Leo Almazora

InvestmentNews

Leo Francis Almazora

Senior Journalist

10 years experience1,025,285 Total views on InvestmentNews in 2025

Leo's specialty topics

RIAs Alternative investments Fintech Mutual funds Practice management

Leo Almazora is the resident US news writer at InvestmentNews, a role he has held since February 2024. He covers a broad range of topics central to the financial advisory industry, including broker-dealer news, registered investment advisor (RIA) activity, advisor recruitment and moves, retirement planning, elder fraud, and wealth technology across the United States. Leo brings nearly a decade of financial journalism experience to his reporting, having developed deep expertise in equities, fixed income, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), alternative investments, and wealthtech through extensive conversations with portfolio managers, financial advisors, and industry executives.

How I think about writing for this industry…

“After a decade of covering wealth management from the Canadian and US perspectives, I've chosen to see this space as a rich industry filled with motivated individuals working against forces that go against their clients' best interest. It's been encouraging to watch the industry from purely focusing on investment products to a more holistic approach that includes financial planning, risk management, retirement planning, charitable giving, and legacy conversations.”

Also published by

Wealth Professional Canada

Featured content from Leo

Pontera cries 'anticompetitive,' Fidelity cites cyber safety in credential sharing standoff 'This came out of the blue': Why firms are pushing back against New Jersey's proposed independent contractor rule From breakaways to breakouts: How Altruist's Jason Wenk sees next-gen RIAs moving forward

Previous experience

  • Key Media — US News Writer
  • Key Meda — Canada editor
  • Key Media — News editor
  • Key Meda — Business journalist

Education

  • Masters in Applied Business Economics, University of Asia and the Pacific
  • Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines

Read the latest stories by Leo

Leo Almazora
Displaying 3545 results
State Street takes minority stake in Apex Fintech
FINTECH SEP 03, 2025
State Street takes minority stake in Apex Fintech

The partnership aims to develop a globally scalable custody and clearing solution for advisors and the clients they serve.

Advisor moves: UBS exodus continues as Merrill makes additions in California, Texas
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS SEP 02, 2025
Advisor moves: UBS exodus continues as Merrill makes additions in California, Texas

Meanwhile, an experienced Connecticut advisor has cut ties with Edelman Financial Engines, and Raymond James' independent division welcomes a Washington-based duo.

Elevation Point expands Goldman Sachs tie-up to broaden services for partner RIAs
RIA NEWS SEP 02, 2025
Elevation Point expands Goldman Sachs tie-up to broaden services for partner RIAs

The RIA platform with a focus on minority staking partnerships has selected Goldman as a primary provider for lending, direct indexing, custom models, and fixed-income SMAs.

RIA moves: CW Advisors scores a double in Pennsylvania, Apella Wealth makes Chicago debut
RIA NEWS SEP 02, 2025
RIA moves: CW Advisors scores a double in Pennsylvania, Apella Wealth makes Chicago debut

Osaic-owned CW Advisors has added more than $500 million to reach $14.5 billion in AUM, while Apella's latest deal brings more than $1 billion in new client assets.

$2.5B Validus Capital partners with Merchant to chase multi-family office ambitions
RIA NEWS SEP 02, 2025
$2.5B Validus Capital partners with Merchant to chase multi-family office ambitions

The up-and-coming Los Angeles-based RIA is looking to tap Merchant's resources to strengthen its alts distribution, advisor recruitment, and family office services.

State Street alum Bullard to lead investment management at Hightower Advisors
RIA NEWS SEP 02, 2025
State Street alum Bullard to lead investment management at Hightower Advisors

The $325 billion RIA giant is building its first centralized investment management platform, with an industry veteran taking on a newly created role.

Advisor moves: Raymond James ends week with $1B Commonwealth recruitment streak
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS AUG 29, 2025
Advisor moves: Raymond James ends week with $1B Commonwealth recruitment streak

JPMorgan and RBC have also welcomed ex-UBS advisors in Texas, while Steward Partners and SpirePoint make new additions in the Sun Belt.

SEC orders Vanguard, Empower to pay more than $25M over failures linked to advisor compensation
RETIREMENT PLANNING AUG 29, 2025
SEC orders Vanguard, Empower to pay more than $25M over failures linked to advisor compensation

The two firms violated the Advisers Act and Reg BI by making misleading statements and failing to disclose conflicts to retail and retirement plan investors, according to the regulator.

RIA moves: Wells Fargo pair joins &Partners in Virginia
RIA NEWS AUG 29, 2025
RIA moves: Wells Fargo pair joins &Partners in Virginia

Elsewhere, two breakaway teams from Morgan Stanley and Merrill unite to form a $2 billion RIA, while a Texas-based independent merges with a Bay Area advisory practice.

Consistent participation leads to sizable 401(k) gains, EBRI/ICI study finds
RETIREMENT PLANNING AUG 29, 2025
Consistent participation leads to sizable 401(k) gains, EBRI/ICI study finds

Analysis of four-year data shows average account balances nearly doubling among steady savers, with younger workers seeing the largest percentage growth.