The end of this decade has come and 2010 marks not only the advent of a fresh year but a fresh decade ! With this decade ending in a massive financial depression for the world, especially America, you can expect to see financial changes( or reforms as the politicians might want to call them). Though apparently for the good of the American, some of these ‘reforms’ are introduced with the intention of political gain for winning votes rather than for the real welfare of the people. Here are 7 changes that are expected to come in the next decade. So get geared and find out which changes are going to be beneficial for you and which are not going to be beneficial for you.

Lowered Commission on Investments

Here’s some good news for investors. Now you don’t have to pay up huge amounts of commissions on investments to the funding companies. The government wants total transparency in the process so that you get to know the amount of your money that goes into commissions once you invest in a fund. Moreover, brokers are now competing with the funding organizations with lower commission rates. So investors, wear shirts with big pockets to accommodate the extra money that you save up on commissions!

No More Irresponsible Fiduciary Advice by Brokers

What more can be better news for investors than that that the financial advisors and brokers cannot take them on a ride anymore? Now, the Securities and Exchange Commission, under government directive defines a standard of fiduciary conduct for the financial consultants and makes them legally responsible for the advice that they give.

A Strict Regulatory Body

This is surely going to be a pain in the neck for the funding institutions as there are going to be greater regulations and audits for them. For the investors again this is happy news.

More Merger of Funding Companies

As regulatory costs are going to increase, more small funding companies are going to go for a merger as or with larger funding companies. Many small investment firms cannot expect to survive the regulatory costs. So you, as an investor, will not have a wider choice. There will be large but few companies for you to choose from.

Discretionary Trading Taboos

In the new decade your investment advisor is going to enjoy lesser autonomy in dealing with your trade. You might take this as a reform to your advantage, but on the flip side, this makes the entire trading process very slow. You might lose out on a good deal due to delayed granting of permission from your end.

Rating agencies are expected to compete more now amongst themselves

Till date, as evaluation of the funding agencies is not of prime concern, many rating agencies are not all that busy. But, in the next decade, when the testing of  performance and authenticity of funding companies assumes prime importance, rating agencies are expected to find a lot of work and hence more competition.

New transaction tax for investors

Investors will have to pay a new transaction tax now.