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The article presents three case studies in order to indicate some of the conditions under which the use of a manufacturers' agent offers the best solution for the selection of suitable and available channels of distribution. The author first looks at the Lane Equipment Co., which wanted to distribute its new brake levers to territories in New England, and decided that a manufacturers' agent was the best way to do so. Secondly he discusses the Ranier Manufacturing Co. which also employed a manufacturers' agent to distribute its product throughout New England. Lastly the author discusses the decision of the Stetlow-Carroll Co. to use direct selling techniques instead of the manufacturers' agents.

The article focuses on the role of agents and "agencies" in business. The differences in legal and business distinctions concerning agents, agencies and independent dealer are presented, and court cases involving agency law administered by the United States Federal Trade Commission are described. Several sources of the failure of businesses to adhere to the language of the law are examined, including product or service warranties and liabilities. Some discrepancies between so-called "legal fiction" and the realities of business are discussed.

The article reports on the order of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to broker-members of the New York or American Stock Exchange to substitute flexible rates for their old fixed commissions on trades under 2,000 dollars starting April 1, 1974. Accordingly, the initiative aims to get more firms to vie for small transactions which can to give customers a saving on trading costs. However, only a few major brokerage firms have unveiled cut-rate commission plans which include Merrill Lynch & Co. and Pierce Co. with a rate reduction by 16% to 25% below fixed levels.

The article reports the outlook in 1982 that U.S. banks may enter futures brokerage business, with Federal Reserve's (Fed) approval of futures commission merchants (FCMs). By registering as FCMs, it says, banks can buy and sell financial futures for customers and assume the roles of brokers. It states that banks may undersell standard commissions and draw unfair advantages which could threaten brokerages. It adds that FCMs were being pushed by banks, aiming to avoid the swings in interest rates.

The article reports on the shortage of the supply of squabs in hotels, steamship lines, and high-grade restaurants in the U.S. It reveals that commission merchants are complaining that even now, at the beginning of the squab-eating season, storage stock are unusually small and the day-to-day receipts are very light. It also notes that the burden of supplying the traditional New Year's Eve squab devolves upon commercial growers.

The article discusses issues surrounding hedge fund managers. According to the author, managers currently take a 20% commission on returns that is taxed at 15% as capital gains, half of what they would pay for other forms of income. The author notes arguments for the current system made by "The Wall Street Journal."

Mentions the New York City auction houses, Christie's and Sotheby's, and their civil settlement of a commission-fixing case. Ruling that $50 million of the settlement be paid in the form of transferable certificates, which reduce the sellers' commission on an item.

The article focuses on the importance to cast the right commissioning service provider for each engineering project in the U.S. It is essential to consider the qualifications of a commissioning agent because it is critical for the project. In addition, it is important to look for the commissioning agent with objectivity given the fact that he is called upon to assess responsibility and confirm correction.

Focuses on the issues raised by Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co.'s decision to cut commissions to companies used for meeting site selection in the United States. Sectors of the hospitality industry affected by the hotel's decision; Revenues of the hotel chain from the site selection business; Stance of site selection companies toward commission payments. INSET: LOOKING AHEAD.

The article offers nine steps to organize inventory consignment in the U.S. It suggests that one must use an ABC classification to prioritize inventory, using excel and paper to figure out how to use the system to track consignment, and strive for a win-win agreement for both parties. In addition, it notes that one must be persistent to try new items, avoids tangible costs by comverting the inventory to consignement, and being able to set up effective consignment arrangements on the right items.

The article reports on the fear of most U.S. commission recapture firms that their programs will be shoved by the commission-sharing arrangements. Todd Burns, president of Lynch, Jones & Ryan, said that this development is happening in Great Britain and could affect institutional clients by stripping them of the ability to regain some of the commission payments. Such arrangement will allow a money manager to execute trades with a broker who builds up a stake of the client's commissions.

