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.
Across the federal bureaucracy, there is an expectation that Biden's regulatory and enforcement agencies will take a more broadly focused consumer protection lane.
Community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday.
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"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 ",
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"articles": [
{
"uri": "/2021/03/26/irs-says-face-masks-hand-sanitizers-to-prevent-covid-19-spread-are-tax-deductible-412-113928/",
"title": "IRS says face masks, hand sanitizers are tax deductible",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "March 26, 2021",
"timeToRead": "2 minute",
"image": {
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"summary": "Individuals can deduct items purchased to prevent COVID-19 spread as long as their total medical expenses exceed 7.5% of income, the IRS says.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2021/03/17/millionaires-owe-irs-more-than-2b-in-unpaid-taxes-412-113398/",
"title": "Millionaires owe IRS more than $2B in unpaid taxes",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "March 17, 2021",
"timeToRead": "3 minute",
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"summary": "\"Taxpayers having an average AGI of over $1.5 million paid the IRS an average of 39% of what they owe,\" a Treasury watchdog report states.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2021/03/08/sec-ad-rule-published-in-federal-register-setting-effective-date-412-112833/",
"title": "SEC ad rule published in Federal Register, setting effective date",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "March 08, 2021",
"timeToRead": "2 minute",
"image": {
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"summary": "The amendments create a merged rule that will replace both the current advertising and cash solicitation rules.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2021/03/03/stimulus-bill-freezes-retirement-plan-contribution-limits-412-112662/",
"title": "Stimulus bill freezes retirement plan contribution limits",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "March 03, 2021",
"timeToRead": "3 minute",
"image": {
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"summary": "The freeze, which would take effect in 2031, is a \"budget gimmick,\" retirement plan lobbyist Brian Graff says.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2021/02/12/trump-dol-fiduciary-rule-to-take-effect-tuesday-412-111804/",
"title": "Trump DOL fiduciary rule to take effect Tuesday",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "February 12, 2021",
"timeToRead": "4 minute",
"image": {
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"summary": "Later this year, the department will likely \"begin work on a more robust fiduciary definition,\" said ERISA attorney Fred Reish.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2021/02/02/the-road-ahead-what-to-expect-from-the-biden-administration-on-the-regulatory-front-412-111040/",
"title": "What to expect from the Biden administration on the regulatory front",
"byline": "C. Ryan Barber, Cheryl Miller and Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "Analysis",
"prettyDate": "February 02, 2021",
"timeToRead": "10 minute",
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"authors": [
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"webUrl": "/author/profile/c-ryan-barber-cheryl-miller/",
"name": "C. Ryan Barber, Cheryl Miller"
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{
"webUrl": "/author/profile/melanie-waddell/",
"name": "Melanie Waddell"
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"summary": "Across the federal bureaucracy, there is an expectation that Biden's regulatory and enforcement agencies will take a more broadly focused consumer protection lane.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2021/01/19/sba-approved-60000-ppp-loans-since-jan-11-412-110282/",
"title": "SBA approved 60,000 PPP loans since Jan. 11",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "January 19, 2021",
"timeToRead": "2 minute",
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"uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2021/01/PPP-Stimulus-Shutterstock-MI-1.jpg",
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"name": "Melanie Waddell"
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"summary": "As of Tuesday, the PPP is open to all participating lenders.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2021/01/19/here-are-the-states-with-best-interest-rules-for-annuities-412-110240/",
"title": "Here are the states with best-interest rules for annuities",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "Slideshow",
"prettyDate": "January 19, 2021",
"timeToRead": "2 minute",
"image": {
"uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2021/01/annuity-word-collage-blue.jpg",
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"summary": "Five states have approved these rules, and eight more have proposals in progress.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2021/01/13/biden-to-pick-gary-gensler-for-sec-chief-reuters-412-109948/",
"title": "Biden to pick Gary Gensler for SEC chief: Reuters",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "January 13, 2021",
"timeToRead": "2 minute",
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"uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2021/01/07_Gensler_Gary_MI.jpg",
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"authors": [
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"summary": "\"A knowledgeable and aggressive choice,\" lawyer Nick Morgan says.",
"body": null
},
{
"uri": "/2021/01/08/ppp-reopens-to-new-and-existing-borrowers-412-109759/",
"title": "PPP reopens to new and existing borrowers",
"byline": "Melanie Waddell",
"kicker": "News",
"prettyDate": "January 08, 2021",
"timeToRead": "3 minute",
"image": {
"uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2021/01/PPP-Stimulus-Shutterstock-MI.jpg",
"width": "0",
"height": "0"
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"authors": [
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"name": "Melanie Waddell"
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"summary": "Community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday.",
"body": null
}
]
}
}