The process to approve a new Fiduciary Rule by the Department of Labor is proving to be more of a marathon than a sprint. On August 9, 2017, the Department of Labor requested to delay review and applicability of the long-awaited fiduciary rule until July 1, 2019. Here we unpack what led to this, what it means for you, and what direction we can most likely expect things to go next. 

You may have heard about announcement of new Department of Labor (DOL) fiduciary rules today. In reviewing the final regulation’s highlights – I think the DOL has worked very closely with many industry practitioners in an effort to construct a workable rule that best serves working Americans while also recognizing the importance of advisors and service providers in creating successful retirement plans.

A version of this post originally appeared on Employee Benefit News  

After years of discussion, the Department of Labor has finally proposed a new rule altering the long-standing “fiduciary standard”. Controversial and contested from its initial discussions in 2010, these new regulations have been framed as a way to help the middle class avoid excessive fees and poor advice from financial professionals who do not already serve as a fiduciaries.