Articles published 3/2015
Headline
Publish date
My 10-year journey from a BoA call center to establishing a solo $73-million AUM RIA
I established my own business two years ago with a pitch [and fee structure] so appealing I don't always finish it
March 31, 2015 at 7:46 PM
SEC denies Freedom of Information request by RIABiz related to Virtus funds as Ameriprise and TD Ameritrade become latest biggies to cut ties
The regulator's non-response isn't proof of an investigation but big broker-dealers continue to see smoke as fire -- and Virtus's own SEC docs seem to warn of potential trouble brewing
March 30, 2015 at 5:19 PM
How an iPhone app cut through stilted questioning at Barron's RIA custody panel in Scottsdale
Sterling Shea invited advisors to vote on pressing RIA questions via iPhone -- and they acidly asked Bernie Clark whether Schwab is robo-competing against them
March 27, 2015 at 7:13 PM
Why EF Hutton's rebooters took the arse-backward tack of selling public shares and buying a brand before developing a product
CEO Chris Daniels is betting the brand's 20th century fame combined with 21st century digital technology -- and a Nasdaq listing -- will translate into success
March 26, 2015 at 8:02 PM
In reply to SEC, Howard Present blames bad advice for any alleged wrongdoing
The F-Squared founder cries foul for what the SEC calls fraud
March 24, 2015 at 10:49 PM
Schwab is accelerating its software upgrading pace on the back end
The San Francisco-based firm's front-end technology surpasses the system's foundation, which is OK for now, but the bill is coming due
March 24, 2015 at 8:18 PM
Trade publication critiques the inhumanity of Schwab's robo advertising
AdWeek notes the Blue's oh-so-calm, 'kill-all-the-humans' voice
March 24, 2015 at 4:59 PM
Schwab makes thousands of its RIAs subject to fee for robo-software, allocation of client cash to Schwab Bank
The San Francisco firm told RIAs on a webcast that their firms must have $100 million on account or pay for robo-software
March 23, 2015 at 7:21 PM
Found innocent after being sentenced to jail for alleged bilking of an old lady, Glenn Neasham struggles to rebuild his career
Former Vikings quarterback-turned-marketer Fran Tarkenton is scrambling to help but Neasham is delivering pizzas at night
March 20, 2015 at 8:38 PM
For sub-$500k accounts, Schwab is sweeping RIA client cash into its bank, pumping up corporate profits
Unlike the robo, RIAs can manually direct funds to money market funds which makes this change less controversial
March 19, 2015 at 5:51 PM
Swamped by Tony Robbins' referrals, Ajay Gupta launches national venture with Jemstep and United Capital as notable partners
The UBS breakaway mentioned in the self-help guru's book is now calling on RIAs nationwide to share the referral wealth
March 18, 2015 at 7:41 PM
How exactly I started a specialized RIA for under $10,000
Andrew McFadden started Panoramic Financial Advice out of his Fresno, Calif. home and cut costs to the bone -- except where only retail would do -- and isn't afraid to send micro-accounts to a competitor
March 17, 2015 at 6:49 PM
The mission-critical task Abby Johnson has entrusted to Mike Durbin regarding Fidelity's RIAs and automation
The Fidelity CEO's move reflects a paradigm shift for RIAs, for the whole company
March 16, 2015 at 8:17 PM
With apprehension in the air, Schwab invites its RIAs to a one-hour meeting about robo-advice
Many of Schwab's 7,000 advisors are eager for robo-technology but are wary of what's behind the amiable blue facade
March 13, 2015 at 5:47 PM
After lassoing Banyan and Silver Bridge talent, Ropes & Gray launches $2.7 billion RIA to extend its legal brand to financial advice
The 150-year-old white shoe, which counseled Mitt Romney on financial matters, is unshackled to advise as Ropes Wealth Advisors
March 12, 2015 at 5:58 PM
Adam Nash makes direct 'CEO-to-CEO' plea to Schwab to rethink its robo
In a blistering blog entry, the Wealthfront chief executive expresses outrage at the Schwab robo's ADV contents -- and gets an earful back from the San Francisco giant
March 11, 2015 at 4:16 AM
Vanguard Group's econo-RIA chief will now report to her CEO as unit hits $5 billion, gains steam
Bill McNabb wants a direct line to Karin Risi as Vanguard Personal Advisor Services hits $5 billion of AUM
March 10, 2015 at 7:13 PM
How a Vermont janitor's $8-million bequest highlights lessons for advisors found in Tom Stanley's bestseller, 'The Millionaire Next Door'
Mercedes and McMansion owners aren't always 'Prodigious Accumulators of Wealth,' according to the late advisor and researcher
March 10, 2015 at 4:36 PM
Schwab sings 'Blue' as it rolls out its robo -- and phono -- functions ahead of deadline, with minimums
Schwab Intelligent Portfolios now has breakpoints of $5,000 and $50,000 of assets -- and comes with human broker help
March 9, 2015 at 10:07 PM
Extraordinary women awaken the RIA business, shepherd billions
In a business starved for beyond-the-books talent, executives are turning to a largely untapped gender
March 6, 2015 at 8:53 PM
Bob Oros jumps to the top 'RIA' spot at Fidelity
With Mike Durbin taking a new day job at the Boston giant, the sales journeyman of Schwab, LPL and TCoA fame gets a coveted title
March 5, 2015 at 8:59 PM
Robert Moore walks from LPL Financial president role for new gig, but Dan Arnold softens the blow by filling the void
Mark Casady's second-in-command was hired as CFO from a bank early in the 2008 crisis but Arnold is known as entrepreneurial soul who can 'do' corporate
March 3, 2015 at 9:04 PM
How United Capital's unconventional rolling up of a $2 billion RIA reveals how close the roll-up model is to extinction
Joe Duran's Newport Beach firm does cryptic non-transactional acquisition as Focus Financial becomes a tuck-in machine and HighTower sells de facto franchises
March 3, 2015 at 6:43 PM
Envestnet buys baby robo-advisor to add 'last mile' to its grown-up platform
Upside will cast its lot with the Chicago outsourcing giant in Sunnyvale, becoming the first robo to get consolidated
March 2, 2015 at 9:08 PM
Where Barbara Roper and Ron Rhoades lose traction in their fiduciary arguments
Lay fiduciary decision-makers have difficulty in discerning conflicts of interest.
March 2, 2015 at 6:19 PM
After famous Twitter feud, Jon Stein and Michael Kitces make up and join forces
As XY Planning Network hits 61 members, its co-founder bets that Betterment Institutional is the best platform for his mostly younger RIAs