News Release
Trump Labor Department Gives Fiduciary Rule Go-Ahead, Despite Harmful Impact on Savers and Investors
Today, Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta announced his agency will proceed with the controversial fiduciary rule. CEI senior fellow John Berlau warns that the coming restrictions…
News Release
Berlau Criticizes Government Confiscation of Fannie/Freddie Shareholder Profits
Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mel Watt is set to testify before the Senate Banking Committee today about government-backed mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie…
Newsmax
Financial CHOICE Act Could Unshackle Small Business
As National Small Business Week is unfolded during the previous week, the House Financial Services Committee marked up a bill on Thursday of last week…
Blog
Financial Choice Act Advances National Small Business Week
As National Small Business Week is unfolding, the House Financial Services Committee is now marking up a bill to lend small businesses a helping hand.
Washington Free Beacon
GOP Urges Acosta to Block Obama Retirement Rule
The Washington Free Beacon discusses why the Department of Labor should eliminate the fiduciary rule with John Berlau. Labor watchdogs also have called…
News Release
CEI’s John Berlau Warns Trump Against Return to Glass-Steagall Banking Restrictions
President Trump said on Monday in a Bloomberg News interview that he was considering breaking up America’s biggest banks. “I’m looking at that right now,”…
Politico
No Obamacare vote this week
Politico’s Morning Money highlights John Berlau’s review of President Trump’s first one hundred days in office. TRUMP IN REVIEW — CEI’s John Berlau:…
Washington Free Beacon
Acosta Is New Secretary of Labor
The Washington Free Beacon discusses the confirmation of Alexander Acosta as Labor Secretary with John Berlau. Conservative legal experts urged Acosta to act…
Consumer Reports
How Consumer Financial Protections Could Be Rolled Back
Consumer Reports discusses removing the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau with John Berlau. Supporters of the current structure, in which the…
News Release
CEI Priorities for New Labor Secretary Acosta
The Senate on Thursday confirmed Alexander Acosta to head the U.S. Department of Labor. CEI experts on labor and financial policy, respectively, offered their thoughts…
CNBC
Banks and Trump: ‘The Rally Has Met Reality’
CNBC discusses President Trumps banking and finance policy agenda with John Berlau. Trump’s rhetoric has alternated between being tough on Wall Street risk-taking…
Politico Morning Money
So … No Shutdown: Financial Fixes Report
Politico’s Morning Money highlights John Berlau’s report on five key financial reforms. FINANCIAL FIXES REPORT — The Competitive Enterprise Institute on Tuesday is…
News Release
Five Financial Reforms to Help Jumpstart U.S. Economic and Investment Opportunities
A new Competitive Enterprise Institute report identifies five urgent financial reform priorities needed to free people from regulations that hurt small businesses and entrepreneurs…
Study
Five Key Financial Regulation Reforms
View Full Document as PDF First there was “fintech,” now there is “regtech.” Fintech—short for “financial technology”—is the popular term to describe…
News Release
Trump Order on Too Big To Fail a Good Start to Ending Red Tape, Bailouts
Today, President Trump is set to sign a presidential memorandum aimed, in part, at reviewing the process for designating non-bank financial institutions as “systemically important,” better…
News Release
White House, Congress Should Not Resurrect Failed Glass-Steagall Banking Restrictions
Statement by John Berlau, Competitive Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow: Rather than restrict services banks can provide, the White House and lawmakers should…
News Release
Delaying the Fiduciary Rule will be a Big Reprieve for Savers
The Trump Labor Department on April 5 sent the Office of Management and Budget its final rule requesting a 60-day delay for the Obama fiduciary…
Forbes
Happy 5th Birthday, JOBS Act! — Celebrate By Expanding Deregulation
After the recent failure of the Republican-sponsored “repeal and replace” health care bill, it’s hard to imagine members of this Congress coming to consensus even…
Newsmax
We Can’t Afford Cordray’s, CFPB’s Opulence
Even before its namesake ran for president, Trump Tower was seen as a symbol of the ultimate in opulence. Since the election, some have quipped…
Comment
Testimony of John Berlau to House Oversight Committee
Blog
Help Stop Obamacare for Your IRA and 401(k)
While Congress is battling over repeal of Obamacare, President Donald Trump is setting a course to repeal a regulation that the Obama administration pushed through…
News Release
CEI Praises Trump Move to Seek Fiduciary Rule Delay
Forbes
‘Cordray Tower’ And Other Reasons For Trump To Fire CFPB Director Cordray
Even before its namesake ran for President, Trump Tower was seen as a symbol of the ultimate in opulence. Since the election, some have quipped…
Blog
Mnuchin Must Bring Transparency to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Recently-confirmed Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin must do everything he can to reverse the extreme secrecy practiced by the Obama Treasury Department.
