Senior Editor And Washington Bureau Chief
Melanie Waddell is a Senior Editor and Washington Bureau Chief at The Playing Field. She focuses on finance, investment, and personal finance, covering topics such as federal legislation, retirement planning, wealth management, and public policy. Melanie has been featured in CFP Board, NewsBreak, MFWire, BenefitsPRO, PropertyCasualty360.com, and ThinkAdvisor.
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United States (National)
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Melanie Waddell's articles primarily focus on legal and compliance issues in the finance industry, especially related to government announcements and regulatory changes. She consistently covers topics like Department of Labor regulations, SEC rulings, fiduciary rules, retirement planning guidelines, and broader financial industry developments.
Given her focus on these specific areas within the finance sector, she would likely be interested in receiving pitches from experts who can provide detailed insights into upcoming regulatory changes or their potential impacts on the financial industry. Given her coverage attributes leaning heavily toward government announcements and legal policy regulation themes (55%), it's clear that Melanie is most responsive to news related to new laws or proposed regulations affecting the finance industry.
While there is no specified geographic focus for Melanie’s coverage area, it's important for those pitching stories to consider that her primary interest lies in US-based financial policies and regulations.
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By: Melanie Waddell
The CLEAR Forms Act calls for forms tailored to registered non-variable insurance contracts.
The CLEAR Forms Act calls for forms tailored to registered non-variable insurance contracts, including contingent deferred annuities.
According to CFP Board's Summer 2026 CFP® Professional Sentiment Index , CFP® professionals reported increased optimism among both clients and
Advisors and industry watchers disagree on whether OMB review will improve or slow SEC rulemaking.
By: Melanie Waddell
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has barred a former Northwestern Mutual Investment Services rep for borrowing money from a client to fund an outside business venture.
What You Need To Know The bill creates an alternative benefit equal to 75% of a couple's combined Social Security benefits.
The e Consumer-Led Enhancement of Annuity and Insurance Registration (CLEAR) Forms Act introduced in the House would require the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to develop registration forms specifically tailored to registered index-linked life insurance, contingent deferred annuities and other registered non-variable insurance products. Supporters say current forms, designed largely for corporate securities, make important consumer information difficult to find while creating costly compliance burdens for insurers. The bill would require proposed forms within 12 months and final rules within 30 months, while preserving state insurance laws. It also calls for investor testing for contingent deferred annuities and allows comparable existing forms if the SEC misses deadlines.
CFP Board reported that 3,621 candidates sat for the July 2026 CFP® certification exam , making it the largest July testing cohort on record, with a 66% pass rate.
Arnold, who was fired by LPL in 2024, will focus on advisor recruiting and strategic partnerships at Stirlingshire Investments.
Tom Gannon, the firm's chief advocacy officer, discusses four policy issues that are top of mind for advisors.
