Articles published 1/2021
Headline
Publish date
Woman CEO who grew her RIA to $7.2 billion of AUM yields to a new male CEO, but another woman in the wings is gearing up for its second century when female investors will dominate
Bartlett Wealth Management President Holly Mazzocca has day-to-day oversight and will likely succeed new CEO James Hagerty.
January 30, 2021 – 1:58 AM
M1 Finance now says Wealthfront's allegation is a 'lie' and Wealthfront counters: Let's go to the video replay
The Chicago retail model portfolio purveyor says its staffer never hid her M1 employment and the Silicon Valley robo-advisor begs to differ and claims it's on tape
January 28, 2021 – 6:55 PM
CI Financial tops its 2020 MVP year with a grand slam $23 billion AUM January deal but its CEO hints that 2021 is just getting going
Kurt MacAlpine says his $261-billion of AUM throws off big cash flow and a growing list of word-of-mouth buyers and a model where managers stay in place assures that his Canadian firm need not sit long on the bench
January 26, 2021 – 10:53 PM
Mike and Ryan Alfred -- and their celebrity RIA investors -- sell Digital Assets Data to NYDIG, after market failed to develop for their Bitcoin data mining firm
NYDIG cashed out Marty Bicknell, Ric Edelman, Josh Brown and others who provided $9 million in initial backing for the Alfred's firm.
January 26, 2021 – 3:17 AM
Fidelity Investments loses Kathleen Murphy who largely caught up Fido to Schwab (near $4T) on the retail side by reversing net promoter scores
The 'no whining allowed' leader of the Boston giant's retail business, who oversaw $2 trillion in net new assets, was ready to exit but hung in through a year dominated by COVID-19 challenges
January 23, 2021 – 2:02 AM
DPL Financial Partners raises $26 million after explosive growth turned backers into believers in David Lau's promise to create a guaranteed income supermarket
With $1 billion of gross sales for 2021 conceivable after mega-deal with SS&C and macro-factor tailwinds, the Louisville company is ready to slug in the bigger leagues.
January 22, 2021 – 2:54 AM
Wealthfront calls out M1 Finance for alleged pretexting, but some experts see its damnation as faint praise for a growing competitor
The Redwood City, Calif., robo-advisor and online bank revealed a long-running rift on social media over allegedly 'unethical' behavior.
January 20, 2021 – 11:20 PM
Second Betterment exec departs as new CEO Sarah Levy orients to her first month on the job and is confronted by personnel matters
Chief operating officer Dustin Lucien is the latest to leave the New York City robo-advisor, one of at least eight positions open as it prepares a push across multiple business lines to ignite growth.
January 19, 2021 – 6:32 PM
RIAs see big revenue windfall as planning fees soar 50% and separately billed plans jump 70%-plus, still only half of clients have a plan, survey says
The countertrend to fee compression in investment management takes hold as planning software proliferates; advisors find courage to charge for a freebie and investors learn to appreciate plans.
January 16, 2021 – 1:02 AM
Charles Schwab Corp. zigs, then zags to get out from under Trump riot scandal, shuttering PAC for good after suspending contributions; money headed for charities
The Westlake, Texas company is dismantling and liquidating its PAC after 'questionable tactics and misleading claims' forced its hand, it claimed.
January 14, 2021 – 3:41 AM
Capital Group nabs Holly Framsted as it unveils products for 2022 that define how it will stay active in a passive-ETF world
The Los Angeles manager poached BlackRock's head of U.S. ETF product segments (factors) to start in March and oversee the firm's first actively managed exchange-traded funds
January 13, 2021 – 10:14 PM
Visa and Plaid break off merger in face of DOJ anti-trust suit, with Plaid -- with other buyers circling -- likely the long-term winner, says one analyst
After months of DOJ investigation and a lawsuit, the payments giant and the payments upstart, both of San Francisco, call time on $5 billion merger
January 13, 2021 – 3:28 AM
Schwab, drawn into Capitol Riot scandal, assures advisors and clients it's ceasing political contributions, while CEO laments violence; but where's Chuck?
Some clients were surprised and dismayed by company's deep involvement in politics and support for so-called 'Sedition Caucus' in Congress
January 13, 2021 – 2:52 AM
Todd Morgan thinks third time will be the charm, as Hightower, in its biggest deal yet, scoops up his Hollywood RIA at a Ventura price, with earnouts to be determined
After State Street and Montreal's Fiera paid $217 million and $125 million respectively, the Chicago-based rollup gets a relative bargain
January 12, 2021 – 6:25 AM
Advizr founder Hussain Zaidi parts ways with Orion but mission accomplished: Orion's AUA leapt 50% in his 19 months
MoneyGuidePro and eMoney still dominate, but RIAs and IBDs in droves are willing to choose Orion's planning on the terms offered -- zero license fees.
