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A deeper look at Trump’s mandate to reconsider the fiduciary rule

The White House issued a Presidential Memorandum requiring the Department of Labor to take a second look at its “fiduciary rule.” The Memorandum directs the DOL to prepare an updated economic and legal analysis of the rule to determine whether, among other things, it may adversely affect the ability of Americans to gain access to retirement information and financial advice.

Following the completion of the analysis, the Memorandum states that the DOL is to consider whether it is appropriate to publish for notice and comment a proposed rule rescinding or revising the rule.

See also: DoL fiduciary rule delay seeks to outflank Trump's opponents

The Memorandum does not specifically require the DOL to delay the rule’s April 10 applicability date. However, some delay seems inevitable. Following the release of the memorandum, President Trump’s acting Secretary of Labor, Ed Hugler, issued the following statement: “The Department of Labor will now consider its legal options to delay the applicability date as we comply with the President’s Memorandum.”

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Policy considerations

The Memorandum provides that in preparing its updated economic and legal analysis, the DOL must consider:

  • Whether the anticipated applicability of the fiduciary rule has harmed or is likely to harm investors due to a reduction of Americans’ access to certain retirement savings offerings, retirement product structures, retirement savings information or related financial advice
  • Whether the anticipated applicability of the rule has resulted in disclosures or disruptions within the retirement services industry that may adversely affect investors or retirees
  • Whether the rule is likely to cause an increase in litigation and an increase in the prices that investors and retirees must pay to gain access to retirement services

The Memorandum requires the DOL to publish for notice and comment a proposed rule rescinding or revising the rule if it makes an affirmative determination as to any of the above considerations.

A proposed revision or rescission is also required if the DOL concludes for any other reason that the rule is inconsistent with the administration’s stated priority of empowering Americans to make their own financial decisions, to facilitate their ability to save for retirement and build the individual wealth necessary to afford typical lifetime expenses and to withstand unexpected financial emergencies.

Also see: Deducting IRA contributions on client tax returns

Likely delay in applicability
The Memorandum does not provide a deadline by which the DOL must complete its analysis, and it is unlikely that the DOL could complete its review before April 10 or release its findings before a new Secretary of Labor is in place.

Therefore, we expect the DOL will delay the applicability date on its own accord. One avenue to delay would be through a proposed rule subject to notice and comment. The DOL may determine, however, that the President’s Memorandum requiring an updated economic and legal analysis provides the department with “good cause” to avoid notice and comment.

Other paths to repeal
Congress may also weigh in directly on the rule through legislation, and the resulting delay could be viewed as a strategic move to give Congress time to do just that. Earlier this year, Congressman Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) introduced a bill to delay the rule’s implementation date by two years from enactment of the legislation.

A separate bill, the Financial Choice Act, would eliminate the fiduciary rule and prevent the DOL from promulgating a new rule until the date that is 60 days after the SEC issues a final rule relating to standards of conduct for brokers and dealers pursuant to Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

In addition to the pending legislation, there are also a number of court cases pending against the rule. In the most high-profile case, Judge Lynn of the Northern District of Texas notified the parties that she expects to issue an opinion on the cross-motions for summary judgment no later than February 10. It is likely, however, that any action in this case, as well as cases pending in Kansas, Minnesota and Washington DC, will be stayed pending a final determination on the rule’s fate.

Replace or fight
Regardless of its fate, the fiduciary rule has already had a tremendous impact on the retail retirement market. A number of financial organizations have revised their product line-ups, their approach to compensating client-facing advisers and their relationship with product providers.

Most financial organizations have spent a tremendous amount of time and dollars to prepare for full compliance. And proponents of the rule and other consumer advocates are not likely to allow the rule to die without a meaningful replacement or a meaningful fight.

All of that suggests that the President’s Memorandum is unlikely to be the last chapter in the long history of reform in the retail retirement market.

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Fiduciary Rule Fiduciary standard Financial regulations Law and regulation
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