Articles published 2/2012
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Two accounting firms abandon merger talks leaving giant Schwab RIA surprised and crestfallen
February 29, 2012 at 5:17 AMWipfli and Eide Bailly suddenly quit the field leaving industry observers -- not to mention Hewins Financial -- wondering why
Fidelity reports 57% boost in 401(k) sales as it sets its sights on smaller plans and advisors
February 29, 2012 at 5:00 AMHeading downmarket, the Boston-based firm is trying to muscle in on boutique providers
Fed up wirehouse advisors more eager to leave than ever, study says
February 28, 2012 at 4:01 PMA whopping three out of four advisors would take a call from an RIA recruiter, the Schwab study shows -- but what then?
Why a $6 billion New York RIA is finally making its California debut
February 28, 2012 at 5:09 AMThe partners of BBR found a fellow Goldman Sachs alum they could trust 3,000 miles away
How AppCrown got a big RIA footprint overnight by handling Salesforce implementations
February 27, 2012 at 5:02 AMTD and Fidelity are in with both feet but some are taking a wait-and-see attitude
How Russell is faring since joining the competitive ETF party with an all-star ex-Barclays crew
February 27, 2012 at 5:01 AMThe team is offering two dozen enhanced ETF offerings, hoping to gain traction with advisors in an increasingly competitive market
Securities America shifts back on offense as it wins a $350 million advisory firm from Investment Centers of America
February 24, 2012 at 4:24 PMAfter weathering scandal and sale, the Omaha, Neb. firm has signed on Great Plains Financial, a hybrid advisory with an eye toward growth
4 reasons to use options -- and 4 more reasons why you should think twice
February 24, 2012 at 4:17 PMOptions can smooth the bumps inherent in longterm investing but expect to take some time educating your clients about them
HighTower wins a $700 million Merrill Lynch advisor in Maryland horse country and wrests an LA-based IAR from an RIA
February 23, 2012 at 4:19 AMThe Chicago consolidator's transitions teams had a brutally busy Presidents' weekend bringing aboard teams on both coasts simultaneously, from Merrill and The Presidio Group
As WealthCentral surpasses 2,000 users, Ed O'Brien responds to questions about Fidelity's technology system at T3
February 23, 2012 at 4:03 AMThe head of Fidelity's RIA tech efforts says that the technology is a good fit for breakaways
Veteran Merrill Lynch manager leaves seven registrations on the table to return to his pure-RIA roots
February 22, 2012 at 4:08 AMFed up with BofA and faced with a choice between managing advisors and being one, Brad Stratton moves to CONCERT
Lost in limbo: How and why compliance officers can seem to thwart RIA marketing efforts
February 22, 2012 at 3:52 AMCCOs have valid reasons for poring over the content of any proposed articles coming from their firm -- but they owe you a quick response
Can the new Envestnet-Tamarac Godzilla take on the Advent-Black Diamond King Kong?
February 21, 2012 at 6:27 AMTamarac has trusted relationships with several hundred RIA firms who might like outsourced investments on their dashboard
RIAs flock to Dallas for the T3 technology conference
February 21, 2012 at 6:17 AMThe seventh annual gathering drew 500 advisors, execs, software vendors and custodians with integrations, mobile apps and clouds on their minds
Best advice for 2012: Risk being a bit boring and focus on the organic growth of your practice
February 20, 2012 at 7:03 AMGrowth from within is a challenge across all channels and needs to be addressed
How exactly RIAs can leverage the new transparency as a marketing tool
February 17, 2012 at 4:28 PMFee-only advisors will reap the benefits of fuller disclosure and here are some ways to highlight your competitive advantage
What's a Pyramis? Fidelity poached a top Columbia funds exec so you won't ask that question
February 17, 2012 at 4:21 PMMike Jones oversaw $326 billion at the Ameriprise Financial subsidiary
New rule threatens to drive millions of investors out of money market funds, ICI chief warns
February 17, 2012 at 7:16 AMPaul Schott Stevens and a very blunt John Bogle air their views at the Bloomberg Portfolio Manager Mash-Up Conference in New York
Big deal: Envestnet will acquire Tamarac for $54 million
February 16, 2012 at 6:17 PMThe big Chicago outsourcer nabs the fast-riser in the RIA software business and one competitor says: "now what?"
