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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October 31, 2016 | National Law Journal

Treasury's Financial Crimes Unit Releases Cyber Guidance

Late October advisory also includes Frequently-Asked-Questions guidance.

By Melanie Waddell

5 minute read

October 27, 2016 | National Law Journal

Labor Dept. Releases FAQs on Fiduciary Rule

The U.S. Labor Department on Thursday released its widely anticipated frequently-asked-questions guidance on its fiduciary rule, answering 34 questions posed on new exemptions and amendments to existing exemptions.

By Melanie Waddell

7 minute read

October 26, 2016 | National Law Journal

DOL's Borzi: First Fiduciary Rule FAQs to Focus on BICE

FAQs will come in waves, with initial one out 'very soon'.

By Melanie Waddell / ThinkAdvisor

8 minute read

October 21, 2016 | National Law Journal

FINRA Blasted for Not Fixing 'Broken' BrokerCheck

PIABA, a group of lawyers who represents investors, says that FINRA wasted money on TV advertising pushing its 'flawed' system.

By Melanie Waddell / ThinkAdvisor

8 minute read

October 20, 2016 | Corporate Counsel

CFPB Must Now Justify Costs of Rules, Hensarling Warns

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, seizing on a federal appeals court ruling last week, warned Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray on Wednesday that his agency is no longer independent and must now follow executive orders that require regulatory authorities ensure the benefits of proposed regulations outweigh the costs.

By Melanie Waddell

4 minute read

October 20, 2016 | National Law Journal

CFPB Must Now Justify Costs of Rules, Hensarling Warns

By Melanie Waddell

5 minute read

October 20, 2016 | National Law Journal

Warren Questions 'Proper Accountability' at Wells Fargo

Senator Elizabeth Warren told Wells Fargo's board of directors on Thursday that John Stumpf's resignation is not enough to assure "proper accountability" at the bank, and raises questions about Stumpf's departing compensation and whether the bank's new chief executive was involved in the fake accounts scandal.

By Melanie Waddell

8 minute read

October 11, 2016 | National Law Journal

Thrivent Financial Fires Latest Salvo at Fiduciary Rule

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans became the sixth plaintiff to sue the U.S. Labor Department over its fiduciary rule in a complaint that challenges the class action waiver requirement under the rule's best interest contract exemption.

By Melanie Waddell

10 minute read

October 10, 2016 | National Law Journal

Under '40 Act, Robo-Advisors Are Fiduciaries: Morgan Lewis Lawyers

Digital advisors can meet fiduciary standards under 'flexible' principles of the Advisers Act.

By Melanie Waddell, ThinkAdvisor

12 minute read

September 13, 2016 | National Law Journal

Dodd-Frank Overhaul Bill Passes U.S. House Panel

A sweeping financial reform bill that seeks to replace the Dodd-Frank Act and kill the U.S. Labor Department's fiduciary rule passed out of U.S. House committee Tuesday by a 30-26 vote.

By Melanie Waddell

7 minute read

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