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
How the FPA is helping financial planners future-proof with AI
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT JAN 12, 2026
How the FPA is helping financial planners future-proof with AI

The FPA's new content hub and conference series aims to help drive planner's AI excitement into practical tools and implementation for day-to-day work.

Advisor moves: $660M UBS team joins RBC in West Coast
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS JAN 09, 2026
Advisor moves: $660M UBS team joins RBC in West Coast

Also, LPL has scooped a second-generation high-net-worth practice from Osaic, while Ameriprise welcomes a father-son team from Edward Jones to its financial institutions group.

RIA moves: The Mather Group expands in New Jersey with $300M planning firm
RIA NEWS JAN 09, 2026
RIA moves: The Mather Group expands in New Jersey with $300M planning firm

Meanwhile, Prospera has added its first team in Vermont, while Concurrent gets bigger in Texas with a $385 double acquisition.

CFP Board and FPA usher in new leaders as financial planning enters pivotal year
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT JAN 09, 2026
CFP Board and FPA usher in new leaders as financial planning enters pivotal year

Terri Kallsen takes over as CFP Board chair while educator-turned-planner Dan Galli steps into the top volunteer role at the Financial Planning Association.

SEC moves to redefine ‘small’ for advisory firms with $1B AUM line
REGULATION, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE JAN 09, 2026
SEC moves to redefine ‘small’ for advisory firms with $1B AUM line

Move would sweep many more RIAs and funds into the “small entity” bucket, potentially reshaping how the federal securities regulator designs new rules.

'So be it': California billionaire tax a non-issue for Jensen Huang
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT JAN 08, 2026
'So be it': California billionaire tax a non-issue for Jensen Huang

The Nvidia chief’s support for a one-time levy puts him at odds with fellow tech moguls, some of whom are reportedly exiting the state.

Choreo adds Edelman alum Erik Merkau as chief wealth advisory officer
RIA NEWS JAN 08, 2026
Choreo adds Edelman alum Erik Merkau as chief wealth advisory officer

The veteran executive will oversee advisor development and planning infrastructure as the Chicago-based RIA leans harder into tax-driven strategies.

Advisor moves: RBC reels in $646M veteran-led team in Florida
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS JAN 08, 2026
Advisor moves: RBC reels in $646M veteran-led team in Florida

Also, a Rhode Island-based UBS team hops to another wirehouse, and another LPL veteran has defected to Cetera in Connecticut.

$1.8B Merrill team hops to Wells Fargo's FiNet
WIREHOUSES JAN 07, 2026
$1.8B Merrill team hops to Wells Fargo's FiNet

The move adds an 11-person ensemble to Wells Fargo’s independent network in Long Island as it continues to court elite advisory teams.

Anthropic reportedly lining up $10B financing as AI funding race accelerates
FINTECH JAN 07, 2026
Anthropic reportedly lining up $10B financing as AI funding race accelerates

Underwritten by a $350 billion valuation, the potential fresh backing from GIC and Coatue would add to pre-existing commitments from Microsoft and Nvidia to invest in the startup.