RIABiz

News, Vision & Voice for the Advisory Community

RIABiz

Merrill Lynch pulls advisors from a $2.9-billion business -- and leaves the light on for RIAs

The Bank of America subsidiary sees too much peril in the public-pension business and RIAs like John Beirne smell opportunity

Author Lisa Shidler February 5, 2013 at 4:15 PM
4 Comments
no description available
Rick Meigs: It seems like a big pot of assets to be walking away from.

401(k) Stories


Elmer Rich III

Elmer Rich III

February 5, 2013 — 4:53 PM

Oh oh. “Smart money leaves first.” Who are the “...companies who are finding opportunities in this space.” ?

Stephen Winks

Stephen Winks

February 5, 2013 — 7:22 PM

It should be noted that the industry wins 90% of the time in arbitrating individual client disputes and 99% of the time on appeal, so the potential for adverse rulings are minimal. Not so for state and municipal funds who can afford top legal counsel and have a massive public constituency which is highly newsworthy. A public relations battle no one wants. So Merrill’s calculation makes economic sense, but culturally raises the question of its ability to act ion a highly visible fiduciary role which will be subject to scrutiny which goes beyond the defenseless individual investor.

Importantly, while Europe is using a 2.5% discount rate to determine unfunded pension liability, the US is using 7% to 8%—which suggest big trouble in calculating the unfunded liability of public funds which are likely to be two or three times more underfunded than which is presently stated. Funding this deficit means massive increases in the state and municipal tax bases—which is untenable and a highly likely source of future litigation. It also raises the question of the integreity advisory services here in the US.

SCW

Elmer Rich III

Elmer Rich III

February 5, 2013 — 7:47 PM

Big difference! Sounds like big trouble. I suspect the commercial viability of this business has passed and some kind of utility will have to be installed – to maintain basic social order. No society can tolerate massive numbers of retirees being defaulted on.

http://www.classifile.com/nb574-2.html

http://www.classifile.com/nb574-2.html

December 12, 2013 — 8:42 PM

emium search. Air Nike jordans Merrill Lynch pulls advisors from a $2.9-billion business — and leaves the light on for RIAs | RIABiz 2012 can come in many different shades, along with the coloration that you just decide on is usually solely approximately ones identity. http://www.classifile.com/nb574-2.html Your gist from the document ended up being within the price cut gives that you may hunt for the appl.


Related Moves

September 1, 2022 at 5:11 AM


Mentioned in this article:

Sr. Consultant
Asset Manager for RIAs
Top Executive: Stephen Winks



RIABiz Directory

The Industry Sourcebook for RIAs

   |    LISTING


RIABiz Directory sponsored by:

Directory Sponsor Logo

White Paper Postings


Common Tags


Recent Articles


Popular Writers


RIABiz logo

RIABiz

About Us

Directory

Archives

Connect

RIABiz, Mill Valley, California
Copyright © 2009-2024 RIABiz Inc. All rights reserved.