Bruce Kelly

A former middle school and high school English teacher, Bruce Kelly started at InvestmentNews in 2000 as the brokerage reporter after a two-year stint at sister publication Pensions & Investments. He writes a bi-weekly, award winning column, On Advice, and covers the independent broker-dealer industry.

Bruce Kelly
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New York broker-dealer LifeMark Securities loses second GWG bond arbitration fight in weeks
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS JUN 06, 2025
New York broker-dealer LifeMark Securities loses second GWG bond arbitration fight in weeks

LifeMark Securities has faced scrutiny in the past for its sales of GWG L bonds.

Analyst: LPL may spend up to $800 million annually to buy advisors' businesses
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS JUN 06, 2025
Analyst: LPL may spend up to $800 million annually to buy advisors' businesses

LPL has closed 56 deals in its succession program, using $690 million of capital, according to William Blair analyst Jeff Schmitt.

UBS 'wrongfully' fired Idaho advisor in 2021: FINRA panel
WIREHOUSES JUN 04, 2025
UBS 'wrongfully' fired Idaho advisor in 2021: FINRA panel

"We think this happened because of Anderson's age and that he was possibly leaving," said the advisor's attorney.

Arizona seeks to strip advisor of license over GPB private placement sales
ALTERNATIVES JUN 03, 2025
Arizona seeks to strip advisor of license over GPB private placement sales

Michael Bradley faces allegations of "improper recommendation to clients" who bought GPB securities.

Morgan Stanley, Atria job cut details emerge
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS JUN 03, 2025
Morgan Stanley, Atria job cut details emerge

Back office workers and support staff are particularly vulnerable when big broker-dealers lay off staff.

FINRA penalizes another broker dealer for social media miscues
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS MAY 28, 2025
FINRA penalizes another broker dealer for social media miscues

FINRA has been focused on firms and their use of social media for several years.

Blackstone, Wellington Management, and Vanguard Group to run new interval fund; face big questions
ALTERNATIVES MAY 27, 2025
Blackstone, Wellington Management, and Vanguard Group to run new interval fund; face big questions

In regards to the new fund, called WVB All Markets Fund, Morningstar analysts wrote that, "despite the brand-name pedigree of the asset managers involved, most of these strategies are untested."

As Stifel fights one giant claim involving star Miami broker, it quietly settles others
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS MAY 23, 2025
As Stifel fights one giant claim involving star Miami broker, it quietly settles others

The competing legal strategies appear contrary to Stifel's public statements about defending its structured notes' tactics.

FINRA puts kibosh on David Lerner's sales of proprietary products
ALTERNATIVES MAY 22, 2025
FINRA puts kibosh on David Lerner's sales of proprietary products

For decades, the bulk of the retail brokerage industry has moved away from selling expensive, proprietary funds.

LPL cuts staff at Atria as it pitches stability to Commonwealth advisors
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS MAY 21, 2025
LPL cuts staff at Atria as it pitches stability to Commonwealth advisors

LPL is an acquisition machine, but the two deals are designed differently.