SEC Investor Advisory Committee Gets New Members, Tees Up 'Best Interest' Debate

A panel will discuss when financial professionals are "investment advice fiduciaries"; six new members joined the committee.

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Investment Advisory Committee plans to discuss at its Sept. 19 meeting who is required to act in investors’ best interest.

In light of the July 2024 Federal District Court stays of the Labor’s Department’s Retirement Security Rule and related rulemaking, “there is uncertainty and confusion among many investors as to when their financial professionals are ‘investment advice fiduciaries,’” the SEC said in announcing the upcoming committee meeting.

New Members

On Sept. 10, the SEC announced that six new members filled vacancies on the committee.

The new members, who will serve four-year terms, join 17 current committee members.

“The new members bring valuable experiences to the Investor Advisory Committee. I thank each of them for their willingness to serve, providing the Commission with important perspectives on behalf of investors,” said SEC Chairman Gary Gensler in a statement.

The newest members are: