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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September 06, 2016 | National Law Journal

Ex-SEC Whistleblower Chief Lands at Phillips & Cohen

Sean McKessy, the former head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Office of the Whistleblower, has joined the whistleblower law firm Phillips & Cohen as a partner in its Washington office.

By Melanie Waddell

5 minute read

August 31, 2016 | National Law Journal

Texas Judge Restricts Amicus Briefs in DOL 'Fiduciary Rule' Case

The federal judge overseeing the case in Texas against the U.S. Labor Department's fiduciary rule on Wednesday denied considering all but two of the eight amicus briefs filed in the court, allowing only submissions from the Financial Planning Coalition and the American Association for Justice.

By Melanie Waddell

11 minute read

August 24, 2016 | National Law Journal

DOL's 'Fiduciary Rule' Heads to Court, and Here's What to Expect

On Thursday, a federal judge in Washington is set to hear the first major challenge to the U.S. Labor Department's fiduciary rule, which calls for brokers handling retirement accounts to work in their clients' "best interests"—a heightened standard designed to curb billions of dollars in fees paid to financial industry. Here's a snapshot of what to expect, and what's up next.

By C. Ryan Barber and Melanie Waddell

15 minute read

August 15, 2016 | National Law Journal

Federal Appeals Court Broadens Investment Advisor Definition

A U.S. federal appeals court Friday broadly defined the term "for compensation" for purposes of determining whether a defendant who defrauded clients should be judged an investment advisor under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

By Melanie Waddell

8 minute read

August 09, 2016 | National Law Journal

Fight Brews in Kansas, Texas Courts Over DOL Fiduciary Rule

A fight is brewing in the Kansas and Texas courts over whether to allow advocates and opponents of the U.S. Department of Labor's fiduciary rule to state their case.

By Melanie Waddell

14 minute read

July 20, 2016 | National Law Journal

DOL Overstepped Authority in Fiduciary Rule, U.S. Chamber Tells Judge

The U.S. Department of Labor, in finalizing its fiduciary rule, "has sought to transform the financial services and insurance industries, stepping far beyond its authority" under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and the IRS code that governs individual retirement accounts, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said in its latest court papers in a case in Texas.

By Melanie Waddell

12 minute read

July 18, 2016 | National Law Journal

U.S. Labor Dept. Says Fiduciary Guidance Coming Soon

The U.S. Department of Labor plans to "push out guidance fairly shortly" to address questions about compliance with Labor's fiduciary rule, Timothy Hauser, chief operating officer of DOL's Employee Benefits Security Administration, said Monday.

By Melanie Waddell

13 minute read

July 11, 2016 | Corporate Counsel

U.S. Justice Dept. Defends DOL's Fiduciary Rule

The U.S. Justice Department is urging a Washington federal judge to reject a challenge to a sweeping new rule that requires investment advisors to work in their clients' best interests—a heightened standard aimed at protecting retirement savers from billions of dollars in fees.

By Melanie Waddell and C. Ryan Barber

12 minute read

July 11, 2016 | National Law Journal

U.S. Justice Dept. Defends DOL's Fiduciary Rule

By Melanie Waddell and C. Ryan Barber

9 minute read