Wall Street Journal
Why Stop at Dodd-Frank? Some Want Trump’s Regulatory Overhaul to Go Further
The Wall Street Journal discusses revamping a provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with John Berlau. The fight over the rule has been…
USA Today
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau could see wings clipped
USA Today discusses the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Director Richard Cordray with John Berlau. It has been all over the board. Critics hope…
Blog
Sen. Elizabeth Warren Tries to Silence Fiduciary Rule Critics
Sen. Elizabeth Warren has frequently resorted to intimidation to effectively silence those with views which she disagrees. This is particularly true for critics of the…
Blog
Smart Move for White House to Push Back on Fiduciary Rule, Dodd-Frank
President Trump’s forthcoming executive actions—expected to halt the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule and call for review of Dodd-Frank regulations—will greatly benefit middle-class investors, entrepreneurs,…
CNBC
Here’s what everybody is getting wrong about changes to banking rules
CNBC discusses repealing the Dodd-Frank Act with John Berlau. While Trump can roll back some measures through executive order, there are other provisions…
Reason.com
Frankly, Trump’s Plan To Review and Reform Dodd-Frank Makes a Lot of Sense
Reason.com discusses repealing burdensome aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act with John Berlau. Beyond the question of bailouts, reviewing and reforming the Obama administration’s…
Daily Caller
Trump Signs Executive Order To Rip Up Dodd-Frank ‘Disaster’
The Daily Caller discusses the White House halting the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule with John Berlau. While Friday’s action establishing the framework…
Blog
Congress Should Eliminate SEC Rule that Discloses Company Information to Foreign Governments
Congress should pass a joint resolution of disapproval and block the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rule relating to ‘‘Disclosure of Payments by Resource Extraction Issuers.”…
Blog
Coalition Defends Reform of Credit Union Lending Rules
A dozen conservative and free-market groups have signed onto a coalition letter to preserve deregulation of credit union lending.
CNN Money
Trump should fire CFPB Director Richard Cordray: GOP
CNN Money discusses the president removing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s director with John Berlau. However, it’s not exactly clear if Trump will…
Blog
Clayton Must Work for Both Small and Large Investors at SEC
Jay Clayton, and anyone who goes on to serve on the Commission, must advance the interests of both Main Street investors and entrepreneurs trying to…
Crowdfund Insider
Jay Clayton to Join SEC During Unprecedented Need to “Cut the Red Tape”
Crowdfund Insider speaks with John Berlau on President-elect Trump’s nominee of Jay Clayton for Securities and Exchange Commission chair. Seeking additional perspective, Crowdfund…
The Wall Street Journal
Obama’s Regulations Aren’t the Only Trump Target
Overregulation didn’t start during the Obama administration. President-Elect Trump and the new Congress need to go further.
CNN Money
Elizabeth Warren watchdog under siege
CNN Money discusses the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and its director with John Berlau. CFPB Director Richard Cordray has “inundated Main Street financial…
Tulsa World
Credit Reports Used by Insurance Companies
Tulsa World
What’s the Best Way to Create More Jobs?
