Small broker-dealers and insurance agents have been hearing ominous predictions from their trade associations for years about the consequences of a Department of Labor (DOL) rule proposal that would require them to meet the fiduciary standard of serving their clients’ best interests when providing retirement investment advice. So it is not surprising that they are worried. The truth is, however, that the rule the DOL has proposed is very different from what they have been led to expect and will allow them to continue to serve their clients while earning sales-based compensation and selling from a limited menu of investment products. This approach will benefit retirement savers, the many advisors who already seek to serve their customers’ best interests, and product sponsors that compete on the quality and cost of their investment options.