NAPFA Fall 2022 National Conference Speaker
Michael Watkins
Michael Watkins is President and General Counsel of Chicago-based Financial Markets Consultants LLC, the “Firm” which he launched in 2010 to provide regulatory advice and public policy support to financial services professionals, businesses, and trade associations. One area of expertise is federal and state policy affecting the financial planning profession and its long-term goal to be recognized in the marketplace and regulated as a separate, distinct profession based on a robust fiduciary standard of care. Since 2013, Watkins has provided public policy counsel to NAPFA and to advocacy coalitions NAPFA has participated in, such as the Financial Planning Coalition.
For 30 years prior to launching the Firm, Watkins practiced law specializing in banking, securities and derivatives, transactions, and regulation. He worked in Washington, DC as a regulatory lawyer with both the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); in private practice with the law firm known today as Day Pitney LLP; as Deputy General Counsel of Wachovia, a Fortune 100 company that included the 4th largest U.S. bank and the 3rd largest U.S. broker dealer; and as General Counsel and Secretary of National Stock Exchange, a New York Stock Exchange affiliate.
Watkins has served on numerous boards and policy committees. He has been a director of an investment holding company, a large credit union, a public television station, a nonprofit technology company, an urban league affiliate, a law firm consultancy, and corporate political action committees. He has been Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Banking Law Subcommittee on Securities Activities, a member of The Financial Services Roundtable Government Affairs Committee, and a member of the ABA Futures and Derivatives Law Committee, and an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow.
He is a graduate of Northfield Mount Hermon School and earned an A.B. from Princeton University (Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs) and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.
For 30 years prior to launching the Firm, Watkins practiced law specializing in banking, securities and derivatives, transactions, and regulation. He worked in Washington, DC as a regulatory lawyer with both the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); in private practice with the law firm known today as Day Pitney LLP; as Deputy General Counsel of Wachovia, a Fortune 100 company that included the 4th largest U.S. bank and the 3rd largest U.S. broker dealer; and as General Counsel and Secretary of National Stock Exchange, a New York Stock Exchange affiliate.
Watkins has served on numerous boards and policy committees. He has been a director of an investment holding company, a large credit union, a public television station, a nonprofit technology company, an urban league affiliate, a law firm consultancy, and corporate political action committees. He has been Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Banking Law Subcommittee on Securities Activities, a member of The Financial Services Roundtable Government Affairs Committee, and a member of the ABA Futures and Derivatives Law Committee, and an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow.
He is a graduate of Northfield Mount Hermon School and earned an A.B. from Princeton University (Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs) and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.
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