Melanie Waddell

Melanie is senior editor and Washington bureau chief of ThinkAdvisor. Her ThinkAdvisor coverage zeros in on how politics, policy, legislation and regulations affect the investment advisory space. Melanie’s coverage has been cited in various lawmakers’ reports, letters and bills, and in the Labor Department’s fiduciary rule in 2024. In 2019, Melanie received an Honorable Mention, Range of Work by a Single Author award from @Folio. Melanie joined Investment Advisor magazine as New York bureau chief in 2000. She has been a columnist since 2002. She started her career in Washington in 1994, covering financial issues at American Banker. Since 1997, Melanie has been covering investment-related issues, holding senior editorial positions at American Banker publications in both Washington and New York. Briefly, she was content chief for Internet Capital Group’s EFinancialWorld in New York and wrote freelance articles for Institutional Investor. Melanie holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Towson University. She interned at The Baltimore Sun and its suburban edition.

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February 09, 2017 | Corporate Counsel

Labor Pick Puzder's Nomination Hearing Set for Feb. 16

Acting Labor Seretary Hugler likely to act 'in short order' to delay fiduciary rule

By Melanie Waddell, ThinkAdvisor

8 minute read

February 08, 2017 | Texas Lawyer

DOL Wins Fiduciary Rule Case in Texas

Texas federal trial Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn ruled in favor Wednesday of the Labor Department in the case brought by nine plaintiffs against Labor's fiduciary rule.

By Melanie Waddell

17 minute read

February 08, 2017 | National Law Journal

DOL's Retirement-Savings Rule Survives Another Court Challenge

A Texas federal trial judge on Wednesday upheld the Obama administration's sweeping new rules for the retirement-advice industry, rejecting a challenge from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other groups that said the regulations were unduly burdensome.

By Melanie Waddell

16 minute read

February 03, 2017 | National Law Journal

Trump Tells Labor Department to Halt Fiduciary Rule

President Donald Trump on Friday signed a directive telling the U.S. Labor Department to halt implementation of rules targeting conflicts of interest in the retirement-saving industry. The fiduciary rule, facing challenges in several federal courts, is set to take effect April 10.

By Melanie Waddell

9 minute read

January 31, 2017 | National Law Journal

Trump to Direct DOL to Delay Fiduciary Rule: Sources

President Donald Trump is expected to issue this week an order directing the Department of Labor to delay its fiduciary rule, according to two attorneys familiar with the matter.

By Melanie Waddell, ThinkAdvisor

6 minute read

January 30, 2017 | National Law Journal

Donald Trump Promises a 'Big Number on Dodd-Frank'

After meeting with small business leaders Monday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to require federal agencies to propose deleting two regulations for each new one they issue, and also said his administration plans to do a "big number" on the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

By Melanie Waddell

10 minute read

January 25, 2017 | Legaltech News

Bank Regulators' Cybersecurity Approach is Misguided, Chamber Says

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce blasts 'prescriptive cybersecurity standards' for financial entities.

By Melanie Waddell

5 minute read

January 24, 2017 | National Law Journal

U.S. Chamber Calls Bank Regulators' Cyber Approach a 'Mistake'

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is urging federal banking regulators to avoid imposing "prescriptive cybersecurity standards" on the financial sector and instead support such entities adopting a "risk-based" approach to address their unique threats.

By Melanie Waddell

6 minute read

January 19, 2017 | National Law Journal

SEC Chair Mary Jo White Says Goodbye, For Now

SEC Chairwoman Mary Jo White sits down with ThinkAdvisor's Melanie Waddell for a wide-ranging interview that covered the fiduciary rule she fought hard to get passed (but didn't), advisor exams and her "broken windows" approach to pursuing violations. She also addressed her thoughts on Jay Clayton, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for SEC chairman.

By Melanie Waddell

13 minute read

January 17, 2017 | National Law Journal

DOL Releases Two Batches of Fiduciary-Rule FAQs

The U.S. Labor Department has issued back-to-back guidance, in the form of frequently asked questions, for advisors, investors and workers regarding the agency's fiduciary rule, which takes effect on April 10.

By Melanie Waddell

12 minute read

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