But “there seems to be very limited appetite for these issues” among policymakers, Nally said.
He also said the firm would refocus its practice management efforts to help advisors make “surgical” improvements, rather than overwhelm advisors with major programs and fat white papers.
The firm is promoting several technology upgrades at its conference this year.
One new tool, called Veo One (the logo of which adorns attendees’ room keys), offers a one-stop personalized log-in, with access to five technology programs that integrate with TD’s Veo system and more will be added later this year. Veo One has been in pilot stage since late last year.
Additionally, the firm is rolling out a revamp of its client website, AdvisorClient.com, which is used by clients of its RIAs. The client site has an improved look and offers more customization capabilities, TD Ameritrade said.
Although the firm’s RIA sentiment survey found advisors a bit more pessimistic on the markets than last year (17 percent were negative -- three times as many as a year ago), Fred Tomczyk, chief executive of TD Ameritrade Holding Corp., gave advisors some reassurance that things are not too gloomy.
The U.S. economy is doing relatively well, he told advisors at the opening session, with growth and unemployment levels improving.
“Where else would you want to invest?” he asked.
But he offered a note of caution: After a six-year bull market, customers of TD’s retail business “remain extremely bullish [and] we’ve never had seven [up] years in a row.”
Tomczyk expects the markets could get “bumpy” as the Federal Reserve moves to raise rates.