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 19, 2018 | ThinkAdvisor

SEC Halts $345M Ponzi-Like Scheme That Bilked Pro Athletes, Advisors

The scheme involved consumer debt portfolios, the SEC said.

By Melanie Waddell

4 minute read

August 21, 2018 | Daily Business Review

Boca Raton-Based Woodbridge Marketers Face SEC Charges

Five salespeople are accused of generating nearly $6 million in commissions as part of a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme built on fictitious real estate loans.

By Melanie Waddell

4 minute read