Potomac Strategies
About Potomac Strategies
Duane Thompson, AIF® is president and founder of Potomac Strategies with
more than 20 years of experience in federal and state business issues, Mr. Thompson served as a
managing director of the Financial Planning Association, the largest group in
the country representing independent financial planners, for 14 years. He managed the Washington office of FPA
with responsibility for all legislative and regulatory matters before Congress,
the Securities and Exchange Commission, other federal agencies, and state
governments.
One of Mr. Thompson’s most recent accomplishments was managing a highly successful, seven-year public relations, lobbying and litigation campaign to overturn a controversial SEC rule allowing stockbrokers to provide financial planning advice under a special agency exemption. A federal appeals court ruling vacated the SEC rule, ultimately requiring the transfer of some 1 million fee-based brokerage accounts and $300 billion in assets to the more client-focused Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Other areas of experience include serving on the Board of Directors of the non-profit Jump$tart Coalition, a financial literacy organization, and on an industry advisory panel to the SEC, NASDR and state securities regulators in the development of on online based registration and database for investment advisers. In 1995 he was elected as a Colorado delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business.
One of Mr. Thompson’s most recent accomplishments was managing a highly successful, seven-year public relations, lobbying and litigation campaign to overturn a controversial SEC rule allowing stockbrokers to provide financial planning advice under a special agency exemption. A federal appeals court ruling vacated the SEC rule, ultimately requiring the transfer of some 1 million fee-based brokerage accounts and $300 billion in assets to the more client-focused Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Other areas of experience include serving on the Board of Directors of the non-profit Jump$tart Coalition, a financial literacy organization, and on an industry advisory panel to the SEC, NASDR and state securities regulators in the development of on online based registration and database for investment advisers. In 1995 he was elected as a Colorado delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business.
Thompson was named
Lobbyist of the Year in 2005 by Compliance Reporter, and featured on the cover of Financial
Planning in 2008 as a ‘Mover and
Shaker’ in the financial services industry. He has been quoted extensively on the financial services
industry in trade press and the national media, including The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Investor’s
Business Daily, Financial Times, The Nation, and CBS MarketWatch. He also speaks frequently to trade and
professional groups on Washington industry and compliance issues.
A former journalist, he was a press secretary on Capitol Hill and served on the White House staff, Office of the Press Secretary, prior to his advocacy work. Thompson has a Master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and a Bachelor of Arts in history and studio art from Principia College, Elsah, Illinois. More recently, Thompson earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® designation, the mark of commitment to a standard of Investment fiduciary excellence.*
*Those who earn the AIF mark successfully complete a specialized program on investment fiduciary standards of care and subsequently passed a comprehensive examination. AIF designees demonstrate a thorough understanding of prudent practices required by law for investment advisors and others, including trustees and investment committees for endowments, foundations and pension plans.
Potomac Strategies LLC 10216 Carroll Place Kensington, MD 20895 P. 301-942-0439 Contact us: dthompson@potomacstrategiesllc.com
A former journalist, he was a press secretary on Capitol Hill and served on the White House staff, Office of the Press Secretary, prior to his advocacy work. Thompson has a Master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and a Bachelor of Arts in history and studio art from Principia College, Elsah, Illinois. More recently, Thompson earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® designation, the mark of commitment to a standard of Investment fiduciary excellence.*
*Those who earn the AIF mark successfully complete a specialized program on investment fiduciary standards of care and subsequently passed a comprehensive examination. AIF designees demonstrate a thorough understanding of prudent practices required by law for investment advisors and others, including trustees and investment committees for endowments, foundations and pension plans.
Potomac Strategies LLC 10216 Carroll Place Kensington, MD 20895 P. 301-942-0439 Contact us: dthompson@potomacstrategiesllc.com