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
Advisor moves: Merrill lures $412M Wells Fargo team in Charlotte
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS DEC 04, 2025
Advisor moves: Merrill lures $412M Wells Fargo team in Charlotte

Cetera also extended its 2025 Commonwealth recruitment streak, while Citizens Private Wealth stepped into the retirement planning space with a 401(k)-focused advisory team.

Political worries hang over client conversations as advisors eye 2026
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT DEC 04, 2025
Political worries hang over client conversations as advisors eye 2026

CFP Board survey shows most clients still confident in hitting long- and short-term goals despite an unsettled economy and policy backdrop

LPL OSJ Wealth Consulting Group adds CFO, corporate development chief from Emigrant
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS DEC 04, 2025
LPL OSJ Wealth Consulting Group adds CFO, corporate development chief from Emigrant

Veteran dealmaker Jason Ehrlich steps into a newly created role as the Las Vegas-based hybrid RIA leans harder into M&A and strategic partnerships.

Cambridge tops $2 billion in revenue as advisor expansion drive accelerates
INDEPENDENT BROKER DEALERS DEC 03, 2025
Cambridge tops $2 billion in revenue as advisor expansion drive accelerates

The independent broker-dealer and RIA giant says it has doubled revenue in five years as it leans on advisor recruiting, acquisitions, and agentic AI.

Vanguard adds TIAA-backed annuity option to flagship target-date lineup
RETIREMENT PLANNING DEC 03, 2025
Vanguard adds TIAA-backed annuity option to flagship target-date lineup

Marking its first new target-date addition in two decades, Vanguard’s new CITs offer 401(k) participants another option in the growing market of in-plan annuities.

RIA moves: Mercer bolsters Mid-Atlantic footprint with tax-focused $1B firm
RIA NEWS DEC 03, 2025
RIA moves: Mercer bolsters Mid-Atlantic footprint with tax-focused $1B firm

Mega-RIA Creative Planning and Chicago-based Waverly have also gained additional scale with hefty acquisitions.

Wells Fargo nabs $6.3B UBS superteam as recruiting race intensifies
WIREHOUSES DEC 03, 2025
Wells Fargo nabs $6.3B UBS superteam as recruiting race intensifies

The biggest team move to Wells Fargo Advisors this year highlights its efforts to court large ensembles, as well as UBS's continuing issues with advisor retention.

Cresset adds $1.4B team in Houston as RIA recruiting push continues
RIA NEWS DEC 02, 2025
Cresset adds $1.4B team in Houston as RIA recruiting push continues

The family office planning trio, formerly with Bernstein Private Wealth Management, marks the latest step in Cresset's ongoing efforts to build a 100-plus year firm.

Centibillionaire Michael Dell and wife Susan make $6.25B pledge to seed Trump accounts
RETIREMENT PLANNING DEC 02, 2025
Centibillionaire Michael Dell and wife Susan make $6.25B pledge to seed Trump accounts

The philanthropic pledge to give young Americans an investing headstart raises fresh questions around tax-advantaged saving for RIAs.

RIA moves: Wealth Enhancement acquires $532M FPG Private Wealth
RIA NEWS DEC 02, 2025
RIA moves: Wealth Enhancement acquires $532M FPG Private Wealth

Sequoia Financial has also snapped up a $406 million indie RIA in California, while Allworth returns to the deal table with its own $460 million upmarket acquisition.