The financial services reform legislation approved this month assures that indexed annuities will remain regulated as insurance products, not securities.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating more cases resulting from the financial crisis, according to its chairwoman, who said the Dodd-Frank financial services reform bill passed this week will help.

President Barack Obama signed sweeping financial services regulatory reform into law today (July 21), creating a system of oversight designed to prevent future meltdowns of the financial services industry in the U.S.

The Democratic-led Senate overcame a Republican effort to halt passage of the Dodd-Frank Act, clearing the procedural hurdle and assuring its passage.