Bruce Kelly

Bruce is Senior Columnist for InvestmentNews, a leading publication for financial advisors and the wealth management industry.

An award-winning journalist, Bruce’s career at InvestmentNews began in 2000, two years after the launch of the newspaper. He has covered the brokerage industry ever since, focusing on financial advisors’ pay, the products they sell, and the firms on and off Wall Street where they work.

His reporting in the financial crisis 2008 and thereafter shed light on the many shortcomings of the financial advice industry, from weak regulation to the collapse of many broker-dealers.

Bruce writes an award-winning column, On Advice, and his daily breaking news reports give clarity and insight into what’s happening behind closed doors at the largest brokerage firms in the country.

Before becoming a journalist, Bruce taught middle school and high school English in Manhattan and Caracas, Venezuela, for a decade. He is the co-author of a 2010 book, “Financial Serial Killers,” and has two children.

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Bruce Kelly
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LPL, Cetera gear up for fight over Voya advisers
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS FEB 24, 2021
LPL, Cetera gear up for fight over Voya advisers

Cetera is offering a standard range of transition money to Voya's 900 advisers while LPL is flexing its muscle, according to several market sources.

Ex-Janney broker stole $400,000 from clients to pay gambling debt: Feds
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE FEB 19, 2021
Ex-Janney broker stole $400,000 from clients to pay gambling debt: Feds

The broker transferred funds from the investment account of a couple whose portfolio he managed directly into bank accounts he controlled, according to the Department of Justice.

Focus Financial sees another bang-up year for RIA M&A in 2021
RIA NEWS FEB 18, 2021
Focus Financial sees another bang-up year for RIA M&A in 2021

'Our pipeline is excellent,' said CEO Rudy Adolf during a conference call Thursday morning. 'Quite frankly, in many ways, we are busier than ever.'

Brokers sold GPB private placements using the worst tactics in Wall Street's playbook
ALTERNATIVES FEB 17, 2021
Brokers sold GPB private placements using the worst tactics in Wall Street's playbook

Client appreciation dinners are all well and good, but private suites at Madison Square Garden are clearly beyond the pale.

Charges dropped against former Franklin Templeton exec who called police on Black bird-watcher
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT FEB 17, 2021
Charges dropped against former Franklin Templeton exec who called police on Black bird-watcher

Amy Cooper was fired last year after accusing a Black man in Central Park with threatening her. The charges were dropped after she completed court-sanctioned therapy sessions about racial bias, according to Bloomberg News.

SEC wants independent monitor to run GPB amid fraud charges
ALTERNATIVES FEB 11, 2021
SEC wants independent monitor to run GPB amid fraud charges

The regulator wants to install an industry veteran to run GPB to monitor its assets in auto dealerships and make sure investor interests are protected.

Triad Advisors dinged $194,000 by Finra over supervision
LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES FEB 10, 2021
Triad Advisors dinged $194,000 by Finra over supervision

Short-term mutual fund trades and variable annuity switching is generally regarded in the retail securities industry as a way for brokers and advisers to increase commissions at the expense of clients.

Schwab cuts 200 more jobs amid TD Ameritrade acquisition
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT FEB 09, 2021
Schwab cuts 200 more jobs amid TD Ameritrade acquisition

It's the second round of announced layoffs after last year's mega merger. In October, Schwab said it was laying off 1,000 employees, or about 3% of the combined workforce.

Cetera plans to offer retention bonuses to 900 Voya advisers
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS FEB 08, 2021
Cetera plans to offer retention bonuses to 900 Voya advisers

Details of the bonus plan have yet to be revealed. But Adam Antoniades, CEO of Cetera, said such a plan would be forthcoming in an effort to retain as many advisers as possible.

Cetera to buy Voya Financial Advisors' broker-dealer reps and assets
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS FEB 08, 2021
Cetera to buy Voya Financial Advisors' broker-dealer reps and assets

Private equity-backed networks like Cetera Financial Group have been eager to expand. The latest deal will add 900 Voya advisers with $40 billion in client assets onto the independent broker-dealer's platform.