Custodian links Thomson data-acquisition service, new fiduciary initiative. As part of an effort to help RIAs uphold standards of fiduciary responsibility to their clients, TD Ameritrade Institutional (TDAI) will provide its clients with trade-execution data using Thomson Transaction Analytics (TTA) web tools.

New form

"We have a long history of backing independent RIAs, and this is just one more way that we are helping them live up to their fiduciary standard," says TDAI's president Tom Bradley. "You have heard us say that we are committed to helping them succeed, [now] we will provide our clients statistics to show it."

Word of the alliance with Thomson Financial 's TTA coincides with TDAI's re-commitment to supporting RIAs' efforts to demonstrate to clients their adherence to fiduciary standards.

As fiduciaries, RIAs have to act in their client's best interests and either eliminate or disclose conflicts of interest. TDAI has begun putting its commitment to helping RIAs succeed as fiduciaries in writing.

"TD Ameritrade is committed to serving the [RIA] community and to support, promote and champion matters of significance to it, such as the fiduciary duty standard to which advisors are held," TDAI says its new advisor-agreement form.

Jersey City, N.J.-based TDAI provides brokerage and custody services to more than 4,500 fee-based, independent RIAs and their clients. It is a unit of Omaha, Neb.-based TD Ameritrade. -FWR

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