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 3543 results
Philanthropy talk is now standard in wealth advising — but advisors are still misreading client motivations
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT MAY 04, 2026
Philanthropy talk is now standard in wealth advising — but advisors are still misreading client motivations

With three-quarters of wealthy clients now favoring advisors who know philanthropy, a new study maps where the knowledge gaps – and the openings – actually lie.

With new backing from Merchant, Sowell Management launches advisor equity program
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT (GORIA) MAY 04, 2026
With new backing from Merchant, Sowell Management launches advisor equity program

Among other benefits, CEO Daryl Seaton says the Merchant partnership gives the $6.5 billion RIA capital for its advisor partnership program and compete for M&A targets.

Which credentials are floating to the top of the alphabet soup for planners?
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT MAY 04, 2026
Which credentials are floating to the top of the alphabet soup for planners?

A new survey finds CFP certificants lead the pack on earnings gains, client growth, and career satisfaction — but other designations are close behind.

RIA M&A hits new quarterly record in Q1 2026, with $1.67 trillion in deals: Echelon report
RIA NEWS MAY 04, 2026
RIA M&A hits new quarterly record in Q1 2026, with $1.67 trillion in deals: Echelon report

PE-linked deals accounted for nearly three-quarters of all activity, while US firms accelerated their international push into European and Australian markets.

RIA moves: &Partners adds Wells Fargo, Edward Jones practices with $700M prehire assets
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS MAY 01, 2026
RIA moves: &Partners adds Wells Fargo, Edward Jones practices with $700M prehire assets

Meanwhile, a $350 million UBS group launches their own firm with Sanctuary, while advisor-owned hybrid Ameriflex targets succession continuity with a national single-source platform.

Wells Fargo lands Morgan Stanley group overseeing nearly $6B in Manhattan
WIREHOUSES MAY 01, 2026
Wells Fargo lands Morgan Stanley group overseeing nearly $6B in Manhattan

A 17-person ensemble led by top-ranking next-gen advisors, the Taylor Group's addition gives Wells Fargo Advisors one of its largest New York City recruits in recent memory.

Fidelity requiring full-time office return for thousands of US workers
RIA NEWS MAY 01, 2026
Fidelity requiring full-time office return for thousands of US workers

Starting September, a multitude of employees across four locations will be expected in the office five days a week.

Millions of Americans may qualify for Covid-era tax refunds – but the clock is ticking
RETIREMENT PLANNING MAY 01, 2026
Millions of Americans may qualify for Covid-era tax refunds – but the clock is ticking

A federal court ruling has opened a narrow window for taxpayers to reclaim penalties and interest assessed by the IRS during the pandemic.

People moves: Mercer Advisors, Alaris Acquisitions bring in new M&A leaders
RETIREMENT PLANNING MAY 01, 2026
People moves: Mercer Advisors, Alaris Acquisitions bring in new M&A leaders

JPMorgan, KKR, Ares and Cliffwater also announce senior appointments across wealth and alternatives business lines.

Senate bans members from prediction markets amid insider trading concerns
ALTERNATIVES APR 30, 2026
Senate bans members from prediction markets amid insider trading concerns

With Kalshi and Polymarket at the center of insider trading allegations, Congress is moving on multiple fronts to rein in the fast-growing industry of event contracts.