Melanie is senior editor and Washington bureau chief of ThinkAdvisor. Her ThinkAdvisor coverage zeros in on how politics, policy, legislation and regulations affect the investment advisory space.
Melanie’s coverage has been cited in various lawmakers’ reports, lettersand bills, and in the Labor Department’s fiduciary rule in 2023. In 2019, Melanie received an Honorable Mention, Range of Work by a Single Author awardfrom @Folio.
Melanie joined Investment Advisor magazine as New York bureau chief in 2000. She has been a columnist since 2002.
She started her career in Washington in 1994, covering financial issues at American Banker. Since 1997, Melanie has been covering investment-related issues, holding senior editorial positions at American Banker publications in both Washington and New York. Briefly, she was content chief for Internet Capital Group’s EFinancialWorld in New York and wrote freelance articles for Institutional Investor.
Melanie holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Towson University. She interned at The Baltimore Sun and its suburban edition.
"Even before this pandemic, women in America typically had less money saved for retirement, in part because they were paid less than their male counterparts for the same work throughout their career."
In 2018, Edelman Financial Services merged with Financial Engines to create the nation's largest independent financial planning and investment management firm.
The bill is backed by the ARA, Nationwide Retirement Solutions, LPL Financial, State Street Global Advisors, the American Benefits Council and the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC).
The department has released FAQs for investment professionals and investors.
DebugScreen: mobile
{
"author": {
"name": "Melanie Waddell",
"webUrl": "/author/profile/melanie-waddell/",
"description": "Melanie is senior editor and Washington bureau chief of ThinkAdvisor. Her ThinkAdvisor coverage zeros in on how politics, policy, legislation and regulations affect the investment advisory space.\r\n\r\nMelanie’s coverage has been cited in various lawmakers’ <strong><a href=\"https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/imo/media/doc/2016-02-24%20DOL%20Fiduciary%20Rulemaking%20Report_FINAL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">reports</a></strong>, <a href=\"https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2019.12.11%20Letter%20from%20Senator%20Warren%20to%20DOL%20on%20new%20Fiduciary%20Rule.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>letters</strong> </a>and bills, and in the Labor Department’s fiduciary rule in 2023. In 2019, Melanie received an <strong><a href=\"https://www.eddie-ozzie.com/go/2019-eddie-and-ozzie-awards/\" target=\"_blank\">Honorable Mention, Range of Work by a Single Author award</a> </strong>from @Folio.\r\n\r\nMelanie joined Investment Advisor magazine as New York bureau chief in 2000. She has been a columnist since 2002.\r\n\r\nShe started her career in Washington in 1994, covering financial issues at American Banker. Since 1997, Melanie has been covering investment-related issues, holding senior editorial positions at American Banker publications in both Washington and New York. Briefly, she was content chief for Internet Capital Group’s EFinancialWorld in New York and wrote freelance articles for Institutional Investor.\r\n\r\nMelanie holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Towson University. She interned at The Baltimore Sun and its suburban edition.\r\n\r\n ",
"imageLarge": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/53707a1cfbbc2d26a91a9733ebbee7e4?s=136&d=mm&r=g",
"estimate": 243,
"social": [
{
"network": "twitter",
"value": "@Think_MelanieW"
},
{
"network": "linkedin",
"value": ""
},
{
"network": "facebook",
"value": ""
},
{
"network": "googlePlus",
"value": ""
}
],
"articles": [
{
"uri": "/2021/07/23/sen-murray-revives-womens-retirement-protection-act-412-119122/",
"title": "4 things Sen. Murray's Women's Retirement Protection Act would do",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "Analysis",
"prettyDate": "July 23, 2021",
"timeToRead": "3 minute",
"image": {
"uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2021/07/washington-dc-capitol-closeup-2.jpg",
"width": "616",
"height": "418"
},
"authors": [
{
"webUrl": "/author/profile/melanie-waddell/",
"name": "Melanie Waddell"
}
],
"kickerNode": [
{
"uri": "/analysis/",
"sectionName": "Analysis"
}
],
"summary": "\"Even before this pandemic, women in America typically had less money saved for retirement, in part because they were paid less than their male counterparts for the same work throughout their career.\"",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2021/07/14/tiaa-to-pay-97m-for-pressuring-investors-into-rollovers-412-118617/",
"title": "TIAA to pay $97M for pressuring investors into rollovers",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "July 14, 2021",
"timeToRead": "5 minute",
"image": {
"uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2021/07/Securities-Exchange-Commission-1-SEC-michael-scarcella-alm.jpg",
"width": "616",
"height": "411"
},
"authors": [
{
"webUrl": "/author/profile/melanie-waddell/",
"name": "Melanie Waddell"
}
],
"kickerNode": [
{
"uri": "/news/",
"sectionName": "News"
}
],
"summary": "TIAA was also charged with a failure to adequately disclose conflicts of interest to participants in its record-kept employer retirement plans.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2021/06/14/dol-to-redefine-fiduciary-in-new-rule-412-117410/",
"title": "DOL to redefine 'fiduciary' in new rule",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "June 14, 2021",
