In a challenged sector, how one IBD is navigating a barrage of changes
April 22, 2019 By Tobias Salinger, Financial Planning Jack Oujo admits he may have flubbed the initial call. The 26-year HD Vest Financial Services advisor and former minor league baseball umpire first balked at the largest tax-focused independent broker-dealer’s clearing switch to Fidelity’s National Financial Services. Upon further review, he says, it looks much better, thanks to tools like eMoney and a new client portal. “I questioned the whole thing when it happened, but I was wrong,” says Oujo, who has an eponymous New Jersey-based practice and notes he previously “had a bitter taste” toward National Financial. “It's clear now that they've upped their game tremendously.” HD Vest parent Blucora’s pending $180-million acquisition of 1st Global would mark a further change at the IBD, which also made Envestnet its advisory platform in September and bid...