Unleash the power of small business. The US Senate just passed a bill called the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act. The thrust of the…
The Wall Street Journal
Senate Can Help With Jobs if it Will
Study
First Steps for the Trump Administration: Restore Financial Freedom
View full document as a PDF Over the past 15 years—beginning with the George W. Bush administration and accelerating rapidly in the…
Blog
Treasury Nominee Mnuchin Promising on Volcker Rule and Fannie and Freddie
Steven Mnuchin would bring to the Treasury Department valuable experience managing entrepreneurial ventures and company turnarounds. He has expressed some encouraging sentiments on housing policy…
Forbes
Court Must Overturn ‘Obamacare for your IRA’
Note: This column was coauthored by Pamela Villarreal, senior fellow at the Dallas-based National Center for Policy Analysis. Access to financial advice and a variety…
Blog
New Credit Union Deregulation Helps Consumers and Entrepreneurs
In my Forbes column last week, I wrote about how America’s credit unions faced massive new regulatory burdens from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Forbes
Next President Should Fire CFPB’s Cordray
“You’re fired!” A certain presidential candidate made that phrase famous. But whoever is elected to the White House this November should say those words to…
Study
Congress Can Protect Workers Using the Power of the Purse
View Full Document as PDF In 2016 to date, the Obama administration has burdened the American public with nearly $100 billion in…
NewsBusters
Liberals, Media Allies Might Face Some Serious Opposition on Financial Regulation
New York State’s Department of Labor recently made headlines with its rules mandating that employers paying their workforces with prepaid debit cards ensure that employees…
Blog
How Financial CHOICE Act Rescues Unbanked Americans
If the New York State Department of Labor is really concerned about unbanked employees being hit with fees, it should lend its support to the…
Newsmax
CFPB Favors Trial Lawyers at Consumers’ Expense
Crowdfund Insider
Will CFPB Move to Limit Arbitration Undermine Alternative Finance?
Crowdfunding Insider reports on CEI's comments on the Consumer Financial Bureau's proposed ban on arbitration regarding certain consumer financial agreements. While the intent may…
The Atlantic
Could Reviving a Defunct Banking Rule Prevent a Future Crisis?
The Atlantic features John Berlau's argument against the revival of the Glass-Steagall rule. Election years are a time when politicians put on their…
Forbes
CFPB Anti-Arbitration Rule Will Harm Consumers and FinTech
"Gotcha!" That’s what the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) claims binding arbitration clauses in consumer finance contracts often amount to. In these clauses, consumers agree…
Digital Journal
Dawn J. Bennett, Host of Financial Myth Busting, Interviews John Berlau, Economist
Financial Adviser Dawn Bennett interview John Berlau on the Securities Exchange Commission's in-house court. BENNETT: John Berlau is a senior fellow at the…
Forbes
How Glass-Steagall’s Return Would Shatter America’s Hometown Banks
Set against the Main Street backdrop of Cleveland, the drafters of the Republican convention platform pledged support for a banking rule signed into law by…
Bloomberg
Trump’s VP Wears His Opposition to 2008 Bank Bailouts With Pride
Bloomberg discusses the GOP platform's support of reinstating the Glass-Steagall Act with John Berlau. In addition to scaling back Dodd-Frank — which Republicans…
Blog
‘Crexit’ Votes Will Help U.S. Entrepreneurs and Investors
In yet another blow against the Brexit chicken littles, not only have the large British companies comprising the FTSE 100 gained back all the losses…
Crowdfund Insider
The Fix Crowdfunding Act Passes House & Heads to the Senate
Crowdfund Insider discusses bills to expand the JOBS Act with John Berlau. John Berlau, a Senior Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, described…
Blog
Investors Got into Fiduciary Rule Conversation Months before John Oliver Joined in
