PBMares, a US-based public accounting and consulting practice, has divested its wealth management unit, PBMares Wealth Management, to Apella Wealth (Apella). Financial details of the deal were not divulged. PBMares CEO Harvey Johnson said: “We are proud to help our clients navigate life’s most significant milestones. “This next chapter brings more robust resources and a new name for the wealth management division, and our clients will work with the same team they trust. We look forward to maintaining a ...

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwest Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: NWBI) ("Northwest") will host a conference call to review fourth quarter 2025 financial results on Tuesday, January 27 at 9:00 a.m. (EST). The financial results and supporting financial data are scheduled to be released after market close on Monday, January 26.  Conference Call / Webcast Information The live audio webcast of the call and presentation slides will be available in Events & Presentations in the Investor Relations ...

Blackstone and Revolut are in initial discussions regarding a potential partnership focused on wealth management services, reported Bloomberg. According to people familiar with the negotiations, the proposed partnership is said to allow clients of Revolut’s upcoming private banking service to access Blackstone’s investment funds. Bloomberg recently reported that Revolut is planning to establish a private markets team to expand its wealth management services. It is looking to recruit junior investment b ...

Core Insights - UK-based financial technology company Revolut is planning to establish a private markets team to enhance its wealth management services [1] - The private markets sector is growing, with major global exchanges looking into new products linked to the $16 trillion privately-held assets market [2] Group 1: Company Developments - Revolut is seeking asset managers, junior investment bankers, or private capital advisers to create private market fund investment options for its users [1] - The company currently serves nearly 70 million users, providing access to US and European equity trading through its app [3] - In November of the previous year, Revolut expanded its offerings to include British blue-chip stocks after acquiring a UK trading license [3] Group 2: Wealth Management Services - The introduction of a Robo-Advisor service in Singapore earlier this year aims to facilitate automated investing, simplifying the investment process for customers [3] - The Robo-Advisor allows users to invest in a diversified portfolio without extensive research or active management, catering to those with limited time or trading experience [4] Group 3: Industry Context - The private markets are becoming increasingly significant, but there are concerns regarding rising valuations, limited regulatory oversight, and broader economic factors that may increase risks in certain segments [2]

Group 1 - The concept of wealth is relative, and tracking net worth against national averages can provide insight into financial progress [1][2] - The Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances indicates that the median American family has a net worth of $192,900, meaning households above this figure are doing better than half of the population [3] - To be considered in the top 10% of American households, a net worth of at least $2 million is required, highlighting the exclusivity of this wealth bracket [5] Group 2 - A net worth above $1,063,700 places individuals wealthier than the average American, but this figure is skewed by ultra-wealthy individuals [4] - Wealth management services, such as those offered by Range, are essential for high-net-worth individuals to manage their wealth effectively [5][6] - Range provides 24/7 expert advice and personalized strategies, including complex financial planning services [6]

Core Insights - US-based private equity firm GTCR has agreed to acquire Fiduciary Trust Company to expand wealth management services [1] - The acquisition aims to accelerate growth and expand service offerings for ultra-high-net-worth clients [1][3] - Fiduciary Trust Company manages approximately $34 billion in total assets as of September 30, 2025 [1] Group 1: Acquisition Details - GTCR will partner with Fiduciary's CEO Austin Shapard and the management team [1] - This marks Fiduciary's first institutional capital investment [3] - The transaction is expected to conclude in the first quarter of 2026 [5] Group 2: Services and Market Position - Fiduciary provides comprehensive wealth management, trustee, and custody services to high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families in New England [2] - The firm also offers custody and trustee services to third-party financial advisors and family offices across the US [2] - The investment will enhance Fiduciary's client value proposition and broaden its service offerings [3] Group 3: Strategic Support - GTCR will support Fiduciary's strategic initiatives with significant capital and sector expertise [4] - The private equity firm has experience investing in various companies within the wealth and asset management ecosystem [4] - Legal counsel for GTCR was provided by Kirkland & Ellis, while Centerview Partners acted as financial advisor for GTCR and Debevoise & Plimpton for Fiduciary [4]

