Here the consultant may simply offer its clients the option of paying for services or recapturing commissions through the brokerage affiliate or may actually advise its clients to use its brokerage affiliate.

FORBES: Consultants With Affiliated Broker-Dealers: How Independent Is Their Advice? (April 1, 1996 )

According to Vanguard, one of the largest providers of 401(k) plans, they now advise clients to contribute 12 to 15% of their paycheck to their 401(k), but most employees pay far less than that.

FORBES: How To Maximize Returns By Choosing The Self-Directed Option

Brokers will have the best knowledge of what happened to an order and can advise their buy-side clients on the most effective approach, such as when to use limits and when not to in order to avoid implementation shortfall.

FORBES: When Total Cost Analysis (TCA) Breaks Down

Do they believe they have a duty to advise their clients as to the nature and extent of these conflicts?

FORBES: The Duty To Investigate Pension Consultant Conflicts (September 1, 2001)

"If that does not occur by Friday, we will advise our clients of their right to sue the IRS for the redress of their grievances, " Mr. Sekulow said in a statement.

WSJ: Chiefs at IRS Knew of Targeting

Brokerage firms which operate within this regulatory niche of the brokerage business, offering soft dollar services, routinely and informally advise clients as to whether proposed soft dollar arrangements are legally permissible.

FORBES: Soft Dollar Zone: A Sensitive Area (January 1, 1997)

Lawyers also gripe that the absence of a judicial philosophy (conservative or liberal) makes it nearly impossible for them to advise clients.

CNN: A Supreme Lack of Faith