Will the regulatory push for a uniform fiduciary standard die on the vine? Brokers may not be best equipped to predict regulatory outcomes, but most of them do not expect such a standard to be implemented, according to survey results released today by Aite Group.

And yet, most of them also thought it would do good: the number of survey respondents who said implementation of the fiduciary standard would help restore investor trust in financial services firms was greater than the number who did not. More respondents also said implementation of a uniform fiduciary standard would result in greater use of financial planning.

The results are based on a survey of 402 financial advisors, conducted online in the fourth quarter of 2009. Brokers, who are currently regulated by the suitability standard and would feel the most significant impact from such a regulatory change, accounted for 84 percent of respondents. Fee-only independent RIA advisors, who are already governed by the fiduciary standard, accounted for 16 percent or respondents.

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Each May, we present our annual Outstanding Advisor Awards to ten veteran financial advisors who exemplify the highest standards of professionalism and are active in charitable giving and mentoring.

Nominations, due March 1st, require a short essay explaining why this person should be named as an Outstanding Advisor. Describe what makes this person worthy of the award and be brief–a few hundred words will suffice. Specifics are important; please include anecdotes that illustrate the advisor’s strongest qualities and committment to philanthropic activities. Describe the kind of advisory practice he or she runs so that we have a clear understanding of the advisor’s book. All applications are confidential and you can nominate yourself.

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Consolidation, a long-familiar trend in the financial advisor channel, may be getting a boost from the federal Troubled Asset Relief Program. Eager to raise cash and get out from under taxpayer loans, PNC Financial Services Group is looking to sell its custody and clearing division, PNC Global Investment Servicing to Bank of New York Mellon, The Wall Street Journal reports. The bank wants to make the sale because it needs funds to pay off $7.6 billion in TARP money, according to the story, which cites unnamed sources at the bank.

BNY Mellon already has a substantial custody business in Pershing, which had $770 billion in assets under custody as of December 2009 and 1,150 b/ds, RIAs, and other customers globally. PNC’s Global Investment Servicing unit has $1.8 trillion in assets, 75 million shareholder accounts, and a number of service programs for independent b/ds and RIAs.

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The dismal morale among UBS brokers seems to be improving of late. A number of top financial advisors at the firm say that they are so far very pleased with the leadership of UBS Wealth Management CEO Bob McCann, and the team of people he has brought on board. McCann joined UBS in October, following a legal settlement with former employer Bank of America over a non-compete agreement.

“Morale, I would say it’s good,” said one top broker at the firm. “I was in a meeting last week and the new CEO McCann spoke and he was awesome.”

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