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