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 3541 results
Volatility: Best and worst of times
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS JUL 22, 2026
Volatility: Best and worst of times

Large broker-dealers and registered investment advisors have, since 2020, been developing or sticking to strategies and tactics to combat the pain of intense, short-term market volatility

At Cetera, CEO Durbin says that recruiting advisors is strong but remains expensive: Analyst
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS JUL 21, 2026
At Cetera, CEO Durbin says that recruiting advisors is strong but remains expensive: Analyst

Cetera’s CEO Mike Durbin stressed Cetera’s recent success in the financial advisor market during a fireside chat with analyst Jeff Schmitt of William Blair.

Texas RIA and founder in hot water over crypto-backed model portfolio
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE JUL 20, 2026
Texas RIA and founder in hot water over crypto-backed model portfolio

Washington State plans to fine the firm and its founder a combined $80,000.

Morgan Stanley’s E*Trade starts spot trading of crypto for clients
ALTERNATIVES JUL 20, 2026
Morgan Stanley’s E*Trade starts spot trading of crypto for clients

Demand for digital assets from retail investors is likely to keep increasing.

FINRA spanks Centaurus with $1.1 million penalty over variable annuity switches
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE JUL 17, 2026
FINRA spanks Centaurus with $1.1 million penalty over variable annuity switches

It’s the second time in as many years regulators have penalized Centaurus Financial for lack of compliance with Reg BI.

GPB, the priest and a get out of jail card
OPINION JUL 16, 2026
GPB, the priest and a get out of jail card

Just how much does it cost for a financial advice exec to stay out of prison?

IPOs pay off for Morgan Stanley and its advisors
WIREHOUSES JUL 15, 2026
IPOs pay off for Morgan Stanley and its advisors

Morgan Stanley was co-lead underwriter for SPCX, reportedly generating $100 million in investment banking fees.

What came first, the advisor or the high-risk, high-priced product?
ALTERNATIVES JUL 13, 2026
What came first, the advisor or the high-risk, high-priced product?

It’s quite the turnaround for UBS and Blue Owl, according to the Financial Times.

Advisor gets $200,000 from Ameriprise in 'emotional distress' lawsuit
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE JUL 10, 2026
Advisor gets $200,000 from Ameriprise in 'emotional distress' lawsuit

“An award citing emotional distress is very unusual,” an industry executive said.

Ex-Merrill broker who allegedly wooed client to pay $2.75 million to dismiss lawsuit
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE JUL 09, 2026
Ex-Merrill broker who allegedly wooed client to pay $2.75 million to dismiss lawsuit

Juan Rionda, a Merrill veteran, told bereaved client that “he loved her,” convinced her to give him cash, a Florida lawsuit claimed.