Is Your Broker a Trusted Adviser or Just Another Salesperson? Finance Industry Wants it Both Ways

In a report Tuesday, two consumer groups said the same financial companies portraying themselves as trusted advisers to customers are arguing in court papers that they’re nothing more than salespeople. Want to drive your brokerage or insurance firm nuts? Send a letter telling them to put the stuff they say in their marketing and advertising in writing to you — or risk losing your business.