In this issue of InvestmentNews, we celebrate those members of our industry who have dedicated themselves to making the financial advice industry more representative. The progress on this area is tangible, which is reinforced when you look at our annual 40 Under 40 issue. Absent the efforts of the firms and individuals highlighted in these profiles today, that group of young professionals may not have gotten where they are.
Shundrawn Thomas, our Lifetime Achievement Award winner, represents much of what is good about this progress. I’ve had the good fortune to meet Shundrawn a time or two, and look forward to our Sept. 16 webcast. He brings a unique grace and style that we all can learn from. Jeff Benjamin elucidates this grace in a profile on page 8.
“The 2021 winner of the InvestmentNews Excellence in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Lifetime Achievement Award is not the kind of person who seeks recognition for his success nor status as an African American in an industry where women and minorities in leadership are still rare,” Benjamin writes. “But Thomas appreciates and enthusiastically shoulders the opportunity to challenge the status quo, and to help make success stories like his more common.”
But even as we celebrate these accomplishments, the fight for equality is not over. News broke last week, as reported on page 3, that leaves no question that challenges remain.
Fortunately, this is an industry that’s primarily focused on serving all communities.
The move to charge data aggregators fees totaling hundreds of millions of dollars threatens to upend business models across the industry.
The latest snapshot report reveals large firms overwhelmingly account for branches and registrants as trend of net exits from FINRA continues.
Siding with the primary contact in a marriage might make sense at first, but having both parties' interests at heart could open a better way forward.
With more than $13 billion in assets, American Portfolios Advisors closed last October.
Robert D. Kendall brings decades of experience, including roles at DWS Americas and a former investment unit within Morgan Stanley, as he steps into a global leadership position.
Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.
Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.
