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Brooke Southall

A native Mainer, Brooke founded RIABiz 13 years ago because he wanted to write for an editor demanding articles get past syrupy quotation, satanic jargon and the Wall Street framing of how financial advice gets sold. He spends his days now in California writing, editing and coaching writers. He lives on a houseboat, works in an office and juggles calls across the five time zones and four countries his small team works. He's out to prove an economic major can make a living as a journalist and that articles need not be a loss leader if they are written well and geared to an intelligent readership.

Articles written by Brooke Southall


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Andrew Salesky: We’re helping companies deliver stock plan experiences.
October 9, 2025 at 2:28 AM

Gary Dorfman: In our view, American Exceptionalism has nothing to do with politics.

With reports of its demise greatly exaggerated, Strive's RIA spins out as 'Thryve' --minus Vivek Ramaswamy and capital from JD Vance and Peter Thiel -- in a 'clean break' with a more apolitical vibe

Now a $270-million of managed assets RIA, Thryve is rebooting its original roll-up strategy, and (mostly) kicking political leanings to the curb.

October 8, 2025 at 6:45 PM

Shirl Penney: “It's not leveled the playing field. It has tilted in our favor in the RIA space.

Schwab, Dynasty and Merrill Lynch breakaway team gain 'leverage' in coming arbitration after rebuffing Merrill's TRO attempt -- but Merrill is still calling it a 'raid' and conspiracy that it will prevail on

Defendants Schwab and Dynasty weighed in with sharp, written responses defending their part in aiding the $129-billion OpenArc RIA opening for business; Merrill is calling TRO process a 'first step'

October 1, 2025 at 2:45 AM

David Fortunato: In line for a nine-figure payout after successful IPO.

Wealthfront files for IPO -- for real this time --and reveals that it is handsomely rewarding CEO David Fortunato and its young CTO

The Palo Alto firm disclosed $47 billion in bank assets and $42 billion in RIA AUM in the filing -- and healthy earnings

September 30, 2025 at 1:21 AM

Joseph Alonso: Key affidavit 'contains no single shred of actual admissible evidence."

Merrill Lynch faces 'significant hurdles' to convince judge to restrain its former $129 billion team from pursuing life as Schwab RIA, attorney says

The New York City wirehouse faces a 'high burden of proof,' especially if OpenArc shows it is making a 'legitimate business' move to avoid 'staggering losses' it alleges Merrill caused, attorney adds

September 27, 2025 at 2:05 AM

Erik Bjerke: I always thought it could be amazing to get every product in one place.

Charles Schwab and Dynasty pull off record-shattering -- and previously unthinkable -- lift-out of $129-billion AUA Merrill Lynch team, but the thundering herd has furiously stampeded to court to block the move

The Westlake, Texas brokerage and the St. Petersburg, Fla. RIA platform took the wirehouse's crown jewel with bold plan to compete nationally with Fidelity et al for Fortune 500-level 401(k), RSU, stock benefit, and other retirement and equity plans

September 25, 2025 at 2:54 AM

Tim Oden: Kevin Monaco [is] a critical asset as we expand our presence in the western U.S

Dynasty Financial makes 'critical' hire as it prepares nationwide quick-strike forces to make its 55 RIA clients tuck-in magnets for a 'not obvious' growth opportunity

The St. Petersburg, Fla., RIA support platform gets Kevin Monaco in Los Angeles as puzzle piece ahead of flooding the time zome with people across discipline spectrum that can close breakaways to join RIAs

September 23, 2025 at 10:27 PM

Vivek Ramaswamy plans to extend anti-ESG ETF theme to an RIA seem to be already over.

Strive invested $4 million to start up RIA in 2024 but may pull plug this year because of 'de minimis' success -- and a bigger fish to fry, a filing shows

A bigger deal to create a Bitcoin treasury sank the Dallas startup, which was to be the first 'pro-capitalism' wealth manager 'focused on true financial freedom.'

September 20, 2025 at 2:30 AM

Jeannie Bidner: Our branch network is without a doubt a competitive differentiator.

After 2,300 hires in six months, Schwab makes decisive, with risk, RIA move to 'build out' 40 branch offices in swank winter enclaves -- staffed by 400 consultants -- to serve ultra-high-net-worth clients

The Westlake, Texas, firm blew past $11 trillion in AUA and is now fulfilling 'branch' and 'wealth manager' promises with first big post-TD Ameritrade push into redoubts like Monarch Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Aventura and Marco Island.

September 18, 2025 at 2:38 AM

Brian Hamburger is being targeted online for employing somebody who was never on his staff.

MarketCounsel ambushed by hackers and online haters after Trump 'threat' by Jim Pavia -- mistakenly identified as an employee -- gets firm drawn into a right-wing whirlwind

Online Trump acolyte Ryan Fournier incited attacks on Brian Hamburger's firm without fact-checking connection or reaching out for comment. .

September 13, 2025 at 2:53 AM

Natalie Lamarque: Praised for being a "seasoned executive with exceptional legal expertise."

Vanguard quietly makes two definitive moves -- replacing its rookie chief legal officer after a year of legal scrapes, and naming leaders of its 'parallel' plan to split fund management into two teams

The Malvern, Pa. firm poached Principal's CLO, Natalie Lamarque, while Glenn Booraem and Carolyn Cross will head the newly created investment management teams

September 12, 2025 at 12:37 AM

John Plansky: The partnership 'augments our wealth services capabilities.'

John Plansky oversees State Street's purchase of Apex stake in play for 'wealth custody' -- and a way to revitalize expensive 2018 Charles River acquisition

State Street has sought a 'wealth' path and Apex a liquidity event and expansion of its back-end reach, and this deal offers a chance to achieve all

September 11, 2025 at 2:21 AM

Jeff Pinksa: Will again be central to high-profile secondaries exchange for RIAs.

iCapital makes second attempt to create 'secondary' alts market, after Nasdaq deal never took off, buying a stake in startup venture where Addepar's 'secondary' guy landed

The New York City alts platform wealth manager got valued at $7.5 billion in July, an $820 million raise, and is now putting proceeds to work to become an exchange brokering marooned private equity.

September 9, 2025 at 1:48 AM

Robert Sharps: We are excited to collaborate with Goldman Sachs.

T. Rowe Price shares retreat following one-day euphoria over Goldman Sachs' $1 billion stake, after T. Rowe CEO nixes possible sale, draining analysts' enthusiasm

The 88-year-old Baltimore firm says it's not seeking the New York bank as white knight despite share weakness and net outflows for 17 consecutive quarters.

September 6, 2025 at 3:10 AM

Randy Bullard: It's part of a larger strategic shift under the new CEO.

Randy Bullard won the job to build Hightower’s first centralized investment platform but winning RIAs may be bigger challenge

The Chicago rollup's new, $324 billion platform is for 'it-can't-won't-be-forced on' advisors, but the ex-Charles River executive is ready to take on the challenge.

September 5, 2025 at 2:32 AM

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