What should financial services institutions do to rebuild trust with consumers?

Within any financial transaction (and relationship with clients), transparency is the quickest way to build trust. This relates to all forms of communication with clients and it's implied that everything being 'discussed' is in easily understandable terms. e.g. Sales presentations? Get rid of the jargon and mumbo-jumbo that only insiders are so keen on hearing among ourselves. After all, if your customers don't understand what you're talking about, what kind of communication is that anyway? The days of obfuscation and 'used-car' salesmen tactics need to be over. Keeping the mystery and elan of Wall Street alive through hieroglyphics etc - meant to awe inspire and bedazzle the client - have no place in building trust. It's an outdated approach and a barrier. Making each meeting with the client an educational opportunity is another improvement. Instead of relying on the old schmooze tactics used for "relationship building" e.g. "How are the kids/grandkids, blah, blah?", make yourself an essential learning resource for the client and watch the trust develop!