As the Department of Labor (DOL) continues pushing forward determined to redefine the term 'fiduciary,' members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have become keenly aware of the potential risks of the new rule. As I have mentioned here previously, this new rule would price millions of Main Street American investors out of access to professional advice on their IRAs, and significantly increase investor confusion at a time no one can afford to be confused.
The Financial Services Institute (FSI) and members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have been outspoken in demanding transparency from the DOL during the rule-making process. In response, unfortunately, the Department has told us all that we will simply have to wait until its revised proposal is finished to know where they are headed with the rule.
At a hearing of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on March 21, however, Republican and Democratic members of Congress alike made it clear to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis that the Department's approach on this crucial issue is wearing thin.
Addressing Secretary Solis, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) said, "I think it's time, to be very honest with you, for many of us, the members of Congress, to sit down with the heads [of the Department] and try to figure out how we're going to go on this. I think it's really very important because this has been dragging on now for quite a long time. It's not good. Businesses need to know what they're going to be doing. Certainly we, many of us here on this particular committee, many on the Financial Services Committee, would like to work together and see if we can come to some sort of resolution in the near future."
Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) said, "I'm concerned the Department is asking the wrong questions. This won't get to the issue of how employees make the right decisions. How we can increase access to investment advice. Are you finished asking for additional data? I hope not."
