measure the potential liability of a non-fiduciary consultant.

Aug 19, 2013

Legal analysis: Why the Yale 401(k) letters, limits aside, should raise an alarm to plan sponsors

Ayres may not have it all letter perfect but his basic points have a legal basis

Ron Rhoades: The broker-dealer, and its financial advisors, received way more compensation than the 0.85% annual amount they stated to Janet.

Aug 12, 2013

An X-ray of one affluent, educated and sophisticated investor's portfolio shows how it was chewed up by fees

Helping an ex-Fortune 500 retiree prepare for her appearance before Congress, the author waded through a mountain of paper only to discover that the woman was likely to outlive her portfolio

Ron Rhoades: Only we, as professionals, if armed with a history of its practical application, will be able to call upon Congress to implement a true fiduciary standard and the formation of a professional regulatory organization.

Jul 28, 2013

What the 8 pillars of a FINRA-replacing entity for RIA oversight look like and how personal accountability is key

First and foremost, the PRO would have as it members individuals (not firms) who are qualified to become members of the profession

Ron Rhoades: Shouldn't the phrase: 'member, FINRA' be viewed like the warnings on cigarette packages -- i.e., as a consumer warning sign?

Jul 17, 2013

FINRA's scandalous litany of failures and its efforts to redefine the true fiduciary standard out of existence

Our one-man think tank continues his scathing indictment of the SRO's disingenuous and downright fraudulent practices

Ron Rhoades: Brokers continue to operate with a free hand -- unburdened by the duty of nearly every other person in the U.S.

Jul 9, 2013

The story of FINRA's implacable drift from its founding ideals to a pallid 'no-lying baseline'

In Part 2 of a four-part series, our one-man think tank narrates the back story of today's fiduciary standoff, getting to the root of the 'insidious conflicts' that made the terms 'broker' and 'trustee' oxymoronic

Guest Columnist Ron Rhoades

Articles written by Guest Columnist Ron Rhoades

The story of how Ron Rhoades sold his RIA to (and joined) a local $3.7-billion AUM firm to plan succession and to keep nearly a full professor's schedule

In letter to RIABiz, Ron Rhoades reacts to the ardent DOL rule detractor commandeering the White House microphone

The CFP Board's thunderbolt fiduciary play should proceed and likely will

The short scoop on Wall Street's claim that the DOL rule is too long

Part II: Tick, tick ... How FINRA tramples on 'settled' principles of the Supreme Court, and even Adam Smith, in its sanctification of two-hatted advice

Tick, tick, tick ... FINRA rewrites 'culture,' 'conflicts of interest' and 'ethics' into a farcical 'best interests' code after DOL drops a bomb on its suitability ethos

Why Wall Street's DOL killer threat -- that 'millions' of IRA investors will go unadvised under new rules -- is hogwash

Why I disagree with Don Trone's characterization of Obama's fiduciary stance as 'punitive'

Why RIAs (Republicans, too) need to snap out of willful ignorance about climate change to claim the mantle of wealth stewardship

How the SEC has pulled a vanishing act, looking the other way while brokers with flimsy pretenses hold themselves out as trusted advisors

Legal analysis: Why the Yale 401(k) letters, limits aside, should raise an alarm to plan sponsors

An X-ray of one affluent, educated and sophisticated investor's portfolio shows how it was chewed up by fees

What the 8 pillars of a FINRA-replacing entity for RIA oversight look like and how personal accountability is key

FINRA's scandalous litany of failures and its efforts to redefine the true fiduciary standard out of existence

The story of FINRA's implacable drift from its founding ideals to a pallid 'no-lying baseline'

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