Bruce Kelly

InvestmentNews

Bruce Kelly

Senior Columnist

26 years experience

Bruce's specialty topics

Legal and compliance Advisor compensation Alternative investments

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.

How I think about writing for this industry…

“I love covering the financial advice business. We write about financial advisors and how they care about clients' lifesavings - what is more important than that?”

Awards and recognition

  • 2 SABEW awards
  • Neal Award

Also published by

Co-author of "Financial Serial Killers"

Read the latest stories by Bruce

Bruce Kelly
Displaying 3542 results
It’s a seller’s market for RIAs in 2025, report says
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT JAN 21, 2025
It’s a seller’s market for RIAs in 2025, report says

Private equity money is contributing to the good times for RIA owners.

SEC slams Wells Fargo, Merrill with $60 million in penalties over clients’ cash
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS JAN 17, 2025
SEC slams Wells Fargo, Merrill with $60 million in penalties over clients’ cash

“These penalties are certainly significant enough to draw the big firms’ attention," one executive said.

Morgan Stanley wants loan growth. Merrill sells more alts
ALTERNATIVES JAN 16, 2025
Morgan Stanley wants loan growth. Merrill sells more alts

It's a truism in the financial advice industry that many advisors dislike selling banking products.

Wells Fargo keeping focus on independent advisors in 2025
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS JAN 15, 2025
Wells Fargo keeping focus on independent advisors in 2025

Is the bank's next step building out its RIA custody business, one industry observer asks.

Clients’ GWG bond claims may be small but pack a wallop
OPINION JAN 14, 2025
Clients’ GWG bond claims may be small but pack a wallop

It's been an awful road for investors in GWG bonds.

Finra tags South Florida BD with $105,000 in penalties linked to margin accounts.
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS JAN 13, 2025
Finra tags South Florida BD with $105,000 in penalties linked to margin accounts.

Newbridge Securities failed to supervise advisors using margin in clients’ accounts, according to Finra.

Raymond James could be on the hook for $40 million in additional penalties
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS JAN 10, 2025
Raymond James could be on the hook for $40 million in additional penalties

Company says the latest disclosure is not linked to off-channel communication issues.

Blackstone’s latest fund rakes in cash, sells more than $1B
EQUITIES JAN 09, 2025
Blackstone’s latest fund rakes in cash, sells more than $1B

It’s the second straight year that Blackstone has launched a new fund in the alternative investment space and had a hit right off the bat.

Analyst cites LPL, Robinhood, Wells Fargo among top picks for 2025.
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS JAN 08, 2025
Analyst cites LPL, Robinhood, Wells Fargo among top picks for 2025.

“2024 was a good year for industry, and this year feels like we’re being shot out of a cannon,” one senior brokerage executive said.

Senior executive at B. Riley’s RIA latest to bolt
RIA NEWS JAN 07, 2025
Senior executive at B. Riley’s RIA latest to bolt

“Could he eventually convince more B. Riley advisors to move elsewhere?” one executive asked.