A $2 billion, 69-year-old Merrill Lynch advisor passes up the gold watch in favor of breaking away
February 16, 2012 at 4:33 AMFearing the loss of massive public accounts, John Beirne swallowed the idea of independence with help from Focus Financial
Schwab turns the YieldPlus page the old-fashioned way -- with a whole new CSIM team
February 15, 2012 at 3:36 PMEx-Goldman and former BlackRock star Marie Chandoha has quickly overseen Charles Schwab Investment Management's rise from Barron's #34 to top 10 -- but Morningstar wants to see more
RIA items of interest: Mag Black-Scott expands beyond Beverly Hills and BAM adds an advisor who contributes to The New York Times
February 15, 2012 at 6:38 AMTwo advisors who vowed to grow are showing some signs of doing just that
Which three of DOL's new 401(k) rules represent the biggest land mines for financial advisors and plan sponsors
February 14, 2012 at 6:06 AMAccepting gifts, estimating fees and using asset allocation models all demand treading lightly
A few words with John Bunch as he steps into the CEO spot at The Mutual Fund Store
February 14, 2012 at 6:04 AMGetting recruited away from TD Ameritrade was a shock but ultimately one that captured his heart
Raymond James launches a separate RIA unit and appoints a former Merrill Lynch breakaway to head it
February 13, 2012 at 5:58 PMCalling the RIA business a 'strategic imperative', Chet Helck is making Bill Van Law the founding president of the RJ investment advisors division
10 reasons for advisors to just say no to less-than-ideal clients
February 13, 2012 at 5:58 PMChoosing a niche helps identify the ideal prospect
DOL tells employers when they must fire advisors to 401(k) plans
February 10, 2012 at 5:26 AMThe new teeth in the rules went unnoticed by many people amid other changes
Looking for a second growth spurt, a billion-dollar-plus RIA hires away a Nuveen global ops man
February 10, 2012 at 5:22 AMPatrick Goshtigian, new president of EP Wealth Advisors has taken over back-office operations from its founders and is also heading up its expansion efforts
Ben Brigeman is exiting Schwab and his position atop its retail business -- perhaps portending bigger changes
February 9, 2012 at 9:59 PMThe San Francisco-based company will have Andy Gill and John Clendening assume the duties
Where Boston Private Financial stands after selling one of its last original acquisitions for $10.5 million
February 9, 2012 at 4:17 PMThe roll-up spun out Davidson Trust and its $1 billion of AUM to Bryn Mawr Trust, which largely unwinds Boston Private's aggressive buying spree from last decade,
After the loss of a spouse: Five pointers for helping grieving clients
February 9, 2012 at 6:52 AMEffective guidance at this crucial time can be enormously helpful to those you serve – and support the maintenance of valued relationships as well
John Bunch is hired as the new CEO of The Mutual Fund Store
February 8, 2012 at 9:04 PMThe TD Ameritrade and Schwab veteran is charged with dotting the country with MFS company outlets as Adam Bold moves over
Why TD Ameritrade didn't reveal Tom Bradley's new executive position during its national conference
February 8, 2012 at 4:07 PM...and other things I learned from talking to the new president of TD retail and his replacement, Tom Nally
Jon Foster partners with $40 billion institutional advisory firm in bid to create big RIA
February 8, 2012 at 2:54 PMThe former E*TRADE and Carson Wealth executive is leveraging the business of Angeles Investment Advisors and will recruit elite wirehouse brokers
LPL sees bright spots amid sideways 4Q earnings report
February 8, 2012 at 5:36 AMThe firm is buoyed by increase in advisors, a perceived edge in the 401(k) segment and interest generated by the Fortigent deal
Why this time Dennis Miller is entrusting his $1.3 billion RIA to an advisor who sold his $2 billion RIA
February 7, 2012 at 6:46 AMMiller/Russell formerly sold to a bank and so did its new CEO, Mark Feldman; GenSpring and Western Alliance were pretty good partners but it was still a pretty rough experience for the advisors
Tom Nally to take the reins of TD Ameritrade's RIA business from Tom Bradley
February 6, 2012 at 10:39 PMTom Bradley will become president of retail distribution, setting him up as a potential successor to Fred Tomczyk in the CEO role, one expert says
Dynasty adds Larry King, a cornerstone advisor of legacy Smith Barney's family wealth unit
February 6, 2012 at 5:33 PMAt Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, the Saratoga Springs team had about $1.2 billion
What Tom Bradley's 25-year reign at TD Ameritrade says about the RIA business
February 6, 2012 at 5:12 PMPeople in this industry can be themselves while prospering and inventing a profession
TD Ameritrade brings some Florida heat to the RIA winter
February 6, 2012 at 4:33 AMThe custodian rolled out a major event sprawled across multiple hotels
Tom Bradley answers 10 questions about TD Ameritrade's competitive stance in his 25th year
February 3, 2012 at 6:02 AMThe industry veteran takes time out from TD's Orlando, Fla. conference to talk about about how his RIA custodian can compete with bigger and smaller competitors alike
What does Tom Coughlin bring to a Super Bowl that Bill Belichick does not?
February 3, 2012 at 6:00 AMHe brings a military precision and you're late if you're not five minutes early to a meeting
Mariner Wealth Advisors buys a $1.3 billion wealth manager that first unwound its ties to a bank
February 2, 2012 at 4:34 PMCEO says Kansas firm will also add 100 advisors in its quest to become $50 billion company
As Fidelity disassembles powerhouse sales team aimed at major RIAs a top talent departs
February 2, 2012 at 3:35 PMScott D'Alessandro's position was a casualty of Fido's new regional approach that worked so well that the last vestige of the old system was eliminated
Have an aversion to succession plans? Consider a continuity pact as a vital baby step
February 1, 2012 at 10:56 PMDying without any plan is inviting disaster for family, employees and clients
Focus Financial gains access to 'huge money' -- $320 million in credit
February 1, 2012 at 3:30 PMThe capital hoard positions the big aggregator to double its advised assets, one observer says
Fidelity dissects the breakaway cycle with a new study
February 1, 2012 at 3:27 PMOn average it's a seven-month process, and many advisors admit that they are winging it
