Oisin Breen
Articles written by Oisin Breen
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Morningstar is shuttering 'Office' in 2026 and steering its orphaned RIAs to Black Diamond to get revenue cut in deal -- but Advyzon and Orion aren't planning to get cut out
The Chicago company finally got its RIA software into the cloud in 2018 but got out-invested by cloud-based rivals -- and now it's 'open season' on soon-to-be orphaned RIAs.
February 19, 2025 at 4:18 AM
ex-Merrill Lynch 'Smoothie' broker loses big in FINRA arbitration; his attorney calls reasoning 'tortured,' but pattern of 'bad behavior' may have tipped scales, other lawyers say
James 'Jim' Iannazzo faces fines, two-year ban on securities sales -- potentially a career killer -- but the case could ultimately hinge on an appeal... and politics.
February 14, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Robinhood pushes back, with force, after CFTC's 'shocking and stunning' rejection of its 'contract' betting bid, after gleaning affirmation in review process
The feisty Menlo Park discount brokerage is expressing 'disappointment' in the 'outcome,' particularly because of regular affirming contact with the CFTC that proved illusory
February 8, 2025 at 3:54 AM
RIA CRM startup arrives -- it's free, AI-powered and unfettered by dubious features -- but 15 years after the Schwab 'Project C' goldrush can it make inroads against market giants Redtail, Wealthbox and Salesforce?
AdvisorCRM is serving six RIAs and brings the old Junxure promise of design-by-RIA to market; and, for now, no VCs are calling the shots.
February 4, 2025 at 3:03 AM
The long, long Addepar incubation is giving way to profits, a $3.25-billion valuation and a 'G' round of $250 million that co-founder Joe Lonsdale is helping to fund
The Mountain View, Calif., software maker, a cash burner since 2009 founding, will earn 'hundreds of millions' in 2025, which has investors piling in at the new valuation – a 62.5% increase in four years.
February 1, 2025 at 4:23 AM
McKinsey suddenly puts its secretive $23-billion RIA under 'strategic review' with M&A shop; a spin-off or sale a possible outcome; it follows Nov. 30 London newspaper exposé
The New York super-consultancy retained Ardea Partners, a 2017 Goldman Sachs breakaway, to suss out its options for the in-house wealth manager and hedge fund company.
January 30, 2025 at 4:05 AM
BlackRock blows off deadline from regulator for third time in three months, leading FDIC to insist it won't tolerate a fourth snub; hogwash, says leading lawyer
The giant New York City asset manager is pushing back because it can, lawyer says, but the bank regulator says it will force the issue if BlackRock continues refusing to play ball.
January 25, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Briefs: Focus Financial gets second happy Hollywood ending in LA lawsuit • Orion closes deal in record 14 days • iCapital buys ID shop • VC milestones & raises • People moves at Apex, Dynasty & Wealthfront
A Hollywood RIA took on Focus and Goldman, and lost • Reed Colley is already in the house • The SEC dings Robinhood, Schwab and Vanguard Group, and FINRA dings Fidelity • Vanguard & Schwab launch ETFs • BlackRock plots mixing alts & annuities in a TDF • Dynasty adds golf exec in HR hire • iCapital buys 'AI' KYC shop • Larry Shumbres start-up off to the races • Wealthfront's media guru departs.
January 24, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Wealthfront is booming after 2022 UBS sale went bust, with December's $2-billion valuation, a share buyback and $75 billion in total assets; now it's dusting off its direct-indexing with (maybe) disruptive changes
The Palo Alto, Calif., robo-advisor's assets exploded -- especially in its banking side hustle, causing the robo-investing side to ride the bank's trajectory.
January 16, 2025 at 1:34 AM
RIABlitz: Vanguard technology • Pontera rebounds • Ex-HiddenLever's exec success • BlackRock rocked • Vivek's crypto • WF dunks SF? • Betterment dry option• Vestwell poached
The RIA firehose of news is rife with tactical moves to shore up voids, play catchup and react to a new concept of political tailwinds
January 11, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Despite lawsuits, Schwab slashes sweep yields 89% in five months, including two cuts in December -- raising risks for RIAs that don't sort cash, experts say
The Westlake, Texas brokerage was paying 0.45% as recently as last summer but in late December that was cut to five basis points, in 'calculated risk,' attorney says.
January 9, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Pontera-like play wins Black Diamond deal to allow its RIAs to manage held-away 401(k) assets -- with all parties mum on Fidelity's credential-sharing policy
Future Capital only launched held-away product last June, and Pontera got walking papers from Fidelity in September, leaving big questions.
December 18, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Another Opto co-founder departs -- this one to join Vise -- but he'll straddle the two firms, keeping an advisory seat, founder shares and Joe Lonsdale's love
Kamal Jafarnia see 'truly transformative potential' in his new gig, also in New York City, after its 'reset' and brings coveted ability to makes alts compliant alongside conventional investments.
December 14, 2024 at 2:17 AM
DOL program to reunite $1.65 trillion of 401(k) assets with plan participants is long, long overdue; it's also little threat to VC-backed startup with overlapping mission -- and big head start
Gaurav Sharma, founder of Capitalize, explains in RIABiz Q&A, that Labor Dept. will need help -- lots of it -- but that SECURE 2.0 made it possible to begin to address.
December 13, 2024 at 12:04 AM
Incoming Charles Schwab CEO toes edge, telling RIAs he will greenlight spot coin trades, maybe 'in short order' under Trump, but conservative firms still must have 'risk appetite,' SEC attorney cautions
Rick Wurster says Schwab is watching regulators but regulatory attorneys say financial chiefs ultimately must contend with risk of digital asset fraud and manipulation.