"timeToRead": "3 minute",
"image": {
"uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2021/06/03_DOL_Labor_Building_Scarcella_MI-bpro.jpg",
"width": "616",
"height": "372"
},
"authors": [
{
"webUrl": "/author/profile/melanie-waddell/",
"name": "Melanie Waddell"
}
],
"kickerNode": [
{
"uri": "/news/",
"sectionName": "News"
}
],
"summary": "When are advisors to employee benefit plans and IRAs fiduciaries? Department of Labor working to redefine rule.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2021/06/08/ric-edelman-to-step-down-from-role-at-edelman-financial-engines-412-117206/",
"title": "Ric Edelman to step down from role at Edelman Financial Engines",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "June 08, 2021",
"timeToRead": "2 minute",
"image": {
"uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2021/06/Ric-Edelman-2.jpg",
"width": "617",
"height": "407"
},
"authors": [
{
"webUrl": "/author/profile/melanie-waddell/",
"name": "Melanie Waddell"
}
],
"kickerNode": [
{
"uri": "/news/",
"sectionName": "News"
}
],
"summary": "In 2018, Edelman Financial Services merged with Financial Engines to create the nation's largest independent financial planning and investment management firm.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2021/06/04/bill-would-allow-penalty-free-withdrawals-from-401ks-iras-412-117032/",
"title": "Bill would allow annual penalty-free withdrawal from 401(k)s, IRAs",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "June 04, 2021",
"timeToRead": "2 minute",
"image": {
"uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2021/06/07-pension-fund-egg-gold.jpg",
"width": "616",
"height": "411"
},
"authors": [
{
"webUrl": "/author/profile/melanie-waddell/",
"name": "Melanie Waddell"
}
],
"kickerNode": [
{
"uri": "/news/",
"sectionName": "News"
}
],
"summary": "The bill is backed by the ARA, Nationwide Retirement Solutions, LPL Financial, State Street Global Advisors, the American Benefits Council and the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC).",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2021/05/19/wells-fargo-faces-lawsuit-for-allegedly-mismanaging-its-401k-plan-412-116390/",
"title": "Wells Fargo faces lawsuit for allegedly mismanaging its 401(k) plan",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "May 19, 2021",
"timeToRead": "3 minute",
"image": {
"uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2021/05/07-Wells-Fargo-Bank-Sign-Article-202103111552.jpg",
"width": "620",
"height": "372"
},
"authors": [
{
"webUrl": "/author/profile/melanie-waddell/",
"name": "Melanie Waddell"
}
],
"kickerNode": [
{
"uri": "/news/",
"sectionName": "News"
}
],
"summary": "High-level bank execs picked and retained 17 proprietary funds, many of which underperformed, the class action states.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2021/05/05/house-panel-passes-secure-act-2-0-bill-to-raise-rmd-age-412-115768/",
"title": "9 ways 'Secure Act 2.0' bill would affect retirement saving if passed",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "May 05, 2021",
"timeToRead": "6 minute",
"image": {
"uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2021/05/green-light-washington-dc-capitol.jpg",
"width": "616",
"height": "411"
},
"authors": [
{
"webUrl": "/author/profile/melanie-waddell/",
"name": "Melanie Waddell"
}
],
"kickerNode": [
{
"uri": "/news/",
"sectionName": "News"
}
],
"summary": "The bill moves from committee to the full House for consideration.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2021/05/03/new-dol-fiduciary-rule-creating-regulatory-whiplash-attorneys-412-115576/",
"title": "New DOL fiduciary rule creating 'regulatory whiplash': attorneys",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "Analysis",
"prettyDate": "May 03, 2021",
"timeToRead": "4 minute",
"image": {
"uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2021/04/03_DOL_Labor_Building_Scarcella_MI-bpro.jpg",
"width": "616",
"height": "372"
},
"authors": [
{
"webUrl": "/author/profile/melanie-waddell/",
"name": "Melanie Waddell"
}
],
"kickerNode": [
{
"uri": "/analysis/",
"sectionName": "Analysis"
}
],
"summary": "\"There is much to be concerned about\" in a recent FAQ from the department, Eversheds Sutherland lawyers warn.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2021/04/14/senate-confirms-gary-gensler-as-sec-chair-412-114747/",
"title": "Senate confirms Gary Gensler as SEC chair",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "April 14, 2021",
"timeToRead": "3 minute",
"image": {
"uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2021/04/Gary-Gensler-SEC-diego-m-radzinschi-alm.jpg",
"width": "617",
"height": "411"
},
"authors": [
{
"webUrl": "/author/profile/melanie-waddell/",
"name": "Melanie Waddell"
}
],
"kickerNode": [
{
"uri": "/news/",
"sectionName": "News"
}
],
"summary": "Senators voted 53-45 to confirm Gensler, a former CFTC chief and MIT professor.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2021/04/13/dol-releases-fiduciary-rule-guidance-412-114708/",
"title": "DOL releases fiduciary rule guidance",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "April 13, 2021",
"timeToRead": "4 minute",
"image": {
"uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2021/04/01-Department-of-Labor-Building-20-D-iego-RadzinschiALM.jpg",
"width": "617",
"height": "411"
},
"authors": [
{
"webUrl": "/author/profile/melanie-waddell/",
"name": "Melanie Waddell"
}
],
"kickerNode": [
{
"uri": "/news/",
"sectionName": "News"
}
],
"summary": "The department has released FAQs for investment professionals and investors.",
"body": null
}
]
}
}