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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November 21, 2016 | National Law Journal

Coalition Urges Trump Not to Dump DOL's Fiduciary Rule

Consumer and financial reform advocates are urging the incoming Trump administration to spare the U.S. Labor Department's fiduciary rule, as government lawyers press a Washington judge not to freeze his decision upholding the merits of the new regulations.

By Melanie Waddell

7 minute read

November 18, 2016 | National Law Journal

Judge in Texas Case 'Very Hard' on DOL Rule, Lawyer Says

Lawyers who attended the oral arguments Thursday in a Texas federal district court in the case challenging the U.S. Labor Department's fiduciary rule had differing views about which way U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn was leaning.

By Melanie Waddell

9 minute read

November 15, 2016 | National Law Journal

SEC's White: No SEC Fiduciary Rule Coming Before January

In her final House Financial Services panel testimony, White said that the agency is still 'significantly' underfunded.

By Melanie Waddell

9 minute read

November 14, 2016 | National Law Journal

Mary Jo White Will Leave SEC at End of Obama's Term

SEC Chairwoman Mary Jo White said Monday she plans to leave as head of the agency at the end of the Obama administration in January. White, who became the 31st SEC chairwoman in April 2013, is one of the longest serving agency chiefs.

By Melanie Waddell

8 minute read

November 14, 2016 | National Law Journal

SEC Chief Says Fintech May Need New Regulation

New regulations may be needed to keep up with the "speed and impact" of financial technology developments, SEC Chairwoman Mary Jo White said Monday.

By Melanie Waddell

7 minute read

November 09, 2016 | National Law Journal

Trump, GOP Could Torpedo Fiduciary Rule, Dodd-Frank

President-elect Donald Trump's stunning victory over Hillary Clinton for the White House—coupled with the GOP majority in both chambers of Congress—could spell the end of the U.S. Labor Department's fiduciary rule and lead to the repeal of the Dodd-Frank financial reform law.

By Melanie Waddell

6 minute read

November 07, 2016 | National Law Journal

Annuity Group to Appeal DOL Fiduciary-Rule Court Decision

The National Association for Fixed Annuities said Monday it will appeal the decision by a Washington federal trial judge denying the annuity group's request to block the U.S. Department of Labor's fiduciary rule.

By Melanie Waddell

13 minute read

November 04, 2016 | National Law Journal

Labor Dept.'s 'Fiduciary Rule' Survives Early Hurdle in Washington Court

A Washington federal trial judge on Friday refused to block the U.S. Labor Department's sweeping new "fiduciary rule" that the Obama administration crafted to help curtail conflicts of interest in the retirement-planning industry.

By C. Ryan Barber and Melanie Waddell

13 minute read

November 03, 2016 | National Law Journal

Former Ernst & Young Partner, Disciplined for Audit, Mounts New Challenge

A former Ernst & Young partner who was fined and disciplined by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board over "reckless" accounting work for a pharmaceuticals company will challenge the case in a Washington federal appeals court.

By Melanie Waddell

10 minute read

October 31, 2016 | National Law Journal

Former FTC Assistant Director Matthew Reilly Joins Kirkland & Ellis in D.C.

Matthew Reilly, former FTC Assistant Director and antitrust partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett joined Kirkland & Ellis' antitrust practice in Washington on Oct. 31.

By Melanie Waddell

12 minute read

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