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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April 19, 2018 | National Law Journal

SEC OKs Best-Interest Proposal for Brokers

The proposal will go out for a 90-day comment period; Commissioner Kara Stein dissented.

By Melanie Waddell

3 minute read

April 10, 2018 | National Law Journal

New Stradley Ronon Group to Help Advisors Navigate Fiduciary Rules

The group, staffed with ex-SEC officials, will help advisors and BDs comply with 'multiple and conflicting' fiduciary standards.

By Melanie Waddell

2 minute read

March 22, 2018 | National Law Journal

Clayton: SEC Fiduciary Rule on Track Despite DOL Court Defeat

At the SIFMA compliance conference, Jay Clayton told Ken Bentsen that the court ruling on Labor's fiduciary rule “hasn't affected” the SEC's approach to its fiduciary rule-making.

By Melanie Waddell.

4 minute read

March 16, 2018 | National Law Journal

Fate of DOL Fiduciary Rule in Question After Court Strikedown

The 5th Circuit decision creates uncertainty days after another court upheld part of the rule, attorney Erin Sweeney says.

By Melanie Waddell

5 minute read

March 15, 2018 | National Law Journal

Divided Fifth Circuit Scraps Obama-Era 'Fiduciary Rule'

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Thursday divided 2-1 in striking down the Obama-era U.S. Labor Department's fiduciary rule. The regulations, targeting conflicts of interest in the retirement-savings industry, expanded the definition of "fiduciary." Business groups challenged the rule.

By Melanie Waddell

6 minute read

March 13, 2018 | National Law Journal

DOL Wins Fiduciary Challenge in Federal Court

An appeals court rules that Labor did not 'arbitrarily treat fixed indexed annuities differently from fixed annuities.'

By Melanie Waddell

2 minute read

February 05, 2018 | National Law Journal

SEC Chief Warns Lawyers to Stay Professional When Advising ICOs

SEC staff on 'high alert' for violations of securities laws, professional obligations of the U.S. securities bar

By Melanie Waddell

2 minute read

January 26, 2018 | National Law Journal

'Big, Beautiful Gold Scissors' Are Cutting Regs: Trump's Regulatory Czar

"The administration didn't go after the problem with little scissors, but really with something more like the big, beautiful gold scissors … to cut red tape,” Neomi Rao, the Trump administration's regulatory czar, said.

By Melanie Waddell

5 minute read

December 19, 2017 | National Law Journal

House Passes GOP Tax Cut Bill

Bill now moves to Senate for vote; Trump expected to sign into law as soon as Wednesday.

By Melanie Waddell

2 minute read

December 05, 2017 | The Recorder

Perkins Coie Hires Former SEC Fintech Examiner

Michael Didiuk, who spent nearly the past eight years in a variety of roles at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, has joined the firm as a partner in San Francisco.

By Melanie Waddell

20 minute read

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