RIABiz

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RIABiz

Articles written by Lisa Shidler


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Walt Bettinger never mentioned Bitcoin at Schwab's annual update, but may just be keeping his powder dry, analysts say.

Schwab only platforms third-party spot Bitcoin ETFs, mostly Fidelity and BlackRock, but don't be surprised if it 'shocks the world' with deep-cheap ETF, analyst says

The Westlake, Texas $8.5 trillion giant avoids conflicts and marketing costs, but could it go 'big and disruptive' at any time in a fee-sensitive market

January 27, 2024 at 2:59 AM

Walt Bettinger: Perhaps it was the most challenging in my time at Schwab.

CEO Walt Bettinger had to explain why retention of TD Ameritrade assets is so good yet Schwab's fourth quarter net new assets still took a nosedive

Schwab is experiencing little slippage at all from TDA investors but unseen, largely inexplicable, investor malaise took a bite out of the triumph

January 18, 2024 at 4:06 AM

Tim Buckley: We just look at asset classes... and those are the asset classes we steer people towards.'

Tim Buckley hazards Gen X, Y, Z blowback and catches Vanguard investors off-guard with last-second, anti-Fidelity policy to actively 'steer assets' away from Bitcoin

The Vanguard CEO stripped all third-party Bitcoin funds from its market, even though many young investors see them as table stakes portfolio spice.

January 17, 2024 at 4:56 AM

Bill Crager: The work we just completed opens the gateway to the future of advice.

Bill Crager is dropping CEO role after multiple shoes dropped; the company insists it was his 'decision' but vision, Yodlee future uncertain

The co-founder of the $5.3-trillion AUA outsourcer of software and investments was pressed to take the job under the most adverse circumstances, then second-guessed by stakeholders as he managed the cards he was dealt.

January 9, 2024 at 4:09 AM

Jason Roberts: The outcome of the advice rule is exactly what we had in 2016, but they just wrote it in a creative way.

Loaded with teeth and better crafted, the latest 'DOL Rule' attracts 19,000 comments -- and SIFMA, Charles Schwab Corp and Fidelity wrote words by the thousands in fierce opposition

Last time around, in 2016, federal regulators imposed a very RIA standard on brokers and insurance agents but it failed in court; now, the DOL is determined to avoid that mistake again, ERISA lawyer says.

January 6, 2024 at 3:52 AM

Jackie Kenoyer: I never factor them in when planning for retirement, with the exception of those who will receive those benefits now.

Social Security is already a huge problem for financial advisors in 2024 because their faith in its long-term existence is too low to plan for

With zero reserves looming in nine years, and political headwinds, financial advisors who can't afford to have investors outlive their savings often prefer to punt on trying to predict such a wild card

January 5, 2024 at 1:59 AM

Amy Richardson: It was all of the things I loved at Schwab but on a more intimate basis.

A canary in the coal mine, Amy Richardson left Charles Schwab & Co. for an RIA -- before the 2,000 layoffs -- now a robust job market is saving the Schwab diaspora, she says

The former Schwab director wants former colleagues to know life exists after Schwab and good job opportunities are plentiful in the financial services sector.

December 20, 2023 at 1:52 AM

Alan Moore: It means prioritizing your partner as your most important relationship.

'Money dates' catch on as RIA advice concept for under 40 couples to save wracked marriages, but a therapist offers caveats because it's never all about the money

Advisors are going deep into their bag of tricks because money-related breakups are trending up; debt-ridden 'millennials' are caught between frozen salaries, high interest rates and their penchant for credit card spending.

December 7, 2023 at 4:19 AM

John Khoury: While I was at Schwab... much of the investment management was built to scale or handled by third parties.

Charles Schwab & Co. broker with $1 billion book breaks away 'amicably'

John Khoury spent 14 years in Schwab Chestnut Hill and Framingham branches; he will only keep his assets at Schwab

December 4, 2023 at 10:33 PM

Alex Lucas says slow 'uptake' may have taken INVEST for Amex down.

Vanguard discloses to SEC it will end grand plan to market RIA services to Amex cardholders; new ADV details what may have taken it off the rails

The Malvern, Pa. firm faced blistering pricing criticism from the start but changes disclosed to SEC suggest complexities of unruly $50,000 accounts from Amex clients undermined the effort

November 30, 2023 at 1:44 AM

Natalie Wolfsen: We’re embracing a collective pause.

Orion rescinds RTO order after its staff rebels by hijacking company email list, distributing petition and tipping off RIA media

CEO Natalie Wolfsen suffers first setback and rescinds a return-to-office (RTO) policy after week of protest to work on a more collaborative agreement on a post-COVID new normal

November 23, 2023 at 12:20 AM

Jeff DeMaso: I see it as another sign of the "MBA-ization" of Vanguard.

Vanguard sets an April 1 sell-by-date for some RIA clients to downgrade service or pay $300 upcharge, part of a concerning 'MBA-ization,' analyst says

The $7.2 trillion Malvern, Pa, money manager grew its RIA to a staggering $300 billion in eight years, but it's ready to crack down on investors who get premium service with pedestrian investment balances.

November 22, 2023 at 1:14 AM

Walt Bettinger: Circumstances can change.

As more prominent Schwabbies emerge amid 2,000 layoffs, Schwab CEO reassures that no 'meaningful' second shoe-drop is 'in the works at this point,' unless 'circumstances' dictate it

Middle-managment cuts range from legal department and alternatives to separately managed accounts (SMAs) and products serving the high-net-worth market.

November 9, 2023 at 2:30 AM

Kartik Srinivasan: I was impacted by the staff reductions at Schwab this week.

Schwab 2,000-layoff aftershocks roil the industry as it's revealed top tech talent -- led by widely regarded veteran Kartik Srinivasan -- were axed, raising questions about future of Schwab innovation

Behind every layoff a human story as pink slip to an 'unbelievable talent' epitomizes company's determination to cut $500 million in expenses.

November 3, 2023 at 3:49 AM

Phil Waxelbaum: 'It'll be a lot of people home for Christmas.'

With the swiftness of a lightning strike, Charles Schwab Corp. fires as many as 2,000 employees with no public announcement, affecting legacy Schwab, as well as TD Ameritrade staffers

Cuts sweep up the chain of command to executive, supervisory levels – divisions thought sacrosanct hit and many positions are client-related, but not client-facing, RIABiz learns

October 30, 2023 at 10:44 PM

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