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 3388 results
Former Osaic exec named president of AE Wealth as Kansas-based firm aims for mega-RIA status
RIA NEWS FEB 18, 2026
Former Osaic exec named president of AE Wealth as Kansas-based firm aims for mega-RIA status

With a goal of hitting $250 billion in assets by 2035, the wealth platform is betting on leadership steeped in advisor transitions and full-service wealth management.

SEC bars ex-Wells Fargo advisor who stole millions for gambling, debts
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE FEB 13, 2026
SEC bars ex-Wells Fargo advisor who stole millions for gambling, debts

The order for a ban follows guilty plea to wire and investment adviser fraud, with more than $3 million taken from five clients in a multiyear scheme.

January CPI sets up slimmer-than-desired COLA for retirees, warns advocacy group
RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 13, 2026
January CPI sets up slimmer-than-desired COLA for retirees, warns advocacy group

Early 2027 estimate points to a 2.8% adjustment to Social Security benefits, which have lagged senior Americans' lived experience on Medicare premiums and uncovered health costs

Echelon Partners: Billion-dollar RIA deals boomed in 2025
RIA NEWS FEB 13, 2026
Echelon Partners: Billion-dollar RIA deals boomed in 2025

PE–backed platforms, serial acquirers, and a deeper buyer bench drove record a record 466 wealth management merger deals last year, according to the M&A consultancy firm's latest tally.

RIA moves: Caprock expands Tri-State Area presence with New NJ location
RIA NEWS FEB 13, 2026
RIA moves: Caprock expands Tri-State Area presence with New NJ location

Meanwhile, Composition Wealth adds a Hightower leader to its C-suite, and a veteran executive from Osaic comes to bolster Lenox Advisors' planning capabilities.

Washington’s millionaire tax proposal raises new planning questions
RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 12, 2026
Washington’s millionaire tax proposal raises new planning questions

New 9.9% levy on income above $1 million would layer onto capital gains and payroll taxes, reshaping Washington’s appeal for tech workers and business owners.

Advisor moves: Wells Fargo nabs RBC, UBS, Citizens advisors with more than $800M in client assets
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS FEB 12, 2026
Advisor moves: Wells Fargo nabs RBC, UBS, Citizens advisors with more than $800M in client assets

Also, Raymond James onboards another Commonwealth team in Wisconsin, while an experienced duo from Ameriprise hops to LPL.

Annuity sales notch fourth straight yearly record amid demand for protection
RETIREMENT PLANNING FEB 12, 2026
Annuity sales notch fourth straight yearly record amid demand for protection

LIMRA data show 2025 annuity sales topping $460 billion as RILAs, FIAs, and fixed-rate deferred products drive growth.

Fidelity debuts pair of active CLO ETFs as investor appetite broadens
ETFS FEB 12, 2026
Fidelity debuts pair of active CLO ETFs as investor appetite broadens

New active funds split exposure between AAA-rated and lower-rated CLO tranches, marking Fidelity’s first ETFs dedicated to the asset class.

Banking for breakaways: What an investment banker to RIAs says you should know
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT (GORIA) FEB 11, 2026
Banking for breakaways: What an investment banker to RIAs says you should know

From office space and staffing to debt, equity, and revenue‑share deals, Dynasty's Harris Baltch lays out the real cost of launching an RIA.