“Fiduciary Rule Goes Prime Time,” reads the headline of a recent cover story of the magazine Investment News. The story argues that after political comic…
Forbes
If ‘Fiduciary Rule’ Goes Through, the Joke Is On American Savers
John Oliver’s viewers may think of themselves as the smart set, but the popular TV comic recently suggested that he rather deems them dim bulbs…
Crowdfund Insider
Half a Crowdfunding Fix: HR 4855 Passes House Financial Services Committee with Several Changes
Crowdfund Insider quotes John Berlau's letter of support for the Fix Crowdfunding Act bill. John Berlau, a Senior Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute,…
Blog
CEI Support for Rep. McHenry’s “Fix Crowdfunding Act”
Today, the House Financial Services Committee will likely be voting on Rep. Patrick McHenry’s Fix Crowdfunding Act, a much-needed expansion of the bipartisan Jumpstart Our…
Forbes
Improve Access to Capital & Access to Wealth Creation With More Crowdfunding Deregulation
In this hyper-partisan era, the one thing Republicans and Democrats seem to agree on is the need to enable entrepreneurs and small businesses to gain…
The Heartland Institute
Congress Votes to Block New Broker Regulations
The Heartland Institute discusses the fiduciary rule with Senior Fellow John Berlau. John Berlau, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, says…
Politico
Payday Lending Rule Fly-Around
Politico's Morning Money features John Berlau's statement on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's new payday lending rule. CEI’s John Berlau: “The CFPB's rule…
Legal NewsLine
U.S. Senate passes resolution to block DOL’s fiduciary rule
Legal NewsLine discusses Congress's resolution of disapproval blocking the Department of Labor's fiduciary rule with John Berlau. John Berlau, a financial policy expert at…
News Release
CEI Finance Policy Expert Supports Senate’s Vote to Block Fiduciary Rule
Today, the Senate voted against the Labor Department's fiduciary rule by approving the House-passed resolution of disapproval, under Congressional Review Act auspices. CEI financial policy expert…
Daily Caller
Revolving Door Swings As Feds Take Posh Jobs At Big Banks
The Daily Caller discusses the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau with John Berlau. John Berlau, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a…
Blog
Crowdfunding Rules: Four Years Late and Millions Short
Today, Monday, May 16, more than four years and one month after Congress passed and President Obama signed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act…
Newsmax
Let’s Fix Crowdfunding so Middle-Class Investors Can Profit
More than four years and one month after Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act of 2012, the…
Watchdog.org
Lending influence: Progressive group profits from pushing financial regs
Watchdog.org discusses new regulations from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau with John Berlau. One of the chief advocates of the CFPB’s regulatory actions…
Wealth Management
Why the DOL Rule Is Bad for Small Savers
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) “fiduciary rule,” likely to first take effect in June unless blocked by Congress or the courts, will deprive small…
Blog
CEI Supports Vote to Block Labor Department’s Fiduciary Rule
Today, Congress has the opportunity to block the costly "Fiduciary Rule."…
New York Times
Dodd-Frank Is Hurting Those Who Had Nothing to Do With the Financial Crisis
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act has done too little to address the real causes of the financial crisis and too much…
Blog
Who Died and Made Dodd-Frank Regulators Gods?
Meet the new deities. They apparently sit on the Financial Stability Oversight Council and other regulatory agencies, especially those created by the Dodd-Frank banking “reform”…
Blog
Final Fiduciary Rule: Dave Ramsey May Get Relief, But the Rest of Us Don’t
While the final rule may have been less severe, it still won’t keep middle-class savers from losing access to brokers and insurance agents.
