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By Memorandum dated February 3, 2017, the President directed the Department to prepare an updated analysis of the likely impact of the Fiduciary Rule on access to retirement information and financial advice.  The President’s Memorandum was published in the Federal Register on February 7, 2017 (82 FR 9675).  On July 6, 2017, the Department published a Request for Information (RFI) in the Federal Register (82 FR 31278).  On November 29, 2017, the Department extended the special transition period under sections II and IX of the Best Interest Contract Exemption and section VII of the Class Exemption for Principal Transactions in Certain Assets between Investment Advice Fiduciaries and Employee Benefit Plans and IRAs for 18 months (82 FR 56545).  The new transition period ends on July 1, 2019, rather than on January 1, 2018.  The Department also delayed the applicability of certain amendments to Prohibited Transaction Exemption 84-24 for the same period.  These actions were taken to give the Department the time necessary to consider the RFI comments under the criteria set forth in the Presidential Memorandum, including whether possible changes and alternatives to these exemptions would be appropriate in light of the current comment record and potential input from, and action by, the Securities and Exchange Commission and state insurance commissioners.  RIN 1210-AB82 has completed its purpose, but is not being removed from the regulatory agenda while the Department is still conducting the examination and analysis directed by the Presidential Memorandum and considering additional compliance options. Accordingly, pending the completion of that examination and analysis, including the consideration of possible additional compliance options, the RFI is being reserved as a long-term action.