RIABiz

News, Vision & Voice for the Advisory Community

RIABiz
Oisín Breen

Oisín Breen

Irish journalist, poet, and academic Oisín Breen has spent the last half decade writing about finance for RIABiz, in particular deep-sea diving into the world of RIAs -- a world he now can't get enough of. Prior to writing for RIABiz, Edinburgh-based Breen was a jobbing FX and equities writer, a teacher, and a sales manager. Three times award nominated for financial and creative writing, Breen is also published as a poet across 95 journals in 20 countries. His debut "Flowers, All Sorts Forgotten, Figs, Berries and Fruits Forgotten" (Dreich, 2022) was widely praised. The follow-up "Lilies on the Deathbed of Étaín" is due out Jan. 2022 (Beir Bua Press). A part-time PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh, Breen also is mired in doctoral research into the structure of narrative, a task he pursues with the support of his rabbit Hessell.

Articles written by Oisín Breen


Headline

Publish date


Robb Baldwin: Now, a bridge will be between them.
July 2, 2025 at 1:12 AM

Gordon Ross: Deep expertise in the RIA space.

Gordon Ross joins DeVoe & Co. as president six months after abrupt departure of Tony Parkin, who surfaces at Parallel Advisors

CEO David DeVoe praises both execs, while Parallel also adds Gary Bonner as head of business analytics and technology.

July 1, 2025 at 3:14 AM

David Fortunato: Has kept Wealthfront moving forward after 2022 deal fizzle.

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

Greg O'Gara: It essentially creates management laboratories across divisions.

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



Ryan Sterling: This partnership gives us even more tools to help clients.

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

Knut Rostad: It's naked lead-gen ... On the positive side, at least we can directly criticize it.

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

Christ Hastings: We're going to see a crime scene in November and December.

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

Ben Pham: Strive to purchase Bitcoin at a discount.

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.

June 3, 2025 at 1:02 AM

Alex Michalka: 'Active investing might sound fun.'

Wealthfront renews 'passive' vows -- with a 10% play-money clause -- after it dissolves 'failed' fund and counters Silicon Valley next-door nemesis Robinhood's entry into hyper-active robo-investing

The $36-billion AUM Palo Alto robo-advisor published a Bogle-level passive investing defense, after dissolving much maligned 'Risk Parity' fund, ahead of Vlad Tenev's entry into game.

May 31, 2025 at 1:32 AM

Mike Sha's firm got buoyed for years by UBS.

UBS finally throws in towel on using robo-RIA to incubate investors to feed to its human stockbrokers -- with SigFig a casualty and clients in play

SigFig got into business to disrupt Wall Street, then got buoyed by UBS, but now both are part of a long-augured robo shakeout.

May 29, 2025 at 12:49 AM

Adam Birenbaum is rolling up his roll-up, after climbing up.

Focus unwinds another RIA hub and adds, again, to Adam B's internal empire • Top SSGA alts exec resigns after fund kerfuffle • SEC and judge deliver one-two ordering Vanguard to pay investors' legal fees

The New York City rollup doesn't need six hubs • Shewta Narasimhadevara is leaving SSGA after just five months in her current role • Judge blocks what class accepted, telling lawyers there's a better deal on the table

May 24, 2025 at 12:36 AM

Hailin Li: Advyzon often gets unsolicited investment inquiries and acquisition offers but is not for sale.

Advyzon founder and CEO confirms receiving 'unsolicted' interest from M&A suitors and capital providers, and Charles Schwab Corp has emerged as potential suitor, driven by its RIA side, a source says

Hailin Li issued a detailed response to an RIABiz query acknowledging his company causes merger hearts to flutter, but he stands pat: 'not for sale'

May 17, 2025 at 1:46 AM

Vlad Tenev has said payment-for-order-flow is 'here to stay.'

Robinhood's new 'robo-advisor' is disrupting 'robo' norms; three early users report some eye opening findings and how it targets young trade-hungry investors

The Menlo Park, Calif. maverick has a history of attunement to what young investors want and that spirit and business model has made the transition to its first 'wealth management' offering -- hazarding sub-index returns and conflicts, analysts say.

May 16, 2025 at 6:08 AM

RIABiz Directory

The Industry Sourcebook for RIAs

   |    LISTING

Add Your Listing

RIABiz Directory sponsored by:

Directory Sponsor Logo

White Paper Postings


Common Tags


Recent Articles


Popular Writers


RIABiz logo

RIABiz

About Us

Directory

Archives

Connect

RIABiz, Mill Valley, California
Copyright © 2009-2025 RIABiz Inc. All rights reserved.