Probes into the status of commission representatives in the book industry in the United States. Changes in the industry; Advantages and disadvantages of using a commission sales force; Factors that will have an impact on commission representatives' career.

LPL Financial's decision to explore a possible sale underscores how brokerages that rely on commissions are struggling to comply with and make a profit under the new fiduciary rule, the Wall Street Journal reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on the Continuing Commissions Policy developed by the National Association of Securities Dealers for financial advisers in the U.S. Features of the policy; Different interpretations of compliance officers on the policy; Average revenue obtained from a commission-based practice.

Discusses that pay-for-production does not work in all scenarios. Competition between sales personnel on the incentive and salary after the sale; Personal dislike for commissions; Compensation scenarios; Commissions on gross revenues and net profits; Compensation for satellite offices; Growth of the company; Benefits afforded to employees.

The article describes the life of a traveling salesman. Contrary to the beliefs of most Americans, the traveling sales man do not live a lavish life. Most often, the salesman find himself landed, gasping and flopping in a motel room. Usually he stays in a room with a television that only has three working channels while his picture window is a potato field, a parking lot, a gravel pit or the New York State thruway.

The article reports on the claim by U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Commissioner Scott O'Malia that the CFTC is missing out a key factor from its proposals on the protection of customer funds. O'Malia added that the reforms overlook the role technology can play in improving regulatory oversight of funds. It was also reported that protection of client funds held in segregated accounts with future commission merchants came under scrutiny after the collapse of Peregrine.

The article comments on MF Global's failed investments in European sovereign securities. It details how the company expropriated its customers' segregated accounts for the selfish purpose of financing its leveraged bet of 7.7 billion U.S. dollars on the securities. It highlights the need to revoke Rule 1.29 of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) that allows futures commission merchants to invest in the sovereign debt of a country.

The article reports that the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has sanctioned the three futures commission merchants (FCMs) including Alaron Trading Corp., Rosenthal Collins Group LLC (RCG) and Triland USA Inc. in October 2010.

The article reports that Man Financial Inc. is penalized and ordered by Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to strengthen its supervisory system in managing sales and solicitations of its employees in the U.S. The charges started from their employee Steven M. Camp, who defrauded customers by soliciting them to participate in a trading program. CFTC asserts that Man Financial Inc. is responsible for what their account executives are saying about third party system developers.

Reports the change in the commission structure of Salt Lake, Utah-based Arcadia Mortgage in August 2003. Reason for the move.

Focuses on the law allowing the trade of single stock futures (SSF) and narrow-based indexes in the U.S. Promotion of retail futures commission merchants for trade equity futures; Confusion created by the restrictions pointed out by the National Futures Association; Defense of Refco Inc. on issues of SSF Web site violations.

Mentions the New York City auction houses, Christie's and Sotheby's, and their civil settlement of a commission-fixing case. Ruling that $50 million of the settlement be paid in the form of transferable certificates, which reduce the sellers' commission on an item.

Mentions the New York City auction houses, Christie's and Sotheby's, and their civil settlement of a commission-fixing case. Ruling that $50 million of the settlement be paid in the form of transferable certificates, which reduce the sellers' commission on an item.

Features commissioned portraits of houses by painter George Thomson. Starting price; Contact of Thomas, who lives in Connecticut.

Discusses concerns that some business managers have about factors--the financing agents that advance cash against an company's accounts receivable for various kinds of fees. How to counter the erosion of profit margins.

Focuses on Stotler & Co., a futures commission merchant (FCM) which filed for bankruptcy case in early 1990 following the improper use of client funds. Stotler as the 10th largest United States FCM; Overview of the letter regarding the Stotler bankruptcy case to the court dated May 27, 1997 and signed by Steven R. Myers of Commodity Sense Incorporated; Why Trustee Ronald R. Peterson requested the court postpone ruling on his final payout plan.

Reports on the reversal of a lower court decision in `Moss v. J.C. Bradford'. Reason for the reversal; Debates over whether it is justifiable for futures commission merchants to liquidate customer accounts during market meltdown.