Core Insights - In uncertain economic times, dividend-paying stocks are considered a safer investment option due to their potential for consistent payouts regardless of market fluctuations [1][2] Company Summaries UnitedHealth Group - UnitedHealth Group's share price has decreased by 36% year-to-date, primarily due to a Department of Justice investigation for alleged Medicare fraud [3][4] - The company is viewed as "too big to fail," and its valuation may become more attractive for investors believing in its recovery [3] - The growing and aging U.S. population will continue to drive demand for healthcare services [3] - Current market capitalization is $284 billion, with a recent dividend yield of 2.73%, and total yield including share buybacks is approximately 5.75% [5][6] Bank of America - Bank of America is another holding of Berkshire Hathaway, which owns about 8% of the bank [7] - The bank has been reducing its position, possibly due to decreasing interest rates affecting profitability [7] - Despite this, Bank of America has growth drivers in brokerage accounts and wealth management services, which are less impacted by interest rates [9] - The recent dividend yield is 2.15%, with total annual payout per share increasing from $0.20 in 2015 to $1.06 recently [10] Lennar - Lennar is a major American homebuilder, benefiting from the ongoing demand for affordable housing [11] - Falling interest rates could stimulate home buying, positively impacting Lennar's business [13] - The company has a backlog of nearly 17,000 homes valued at $6.6 billion and has repurchased $507 million worth of shares [14] - Recent dividend yield stands at 1.7%, with significant shareholder value enhancement through stock buybacks [14] Vanguard International High Dividend Index ETF - The Vanguard International High Dividend Index ETF focuses on dividend-paying stocks outside the U.S., appealing to investors concerned about the domestic market [15] - The ETF has a dividend yield of 3.9% and a five-year average annual return of 14% [16] FMC - FMC, a specialist in crop protection and nutrition, has a high dividend yield of 17% but has seen a stock price drop of nearly 73% year-to-date [17][18] - The company recently cut its per-share dividend by 92%, indicating financial distress [18] - FMC's challenges are linked to its India business, which is being divested, making it a riskier investment compared to other alternatives [18]

Financial Performance & Forecasts - SMFG raised its full-year net income forecast by JPY 200 billion to JPY 15 trillion, a 27% YoY increase[5] - Net income for 1H FY3/26 increased by JPY 2083 billion, a 28% YoY increase, reaching JPY 9335 billion[6, 15] - The company expects ROE to reach 10%, achieving the FY3/29 target ahead of schedule[3] - Gross profit for 1H FY3/26 was JPY 22988 billion, up JPY 2535 billion YoY[6, 15] - Net business profit for 1H FY3/26 was JPY 11481 billion, up JPY 2298 billion YoY[6, 15] Shareholder Returns - The company increased the dividend to JPY 157 per share, a YoY increase of JPY 21 or 35%[3, 12] - SMFG resolved to implement an additional JPY 150 billion in share buybacks, bringing the total to JPY 250 billion[3, 11, 12] Business Unit Performance - Retail business unit's net income increased by JPY 443 billion[87] - Wholesale business unit's net business profit increased by JPY 972 billion[87] - Global business unit's net income increased by JPY 444 billion[92] Balance Sheet & Capital - Domestic loans increased by 9% YoY and deposits increased by 2% YoY[45, 49] - The company is tracking toward a JPY 600 billion reduction in equity holdings over five years[71, 72]

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Morgan Stanley (MS) . Shares have added about 3.5% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Morgan Stanley due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.Morgan Stanley Q3 Earnings Beat on Deal-Making Bo ...

Core Insights - Merrill Lynch aims to expand its service offerings and investment options for affluent clients while enhancing its client-lending operations to drive asset growth and profitability in the coming years [2]. Group 1: Growth Strategy - The company plans to increase its market share by building its advisor force [2]. - Merrill Lynch is promoting alternative investments as part of its strategy to improve margins [2]. - The firm intends to offer more banking and lending services to support its growth objectives [2].