How to protect retirement savings

In late 1994, the tools became available to create a firm like Pittenger & Anderson.  The internet was coming of age, fees were dropping, and Charles Schwab decided to support Registered Investment Advisor firms in order to get the RIA clients’ business.  The prototype fee structure for a firm like ours dropped from 2.5% to 1%…which is significant, to say the least.  To fulfill the type of relationship we envisioned, our contract contained the following sentence in the third line of the first paragraph:

Advisor will be compensated by management fee only and held to a fiduciary standard, occupying a position of trust, and always putting the Client’s interests first.

This verbiage identified P&A as a fiduciary and separated us from the herd of stockbrokers we used to work with.   We were different, proud, and had a story to tell.  Since that time, regulators have made several passes at articulating the difference between a fiduciary advisor and a stockbroker.  “Wall Street” has lobbied against such regulation and prior attempts were either rebuffed or watered down.

We thought it appropriate to share an article from Investment News titled “How the Biden administration can protect retirement savings.”  This article is an easy read, less than half a magazine page, without a lot of intimidating words.  Although it cites failure by recent administrations, you should know that we have been critical of everyone since Nixon’s day and would go back further had we been registered longer.  We’re just too young.  Unfortunately, the end is not in sight.  We welcome regulation that will even the playing field and remove the confusion that impacts the ability of investors seeking unbiased advice.

Our blog posts and quarterly letters will continue to keep you posted on victories and defeats in this effort.

 

Clicking on the links above may result in you leaving the Pittenger & Anderson, Inc. website. The opinions and ideas expressed on these external websites are those of third-party vendors and Pittenger & Anderson, Inc. has not approved or endorsed any of this third-party content. For the full Terms & Conditions of using the Pittenger & Anderson, Inc. website, click on this link.

Pittenger & Anderson, Inc. does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal, or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal, and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.  Additionally, the information presented here is not intended to be a recommendation to buy or sell any specific security.  To learn more about our firm and investment approach, check out our Form ADV.

Click here to download the PDF version of this article.

Was this post helpful?

Previous

Next

Since 1995, Pittenger & Anderson has guided individuals and families going through money-in-motion events. We are a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor and a full-time fiduciary providing investment management, financial planning, and complimentary services to 800+ clients in over 30 U.S. states.

Get P&A in your inbox!

Get P&A in your inbox!

Our once-a-month email is designed to cover topics that impact your financial life, whether you’re just starting out, mid-career, or enjoying retirement.  Learn about planning opportunities, our thoughts on the markets, and many other empowering topics.  We will never sell or give away your email address, nor will we spam you.  We embrace the Golden Rule.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

The Confidence Your Money is Looking For

The Confidence Your Money is Looking For

Please enter your name and email below.

You have Successfully Subscribed!