Examines how fee-based charges are replacing up-front commissions in portfolio management. Example of investors at Liberty Bank in Connecticut where only 20% pay the traditional commission and the rest have opted to pay smaller annual fees on their portfolios; Comments on customer reaction to the fee-based model from John Taylor; Why banks of all sizes are buzzing about the fee-based system; Why some community banks are reluctant to break with the old system; Companies changing systems which can expect a drop in income at first; How other banks handled the changeover. INSET: Traditional vs. Non.

Discusses complaints received by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) from brokers regarding the proper investment of B shares in the U.S. Impact of the failure to disclose the selling price of B shares on brokers; Concerns of industry representatives regarding the crackdown on fee-based brokerage accounts; Reason behind the failure of the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission to take action on an immunity for brokerage firms proposed by NASD.

Discusses the matching of deferred compensation packages paid to brokers by brokerage firms in the U.S., a recruitment strategy started by UBS. Percentage of commission revenue generated by Merrill Lynch in 2004; Background on the recruitment bonus paid by Morgan Stanley to its brokers; Role of competition in the industry in efforts to increase bonuses.

Reports on the federal investigation into commission payments by Tommy Hilfiger Corp. in the U.S. Speculation of some retailers on the possibility for an industry-type investigation; Examination on the technique of buying office overseas to get commissions by apparel companies; Determination on the appropriateness of the commission rate paid by Tommy Hilfiger's domestic and international subsidiaries.

Deals with the financial commission and passenger revenue of the airline industry in the United States for the first quarter of 2000. Increase of online bookings; Comments from Julius Maldutis at CIBC Oppenheimer; Decrease in the total amount of commissions paid by airlines.

The article reports that British independent factor Bibby Financial Services Group has launched a business unit dedicated towards providing factoring services to the U.S. trucking industry. The new trucking industry group offers both recourse and non-recourse factoring for freight bills that can be integrated with fuel card automated teller machine access.

Reports that mortgage lenders are on edge due to new reporting procedures ordered by the Federal Reserve Board. Changes which were made in an effort to prevent abusive lending; Why the bankers are nervous; Concerns that the public might find commission-based loans to be discriminatory; How this new report will show, for the first time, any differences in loan prices between borrowers' race or ethnicity; Expectation that certain groups are not going to be pleased.

Reports that Charles Schwab Corp. has cut customer stock trading fees for the second time in an effort to shore up its retail trading volume. Cutting of commissions at CyberTrader, Inc.; Offering of a "per share" trading fee option at the company's Austin unit; Changes at Schwab over the recent months including the firing of its CEO, David Pottruck; Possibility that Schwab Capital Markets may be put up for sale.

Comments on the role of air consolidators in the improvement of earnings on air travel sales in the U.S. Travel experience to the Yankees-Marlins World Series game in Miami, Florida; Role of suppliers in the sale of air consolidator fares; Effect of air sales on travel agents.

Reports the launching of commission merchants Carr Futures and Refco by Sydney Futures Exchange (SFE) in Chicago, Illinois. Offer of direct connectivity to SFE trading platform to clients: Competition of SFE against Australian Stock Exchange; Customer services of SFE.

Reports the development of Gain Capital company as futures commission merchant (FCM) in Warren, New Jersey. Membership on the National Futures Association by the company; Regulation of the company by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; Statement regarding the decision of the firm to become an FCM by founder Mark Galant.

Reports that most United States brokers still derive their revenues from commissions, according to a survey in the United States released in 2001.

Reports on the growing number of commission merchants that provide financial help to small apparel retailers in the United States. Benefits gained by commission merchants from helping small retailers; Factors that make commission merchants popular; Companies that provide commissioning services.

Reports on the average ARC domestic commission taken by travel agents for the month of July 2000 in the United States. Total sales volume through ARC; Increase of domestic fares for the same month of 1999; Other financial highlights reported by the ARC.