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
Fintech bytes: Focal, Asset-Map forge insight-oriented integrations
FINTECH JAN 28, 2026
Fintech bytes: Focal, Asset-Map forge insight-oriented integrations

Meanwhile, estate planning platform Wealth.com extends its capabilities into tax for advisors.

New York Mayor Mamdani presses tax hikes on wealthy as $12B budget hole looms
RETIREMENT PLANNING JAN 28, 2026
New York Mayor Mamdani presses tax hikes on wealthy as $12B budget hole looms

City budget crunch, investor unease, and the state's last-place ranking in tax competitiveness reignites conversation around risks of millionaire flight.

Raymond James unveils proprietary AI operations agent
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS JAN 28, 2026
Raymond James unveils proprietary AI operations agent

The broker-dealer giant is positioning new ‘Rai’ chat agent at the center of its internal AI stack as regulators probe how far autonomous tools should go.

CFP Board tightening CE, experience standards for planners
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT JAN 28, 2026
CFP Board tightening CE, experience standards for planners

The phased-in updates to competency standards will raise education hours, broaden what counts as experience, and give the board power to mandate training on fast-moving regulatory changes.

Kovitz veteran steps into CIO role after Focus Partners Wealth integration
RIA NEWS JAN 27, 2026
Kovitz veteran steps into CIO role after Focus Partners Wealth integration

Longtime Chicago-based investing leader Joel Hirsh will chair a global committee overseeing public, fixed income, and alternative strategies.

RIA moves: Mission Wealth expands Texas presence with Austin-based planning firm
RIA NEWS JAN 27, 2026
RIA moves: Mission Wealth expands Texas presence with Austin-based planning firm

Elsewhere, NorthRock Partners adds an Ameriprise team to cross the $11 billion AUM mark, while Elevation Point adds a Merrill Lynch team overseeing $900 million in assets.

FINRA flags rise of agentic AI, seeks member firms' feedback
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE JAN 27, 2026
FINRA flags rise of agentic AI, seeks member firms' feedback

Regulator outlines early use cases for autonomous AI tools, urges governance frameworks while it continues to shape guidance around emerging technology.

Advisor moves: Private wealth duo managing $2B leaps from Fifth Third to LPL
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS JAN 27, 2026
Advisor moves: Private wealth duo managing $2B leaps from Fifth Third to LPL

Also, a pair of multigenerational advisor teams from UBS have defected in quick succession, moving to RBC and Raymond James.

Dafgiving360 donors boost 2025 grants to nearly $10B
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT JAN 27, 2026
Dafgiving360 donors boost 2025 grants to nearly $10B

Schwab's DAF platform sees more than 1.5 million grants as donors deploy appreciated assets, ETFs, and index funds towards their charitable giving.

Advisor playbook backfires in annuity talks, Jump data analysis shows
RETIREMENT PLANNING JAN 26, 2026
Advisor playbook backfires in annuity talks, Jump data analysis shows

A 26.74% decline in client acceptance odds for annuities suggests retirement-focused advisors should "flip the script" on standard planning conversations.