Rockefeller CEO's death is an apparent suicide

James McDonald, president and chief executive of Rockefeller & Co. Inc., one of the country's largest multifamily of-fices, died on Sept. 13.
SEP 20, 2009
James McDonald, president and chief executive of Rockefeller & Co. Inc., one of the country's largest multifamily of-fices, died on Sept. 13. He was 56. According to a story in The Wall Street Journal, it was an apparent suicide.
A friend of Mr. McDonald's family issued a statement last Monday that Mr. McDonald, who had been president and chief executive of Rockefeller since 2001, “took his own life,” the newspaper reported. According to the RIA Database, Rockefeller was the fourth-largest registered-independent-advisory firm in the country as of June 30, with $5.6 billion in total assets. A spokesman for Rockefeller said that Austin Shapard, the company's chief operating and financial officer, has assumed day-to-day leadership of the company on an interim basis. Rockefeller's board, led by chairman Colin Campbell and vice chair-man Mark F. Rockefeller, will continue to oversee management of the company, the spokes-man added. E-mail Charles Paikert at [email protected].

Latest News

Newsom wants nationwide billionaires tax as presidential bid may loom on the horizon
Newsom wants nationwide billionaires tax as presidential bid may loom on the horizon

“It’s time for an economic reset,” wrote the California governor, in a post on X.

Maryland regulators spank fledgling art-focused RIA Masterworks over registration snafus
Maryland regulators spank fledgling art-focused RIA Masterworks over registration snafus

Masterworks was launched in 2017 but its RIA, Masterworks Advisers, is just three years old.

Investors allege Miami operator took over $1.5 million in EB-5 scheme
Investors allege Miami operator took over $1.5 million in EB-5 scheme

One 2017 form, no broker license, and a $42 million gap they say surfaced on a webinar.

Gen X, millennials lag in retirement confidence amid knowledge gap
Gen X, millennials lag in retirement confidence amid knowledge gap

Fewer than half of Americans in their peak earning years feel on track for retirement, while many say limited financial knowledge and access to professional guidance are holding them back.

Advisor moves: Veteran-led UBS team overseeing $460 million migrates to Merrill
Advisor moves: Veteran-led UBS team overseeing $460 million migrates to Merrill

Meanwhile, Wells Fargo hauled advisors overseeing $825 million in the West Coast, while Wedbush has welcomed a seasoned professional from Stifel in California.

SPONSORED Who builds the income when the pension disappears?

Dan Biagini of American Equity says the steady decline of pensions, longer lifespans and a reset in interest rates are rewriting how advisors build retirement income

SPONSORED Why direct indexing stopped being optional

Direct indexing is on pace to outgrow ETFs and mutual funds. Northern Trust's Ken Lassner explains why the advisors who get it wish they had started sooner.