ABOUT RIABiz
RIABiz is an online journal covering the financial advice business. Our Mill Valley, California-based publication rose from the wreckage of the 2008 financial meltdown and the tattering of printed trade publications. RIABiz uses sourced journalism and editorial analysis to capture the rise of new models for providing client-first financial advice against the backdrop of Wall Street's decline. After 12 years in business, RIABiz knows readers properly binge on the Netflix-worthy action when we put the story in words the freshest data, facts, context, photographs -- and drama.
Also see:
- Welcome to RIABiz on day one (8.6.09)
- Happy [First] Birthday RIABiz (8.5.10)
- RIABiz has its second birthday and reaches new milestones (8.17.11)
- RIABiz turns three after experiencing big growth and its fair share of growing pains (8.3.12)
- RIABiz turns six, with plans to keep riding an ever-swelling RIA wave (8.7.15)
- RIABiz turns seven, with a central new 'problem' (8.10.16)
THE TEAM
Brooke Southall
Brooke Southall
415.389.8207
Brooke is known locally in Sausalito, Calif. as a cyclist, houseboater, and the guy with the dogs. On the web he's known as a regular voice on the happenings of the RIA business. He started RIABiz in 2009 after deciding the industry could use a more focused channel of information, which has proven to be the case. Brooke oversees the flow of articles on RIABiz, but still gets to spend a considerable amount of time reporting and writing. Somehow he manages to pump out story after story despite the frequently crashing of his Windows 7 laptop and his hunt-and-peck typing method.
Frank Noto
Frank Noto
415.389.8206
Frank hails from the Garden State, and regardless of being here in the Bay Area for over 30 years, he's always rooting hard for his beloved Yankees. Frank heads-up the RIABiz advertising program, along with tending to his duties of managing our business and financial operations. He's been in publishing within the advisory market since starting at InvestmentNews in 2000, at about the same time Brooke became the RIA-beat reporter for our former employer. Frank and his wife, Roni, have raised 3 daughters, and live in San Anselmo. Almost every day, Frank is running the trails around Mt Tamalpais.
Keith Girard
Keith Girard
646.246.4477
Keith’s career began in Washington, D.C., as a reporter for The Washington Post. He served as editor-in-chief and vice president of The Daily Record, Maryland’s largest legal and business newspaper. He also was editor of InvestmentNews and Billboard magazine and served as senior vice president and editorial director of HNW Inc., a custom publishing company serving high-net-worth clients. His column, “Business Intelligence,” has been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, CBSNews.com and other publications. He’s also contributed to Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Keith lives in Maryland, where he gets to spend a lot of time with his grandkids.
Lisa Shidler
Lisa Shidler
219.988.4653
Lisa has been a reporter for over 15 years and has been covering the financial services industry for 10 years - she also comes from the world of InvestmentNews. She's been with RIABiz since November 2010. Lisa is based in Columbus, Ohio. She's married with two teenagers – Liz and Chance.
Oisin Breen
Oisin Breen
A Dublin native, Oisin has spent the last thirteen years living in Edinburgh, Scotland and the past six writing about finance, including four and a half whirlwind years deep-sea diving into the world of RIAs, which he can't get enough of. Prior to writing for RIABiz, Oisin was a jobbing FX and equities writer for a London-based trading firm, as well as a teacher, and remains a writer of long-form experimental poetry, with over 80 published pieces. His first book, 'Flowers, All Sorts in Blossom, Figs, Berries and Fruits Forgotten' was released by Hybrid/Dreich in Edinburgh, in March 2020: https://hybriddreich.co.uk/oisin-breen/
Alongside his writing, Oisin continues to toil on a part-time basis in academia, where he is mired in a doctoral research topic into the structure of narrative. He owns three Scottish rabbits, Charles, Eadie and Hessel
Robin Riley
Robin Riley
917.733.7710
Robin joined RIABiz in September, 2016. She’s been in publishing all her career and specifically within the financial advisory market since 2000. To date she’s covered just about every territory in the country seeing her clients & enjoys it very much, as she’s passionate about the business & loves the challenge. She lives with her husband, George, in New York City.
Wendy Timmons
Wendy Timmons
202.607.0620
Wendy loves building relationships and has spent the past two decades in business development. Despite being based in Los Angeles, she considers the world her home as it is her favorite teacher. She is thrilled to be the newest member of the RIABiz team having followed it since its inception, and brings a decade plus of digital publishing leadership to the table as well as another decade of leadership in other arenas—often literally given her passion for producing theatre.
John and Dawn Kodin
John and Dawn Kodin
John - 360.714.8662
Dawn - 360.647.2842
John and Dawn live in the Northwest in Bellingham, Washington, are avid outdoors people, and are really into road bicycles, hiking and motorcycles. They have been managing the Directory since its launch in 2010. They are excited to see the continued growth of RIABiz and the Directory in the past few years, as the Directory approaches 900 companies involved in the RIA marketplace. John and Dawn are also part of our ad sales team.