Bill Overview
Title: Alleviating Stress Test Burdens to Help Investors Act
Description: This bill exempts certain financial companies not primarily regulated by either a federal banking agency or the Federal Housing Finance Agency from requirements to conduct stress tests. These stress tests evaluate the ability of companies to absorb losses as a result of adverse economic conditions. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission may require exempted financial companies under their regulatory authority to conduct stress tests.
Sponsors: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Target Audience
Population: Investors in Financial Companies
Estimated Size: 4000000
- The bill affects financial companies not primarily regulated by federal banking agencies or the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
- Financial companies exempted can include those in investment banking, asset management, insurance sectors.
- Stress tests are designed to evaluate company's ability to absorb losses in adverse conditions, primarily impacting operations and compliance departments.
- The SEC and CFTC still possess authority to require stress tests for such companies, implying ongoing oversight.
- Investors in these financial companies will also be impacted, as stress tests can affect the financial stability and risk profile of these institutions.
Reasoning
- Given the limited budget, the focus of the policy assessment will likely skew toward the most directly affected demographics, such as employees in exempted financial sectors, stakeholders, and a representative sample of investors.
- The budget for the policy implementation suggests that large systemic impacts might not be captured directly by this policy, so a range of individuals must be included in the sample to reflect varying degrees of impact.
- It is critical to include voices from both directly impacted parties (like workers in these companies) and indirect stakeholders (like specific investors or clients), ensuring the breadth of opinions is matched by the policy's scope and implementation budget.
- Evaluating investors' perspectives is necessary since their confidence and decision-making processes could be notably affected by either the relaxation or sustainment of these testing regulations.
Simulated Interviews
Investment Banking Analyst (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The exemption from stress testing alleviates some compliance burdens, allowing us to focus more on client relations and deal-making.
- There is an underlying worry that without stress tests, insufficiencies might be overlooked, leading to bigger issues under economic strain.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Asset Manager (Chicago, IL)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about the impacts of removing stress tests and how it could sway investor confidence.
- While helpful for reducing overhead costs, the lack of oversight could increase risks which may affect returns.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Insurance Underwriter (Des Moines, IA)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The exemption reduces unnecessary regulatory scrutiny but may leave us exposed in turbulent times.
- Balance is needed between oversight and operational freedom to maintain stability and investor trust.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Venture Capitalist (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see this as a positive move, enhancing innovation in tech finance by reducing administrative overhead.
- However, I worry that investor skepticism could increase without stress tests ensuring resilience.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Financial Advisor (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Exempting stress tests for these companies means less data to guide my clients, increasing unpredictability.
- I need to carefully balance risks and opportunities due to this change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Tech Entrepreneur (Seattle, WA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With less financial scrutiny, we might see a more favorable funding environment and increased market activity.
- Yet, there's a riskier environment that might scare cautious investors.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retiree (Houston, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry this could lead to poor performance of investments I'm relying on for retirement.
- Investing feels riskier without stress tests confirming the financial health of these companies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Compliance Officer (Boston, MA)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Less frequent stress tests mean reduced workload, but I am wary about potential compliance issues.
- Increased responsibility shifts to internal checks and balances, demanding more diligence.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Regulatory Analyst (Austin, TX)
Age: 33 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This change could alter market dynamics, possibly increasing volatility and investor caution.
- It will be an interesting area to analyze, with potential pros and cons for market stability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retail Investor (Miami, FL)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm cautious as investment returns could become more unpredictable without regular stress tests.
- The increase in risks versus returns becomes a personal judgement call.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $7500000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $7500000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $7500000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $7500000)
Year 10: $5000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $7500000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $2500000, High: $7500000)
Key Considerations
- The impact of stress test exemptions on financial stability.
- Potential changes in investor confidence due to less stringent stress testing.
- Alternative oversight measures by the SEC and CFTC.