BNY Mellon's Pershing Launches New Solutions and Resources to Help Firms Comply with the DOL Conflict of Interest Rule

ORLANDO, Fla., June 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Pershing LLC, a BNY Mellon company, today announced its solutions and resources to help financial services firms comply with the Department of Labor's (DOL) Conflict of Interest rule. Over the past 18 months, Pershing has been working to help firms understand the rule and developing solutions, which it will soon start to roll out.

"While some aspects of  the final version of the DOL's Conflict of Interest Rule will be easier to implement than the initial proposal,  the essence of the rule is the same and it could profoundly change financial services firms' operating models, compensation arrangements and supervisory structures," said Rob Cirrotti, managing director and head of retirement and investment solutions at Pershing. "We've identified various needs that have emerged as a result of the new rule and have been working to develop solutions to help our clients achieve success in this regulatory environment.  The combination of our new and existing tools helps our clients operate as fiduciaries."

Each of the solutions and resources are designed to help financial services firms address changes in the following key areas: transitioning to an advisory model, exemption compliance, supervision and surveillance.  

Advisory Programs

The DOL rule is likely to impact the shift toward the advisory model— as registered reps consider the switch from a commission-based brokerage model where products are sold to investors, to fee-based advisory relationships where products are bought for investors. Pershing will launch the following new advisory capabilities to assist with this transition:

• New mutual fund and/ETF wrap solutions designed to serve emerging investors. Pershing clients will be able to access expanded managed account solutions to help them serve a broad spectrum of investors from emerging to mass affluent investors. The solutions feature mutual fund/exchange traded fund (ETF) models from industry leading firms designed to provide a diversified risk-based portfolio with lower account minimums.
• Enhanced versions of Pershing's practice management materials supporting the shift to advisory will be available. Pershing also plans to roll out third-party tools to facilitate conversations between registered reps and their clients on transitioning accounts. Pershing is currently examining planning tools and other resources that advisors may use to help with the transition of client accounts where appropriate.

Prohibited Transaction Exemption Compliance

The industry will have to adapt to new compliance realities and the nuances of prohibited transaction exemptions, which allow firms and advisors to be compensated if certain conditions are met. In response, Pershing is developing solutions to help firms and registered reps  who determine that compliance with the new Best Interest Contract Exemption (BIC) is warranted. The solutions will be designed to facilitate end-to-end compliance— from creating contracts and disclosures to record-keeping. Pershing is also developing programs for broker-dealers to manage contracts, disclosure and controls to support their compliance needs.

Supervision and Surveillance

As a condition of the BIC exemption, firms and registered reps will need to adhere to the Impartial Conduct Standards, which includes using prudence when delivering investment advice. In light of the prudence standard, Pershing expects that there will be a greater need for surveillance and supervision to achieve compliance and document evidence of it. Pershing is in the process of determining which reporting packages and workflows need to be created for firms to ensure their advisors are compliant.  Pershing is also examining enhancements to allow firms to supervise and surveil assets on their platform.

For more resources from Pershing on the DOL's Conflict of Interest Rule, visit https://www.pershing.com/dol .

About Pershing

Pershing and its affiliates provide global financial business solutions to advisors, asset managers, broker-dealers, family offices, registered investment advisor firms and wealth managers. A financial services firm located in 23 offices worldwide, Pershing provides business-to-business solutions to clients representing 6 million active investor accounts on the U.S. platform. Pershing affiliates are members of every major U.S. securities exchange, and its international affiliates are members of the Deutsche Börse, Australian Stock Exchange, Irish Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange. Pershing LLC (member FINRA/NYSE/SIPC) is a BNY Mellon company. Additional information is available on pershing.com, or follow us on Twitter @Pershing.

About BNY Mellon

BNY Mellon is a global investments company dedicated to helping its clients manage and service their financial assets throughout the investment lifecycle. Whether providing financial services for institutions, corporations or individual investors, BNY Mellon delivers informed investment management and investment services in 35 countries and more than 100 markets. As of March 31, 2016, BNY Mellon had $29.1 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration, and $1.6 trillion in assets under management. BNY Mellon can act as a single point of contact for clients looking to create, trade, hold, manage, service, distribute or restructure investments. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com. Follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon or visit our newsroom at www.bnymellon.com/newsroom for the latest company news.

Cassandra Osei   +1 201 413 3394   [email protected]

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SOURCE BNY Mellon