"The [DOL] has expressed concerns about the escalating payout grids for dually registered advisors -- especially the way the grids might encourage financial advisors to push one product over another.... Firms should be 'very careful about structures that disproportionately increase compensation at specified thresholds,' the DOL said. This type of compensation can undermine the best interest standard and create incentives for investment professionals to make recommendations based on their own financial interest, rather than on the retirement investor's interest."

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