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Home‘Occupy Wall Street’ Should ‘Occupy Washington’
Posted by Larry Doyle on October 7th, 2011 11:53 AM |
Is Wall Street the center of all the problems in America?
Many of those involved in the “Occupy Wall Street’ demonstrations may think so.
I strongly believe that they are wrong.
Those with a keen ‘sense on cents‘ understand that Wall Street does embody part of our national problems. They also appreciate that the stench that overhangs Wall Street is consistent with an incestuous and far stronger odor emanating from Washington. (more…)
Can Congress Read? Does It Open Mail Re: FINRA?
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 29th, 2011 1:59 PM |
Do those in Congress know how to read? Do they open their mail?
News is leaking that Congress may be inclined to have Wall Street’s self-regulator, FINRA, gain oversight of the investment advisory industry. That industry is currently regulated by the SEC and operates under a fiduciary standard.
The industry is fighting tooth and nail NOT to be regulated by FINRA which regulates broker-dealers under the less stringent suitability standard.
While the investment advisory industry and FINRA are duking it out, let’s return to my initial questions. Do those in Congress know how to read? Do they open their mail? Why do I ask? (more…)
SEC and FINRA “Accountability Is Impossible Without Transparency”
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 17th, 2011 6:46 AM |
“Good corporate governance is a system in which those who manage a company — that is, officers and directors — are effectively held accountable for their decisions and performance. But accountability is impossible without transparency.”
Truer words were never spoken. The above statement very succinctly highlights a cornerstone principle of Sense on Cents. Whomever issued this proclamation would certainly seem to be a strong candidate for the Sense on Cents Hall of Fame. Regrettably not.
Our current SEC chair Mary Schapiro offered those pearls of wisdom in December 2009 and the Washington Post concluded its commentary SEC Tightens Rules On Investment Advisers, Corporate Transparency with that quote from Ms. Schapiro. If only Mary would practice what she preached. (more…)
President Obama, “Are You In?”
Posted by Larry Doyle on May 25th, 2011 7:57 AM |
Information is everything.
Regular readers of Sense on Cents are well aware of my having written that statement on many an occasion. Those on Wall Street who gain early access to critical information have a decided advantage. Those in Washington who gain the upper hand in controlling the flow of information are also at a decided advantage.
As these realities become ever more prevalent, Americans and people worldwide are working harder and digging deeper to attain unbridled access to information in order to determine the truth and promote transparency. With major media outlets often failing us in these pursuits, where do we turn for this information? The internet.
Against this backdrop, I am not surprised to see political powers in Washington accept and embrace the reality of the power of the information superhighway and put an ‘eye in the sky’ in order to monitor the traffic. To what do I allude? (more…)
Lieutenant Colonel Elton Johnson on Way to Afghanistan Calls Out Finra…AGAIN!!
Posted by Larry Doyle on February 11th, 2011 7:07 AM |
I first wrote about Wall Street’s self-regulatory organization, FINRA (the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) in January 2009. At that point and ever since I have believed strongly that for a revitalization of the health and confidence of our capital markets, our economy, and ultimately our nation itself that FINRA needed to become a MUCH more transparent organization. Regular readers of Sense on Cents know how passionately I feel.
Regrettably, though, outside of those regularly involved in the financial industry, I believe few people in our nation even know who FINRA is or what they do regulating Wall Street. I strongly believe that reality needs to change. Who would seem to share my belief? Amerivet Securities’ Lieutenant Colonel Elton Johnson, a member of the United States Army Reserve. (more…)
Questions Left Unanswered
Posted by Larry Doyle on February 7th, 2011 7:13 AM |
Some random thoughts and questions in the midst of trying to determine what is really going on in the markets, the economy, and the world:
1. Just how healthy are our major money center banks? How many toxic mortgage related assets remain on their books? Where are those assets marked? With the housing market continuing to erode, and it is, how can those asset valuations not be eroding as well?
2. Will the American public ever truly learn what happened inside Bernard Madoff’s operations? (more…)
How Did FINRA Know the ARS Market Was Failing Well Before 2007?
Posted by Larry Doyle on December 1st, 2010 10:24 PM |
If you knew a market were starting to fail, would you step in and purchase that asset?
If that market were failing, but simultaneously being propped up by underwriters, do you believe regulators should protect you?
If that market were failing and a regulator charged with protecting you actually dumped some of those failing assets from its own portfolio, how would you feel?
If you owned some of these securities, do you think you might be protected by the regulator? The government?
Let’s reenter the world of auction rate securities and continue to bang the drum for those investors in America who have been so badly mistreated by the financial industry, the regulators charged with protecting them, and our government.
Although I have written voluminously on the auction-rate securities market, I was never fully aware of when auctions started to fail. Until now. (more…)
FINRA vs Amerivet Attorneys: Mano a Mano
Posted by Larry Doyle on September 30th, 2010 8:29 AM |
Will America ever learn what truly transpired within Wall Street’s self-regulatory organization, FINRA? Will FINRA be allowed to placate its members and America while not addressing the hard questions those constituencies want answered?
FINRA member firms voted overwhelmingly in support of a number of non-binding proxy proposals sponsored by Amerivet Securities. I highlighted the overwhelming vote in my August 14th commentary, FINRA Gets New ‘Sheriffs’; Amerivet Proxy Proposals Approved!! Well, I know that our financial regulatory system is far from democratic but FINRA’s response to the overwhelming votes leads one to believe FINRA looks to redefine the term, “autocratic.” Let’s review the FINRA statement and the counterpunch provided by the attorneys representing Amerivet Securities. (more…)
“A Blow to Mary Schapiro”
Posted by Larry Doyle on September 24th, 2010 8:20 AM |
The battle for truth, transparency, and integrity within the ring of our economic landscape is nothing short of a 15-round heavyweight brawl. With many rabbit punches thrown by those embedded in the Wall Street-Washington incestuous relationship parried and countered by those who want the aforementioned virtues, this encounter would be great entertainment if it were not so serious and impactful on our nation’s well being. Breaking news last night clearly had the judges giving the most recent round in this pugilistic engagement to those in the transparency corner. Let’s wind the tape and get after it.
With news that both Houses of Congress have now voted to repeal the SEC’s exemption from FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests, our ongoing pursuit of truth, transparency, and integrity won a round — but not yet the fight — yesterday. For those unaware of this story, I will offer some highlights, add some between round commentary, AND then ask the hard hitting questions you will most assuredly not see elsewhere.
