Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is calling on the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate financial firms for allegedly making misleading statements about a federal effort to protect people saving for retirement.

In a letter sent Thursday to SEC Chair Mary Jo White, Warren said firms could have violated securities laws by issuing conflicting comments about a proposed rule that would require financial advisors to act in the best interest of their clients, rather than the best interest of their own profit.

Warren is referring to the so-called fiduciary rule, which the White House estimates could help Americans trying to retire save $17 billion a year. Current law allows financial advisors to work on commission when they offer suggestions to savers about retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Advisors are allowed to earn money from mutual fund companies for steering clients to specific funds, even if…