Articles published 6/2025
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In part to re-create the RIA version of the 'HOV,' Dynasty Financial refreshes plan for power-HQ to woo Wall Street brokers into becoming RIAs
St. Petersburg, Fla mayor scuttled previous project for the St. Petersburg-based RIA but the new one is streamlined to blow away the Manhattan 'home-office visit' -- a full-court press recruitment climactic event not really in the RIA bag
June 27, 2025 at 11:29 PM
After Chime IPO success, Wealthfront quickly files for its own -- on strength of bank deposit growth -- as its RIA managed assets slip sideways and the bitter taste of its failed UBS deal lingers
If it goes ahead with the IPO, analysts expect Wealthfront will net a valuation in excess of the $2 billion the company used in a Dec. 2024 share buyback program.
June 27, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Envestnet is offloading Yodlee to private equity buyer back in Silicon Valley, which values its 'trusted data access and intelligent analytics'
Under new CEO and new owner, the Berwyn, Pa,, wealth platform is liquidating the account aggregation unit and maintaining long term license agreements
June 25, 2025 at 4:51 PM
In a massive overhaul, Vanguard will split its $10.4 trillion in funds between two 'distinct' management teams with separate trading desks potentially trading against each other, analyst says
The index fund leader will separate 'hot button' corporate governance by team, and hopes to reap deeper focus, greater flexibility, and more opportunities for growth.
June 25, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Aaron Klein is back in the game with a new startup, a Nitrogen wrinkle, 'hall of fame' RIA backers and a plan to build a better meeting for Advisors
The risk-number magnate from Boise raised $5.5 million from Eric Clarke, Brian McLaughlin, Steve Lockshin, Scott Hanson, Ric Edelman, Barnaby Grist, Yoav Zurel and others.
June 24, 2025 at 11:24 AM
NerdWallet buys small RIA to unlock other half of its vision -- a one-stop-shop for wealth management -- that will challenge traditional RIAs on fees and client referrals
The San Francisco financial product rater and information source will now create its own deliverable -- cut-rate financial advice and money management.
June 18, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Pershing rolls out new RIA custody fee schedule for firms from zero to $10 billion in assets - a dynamic of competing against zero-fee custodians who take revenues from client accounts
The No. 3 RIA custodian will also continue to realize revenues from muddier non-fee sources but hopes that the new schedule 'clarifies' the murk in its previous pricing schedule.
June 18, 2025 at 12:39 AM
After merger shock, LPL staff apologized to Ralph Angelo for blindside, which he now gladly accepts as first major recruit under LPL-Commonwealth combo
The founder of $1.5 billion Angelo Planning Group (APG) found out LPL was acquiring Commonwealth the same day he joined Commonwealth -- a switch precipitated by Osaic's merger with American Portfolios
June 13, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Moody's downgrades Wall Street play to target retail clients as piggy bank to soak up trillions of dollars in illiquid investments
The New York City rating agency warns that the 'rapid deployment' of 'dry powder' into illiquid investments is recipe for systemic disaster.
June 13, 2025 at 1:24 AM
After hitting $2.7 trillion in RIA assets, Envestnet adds an RIA executive position to expand wallet share with existing wealth clients -- many of them Tamarac users
The Berwyn, Pa., outsourcer long focused on 100,000-plus IBD reps but promises deeper 'commitment' to RIAs whose assets represent near 42%.
June 11, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Schwab undercuts Vanguard (and BlackRock) again by slashing ETF fees up to 50% -- math that works when keeping RIAs is a priority
The $10 trillion discount broker cut its international ETF fee by 50%, a fee that is now 25% lower than that of the equivalent Vanguard ETF
June 10, 2025 at 11:18 PM
BlackRock will soon own a $30 billion RIA rollup (through a manager's fund) that has grown 500% since 2020 mostly by M&A, and could now ramp up
The New York City mega manager is buying an alts manager with a fund with a stake in Lido Advisors -- a deal within deal as it edges toward wealth management.
June 10, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Fisher Investments launches 'fiduciary.com' to 'educate' clients and RIAs, but site smacks of 'naked lead-gen,' says Fiduciary Institute's head
The Plano, Texas, RIA bought the URL, 'fiduciary.com,' in 2024, and shows that if you can disclose it, you can often declare it in a client's best interest.
June 6, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Fielding Miller calls on Mike Wunderli at 'inflection point' after CAPTRUST zoomed to $1 trillion but needs M&A energy injection to hit $2 trillion
The CAPTRUST CEO's firm dominated the 401(k) RIA rollup game for a decade, and LA dealmaker's hire comes as the market has changed to higher multiples and more determined rivals.
June 6, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Focus Financial breaks deal drought and kills off 'hub' talk by merging $10-billion West Coast acquisition with $175-billion Boston unit
Focus Wealth Partners is dominating M&A mojo, transition 'vernacular' and decentralization are out the window as Focus starts buying again with a vengeance.
June 4, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Orphaned RIAs cry foul after Morningstar socks them with stark choice -- pay up with Black Diamond, or scramble to get data to new provider, at big expense
Hundreds of Morningstar Office users are facing 'early' 2026 deactivation but a Cadillac exit awaits if RIAs transfer solely to Black Diamond.
June 4, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Strive's plan to buy cheap Bitcoin • Vanguard's path to lift crypto ban • Addepar buys 'AI' shop • Data is key, AdvisorEngine says • Vestwell's chicken coup • Carson's new chatbot 'smarter'
The anti-ESG shop launches more unusual financial engineering • Will Vanguard lift crypto ban? • Addepar AI Leaps • AdvisorEngine just sealed five new deals • Carson and Fava go AI to get smart.