Washington Times
Obama imposes more regulations on financial advisers
The Washington Times discusses the Department of Labor's fiduciary rule with John Berlau. “The fiduciary rule is like Obamacare for your IRA and…
Blog
Obama Unveils Fiduciary Rule this Week, Putting Middle Class Investors in a Bind
Today, the Labor Department plans to unveil new regulatory restrictions on 401(k)s and IRAs. That means less access to financial advice and fewer options for…
Forbes
MetLife’s Victory Also Good for Fintech Innovators
Insurance giant MetLife won a big victory Wednesday as a district court rescinded the government’s designation of the firm as “systemically important.” Though not…
Forbes
My Celebrity Lyft Driver
Forbes
How the Fiduciary Rule Will Harm Fintech and Startups
Add startup entrepreneurs and Fintech innovators to the long list of potential victims of the Department of Labor’s pending fiduciary rule. There is already bipartisan…
Comment
Comments to the SEC on Derivative Regulation
Full Document Available in PDF The SEC proposes this rule “to take an updated and more comprehensive approach to the regulation of funds’…
Newsmax
Obama Spouts Big Govt at Austin Festival
President Obama traveled here to the ongoing South by Southwest festival from Washington, D.C. — and so did I. In his March 11 presentation, he…
Blog
Berlau at SXSW: Let’s Cut Red Tape Strangling Uberization of Finance
AUSTIN, TX—President Obama traveled here to the ongoing South by Southwest festival from Washington, D.C., and so did I. In his March 11 presentation, he …
Politico
Politico Morning Money – GOP debate wrap
Politico's Morning Money highlights John Berlau's response to a Slate piece on the fiduciary rule and financial radio broadcasters. Berlau Pushes Back —…
Wall Street Journal
Will the Fiduciary Rule Silence Media Personalities?
The Wall Street Journal discusses John Berlau's analysis of the Department of Labor's fiduciary rule. Early this month, the Competitive Enterprise Institute said…
Forbes
Yes, The Fiduciary Rule Could Censor Dave Ramsey And Others Providing Over-The-Air Financial Tips
If there were a “fiduciary” rule requiring pundits to accurately describe a pending bill or regulation to their readers, Slate’s Helaine Olen would be in…
New American
Proposed Federal Regulation Could Squelch Popular Financial Advisers
The New American discusses the Department of Labor's proposed fiduciary rule with John Berlau. The Obama administration has proposed a regulation that the…
The Blaze
Here’s Why a New Obama Regulation Could Mean Trouble for Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman
The Blaze reports on the Department of Labor's fiduciary rule and highlights John Berlau's report on the proposed rule. “In fact, according to…
Western Journalism
Wow: The Obama Admin Is About To Do Something That Could Crush Dave Ramsey
Western Journalism reports on the Department of Labor's fiduciary rule and highlights John Berlau's study on the proposed rule. In a study by…
Forbes
How Fiduciary Rule May Censor Financial Broadcasters Like Dave Ramsey
Popular financial radio show host Dave Ramsey caused a firestorm on Twitter last week when he weighed in against the “fiduciary rule”—the controversial pending Department…
Daily Caller
REPORT: Feds Are Destroying Free Choice In The Retirement System
The Daily Caller discusses John Berlau's report on the Department of Labor's proposed fiduciary rule. The Department of Labor (DOL) has argued people…
Washington Free Beacon
Report: Rule Would Cost Middle Class $80 Billion in Lost Savings
The Washington Free Beacon highlights John Berlau's report on the Department of Labor rule that will hurt middle-class investors. The Department of Labor…
Think Advisor
Speaker Ryan Continues to Assail DOL Fiduciary Rule
Think Advisor highlights John Berlau's report on the Department of Labor's proposed fiduciary rule that will harm middle-class investors. Today, the Competitive Enterprise…
Study
The Department of Labor’s Fiduciary Rule for Dummies (But Not the Dummies They Think We Are)
Whether you're a portfolio manager or an everyday investor you should learn how the fiduciary rule can affect you.
Heartland Institute
GAO: Small Banks, Credit Unions Hurt by Dodd-Frank
The Heartland Institute discusses Dodd-Frank with John Berlau. John Berlau, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, says consumers are objectively worse…
Blog
How George Washington Propelled First Great Disruptive Technology
Daily Caller
Energy Bill Greens Financial Agencies
Cronyism and boondoggles in a massive energy bill – or any bill of similar length with dozens of provisions and hundreds of pages — is…
Blog
Don’t Put Eco-Finance Measures in Energy Bill
Cronyism and boondoggles in an energy bill is nothing new in the U.S. Congress. But this week, senators of both parties are taking the process…
Craft Brewing Business
AB-InBev buys UK’s Camden Town Brewery, crowdfunding investors score big
Craft Brewing Business mentions John Berlau's article on how crowdfunding provides opportunities for craft breweries. The article (nicely written by John Berlau) goes on…