Seaport Financial Education LLC

10/22/2025

My boy Charlie worked the table with me at the Out of the Darkness Community Walk to benefit the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention, this past weekend, at Salve Regina University.

09/02/2025

SEC Penalizes VANGUARD and EMPOWER a Combined $25 Million - This past Friday, just before Labor Day weekend, when most people were planning getaways and cookouts, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced penalties against industry heavyweights Vanguard and Empower.
The SEC has ordered Vanguard Advisers and Empower Advisory Group, along with Empower Financial Services, to pay a combined total of more than $25 million in penalties and disgorgement after finding both firms failed to adequately disclose how their advisors were compensated for enrolling clients in managed account programs.
The SEC’s actions stem from parallel investigations into the firms’ compensation practices and disclosures to retail and retirement plan investors.
The orders allege both Vanguard and Empower created conflicts of interest by incentivizing their advisors to steer clients toward fee-based advisory services while failing to provide clear and consistent information about these financial incentives. Advisors were paid to sell product, while failing to disclose this to their clients.
Over the past handful of years, we’ve seen some other big names be fined or settle for shady sales practices and failure to supervise, including TIAA and Wells Fargo.
The cases underscore the importance of complete and honest disclosure, when an advisor delivers advice. Of course, it’s difficult for an investor to know what’s NOT being disclosed. So, what’s the average investor to do? Especially when the average investor may not be aware of some of the intricacies of investment products.
Find someone you KNOW you can trust and CAVEAT EMPTOR.

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08/29/2025

The 2 Most Important Resources in Financial Planning
www.seaportfinancialed.com

08/28/2025

FINRA and the SEC just released a joint "Investor Bulletin: Why You Should Consider Adding a Trusted Contact to Your Account". Full article is here:

When you open a new retail brokerage account or update your account information, your brokerage firm will request that you give them the name and contact information of a “trusted contact person.” The SEC and FINRA share several important reasons to give your broker the name of someone you trust...

08/21/2025

How to Gain Control through PURPOSE
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08/19/2025

08/14/2025

The Power of Planning