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With so many compliance systems on the market, regulators are likely to look askance at firms that don't embrace them.

Passive funds reached a long-anticipated milestone that no one would suggest will reverse anytime soon. But these managers argue expertise has enduring appeal.

Richard L. Chen is the founder of and lead counsel at Brightstar Law Group, a law firm specializing in providing RIA compliance consulting and corporate law services to wealth managers, financial planners, family offices and private fund sponsors.

Before launching his practice, Chen spent many years at several preeminent law firms in New York including Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; K&L Gates; Schulte Roth & Zabel; and Arnold & Porter.

Atul Tandon serves as CEO of Opportunity International, a Chicago-based international NGO that designs, delivers and scales innovative financial solutions to help families living in poverty build sustainable livelihoods. The NGO reached over 18 million people last year, supporting individuals and families experiencing extreme poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, as well as Central and South America. As a global executive for Citibank, Tandon pioneered personal banking solutions in India and grew Citi's global consumer networks to more than 146 million accounts with a presence in over 100 countries.

Rafael Bernard, CFP, MSFP, is an alumnus of Kansas State's financial therapy program and Bentley University's financial planning program.

He has experience researching financial literacy, designing financial therapy-driven client activities, and leveraging experiential learning to build financial wellness curricula.

Brandon Ellison is the founder and CEO of Quility. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Alabama in 2000. Following graduation, he pursued work as a musician in Crested Butte, Colorado. In 2001, upon moving to Asheville, North Carolina, he acquired his insurance license and established a career as a life insurance agent. In 2002, Mr. Ellison met Casey Watkins while they were working as agents for the same company; the two established a friendship as well as a healthy rivalry that drove them both to grow into two of the top managers in that company.

Through their experience as insurance agents, they recognized an opportunity to elevate the industry's business model by reshaping the relationship between agents and their respectful uplines. Founded in their belief that what benefits individuals will ultimately benefit the whole, they envisioned a model in which the wellbeing, growth and financial success of agents would take the forefront. They launched Symmetry Financial Group in 2009 to translate their vision into reality, and in the 12 years since have transformed Symmetry into the modernization of the new company, Quility, with a revenue hitting over $70 million.

Ellison still enjoys playing the guitar. He also loves long hikes in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains with his wife, Meredith. They have three children, Addie Ruth, Levi and Woods, that keep their home and calendars full and abundant.

The Washington National Tax Office of Grant Thornton points out the most important state and local tax developments to keep an eye out for.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Tuesday proposed a rule to include investment advisors in the compliance regime under the Bank Secrecy Act, aiming to close regulatory gaps exploited by criminals.

The largest independent brokerage will move 2,400 financial advisors from seven brokerages onto its platform during a lengthy conversion stretching into 2025.

Pivoting from "this company will always be mine" to "I need to find a partner who can help me maintain continuity" is a necessary mindset shift for advisors making continuity plans.