Back


  • Free newsletters - Wealth Advisor, Breaking News and More
  • Earn Free CE Credits
  • Free Seminars and Podcasts from Industry Experts
  • Access our Discussion Boards

BlogsThe Smart Advisor

The Day We Got Bin Laden

By Frances A. McMorris, Frances McMorris
May 2, 2011
¦
Advertisement

Perseverance. In the end, the United States never gave up looking for Osama Bin Laden, the terrorist leader who made Sept. 11 our national nightmare.

It’s been a decade. However, for the nearly 3,000 people who perished—whether they were merely coming to work in lower Manhattan, or firefighters and other first responders who were attempting to save lives, or those aboard the fated flight that crashed in Pennsylvania—Bin Laden’s death on Sunday at the hands of our military may provide some measure of closure for their loved ones.

For the financial services industry, for Wall Street, the impact has special meaning. So many lives were lost at the World Trade Center and investment banking and brokerage firm, Cantor Fitzgerald, was particularly hard hit.

As Howard W. Lutnick, the chairman and chief executive officer of Cantor Fitzgerald, wrote on the firm’s website: “It's been a long and painful 10 years since the worst attack in America's history. Now no other families will suffer the way that so many families have from his hand.  On behalf of all those who perished, our heartfelt thanks go to the military and intelligence community and all those who have served our country with perseverance and fortitude and courage to bring this terrorist to justice and to make this a safer and saner world.”

President Obama, in his special address from The White House to the nation last night, described the mission that led to Bin Laden’s demise. “A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability.  No Americans were harmed.  They took care to avoid civilian casualties.  After a firefight, they killed Osama Bin Laden and took custody of his body.”

But the President also cautioned that Bin Laden’s “death   does not mark the end of our effort.  There’s no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us.  We must—and we will—remain vigilant at home and abroad.”

That’s the sad part. Even though we wiped out the most significant terrorist of our time, the threat of his organization still remains with us. So, we still have challenges ahead. However, at least for now, we can take solace that we got Bin Laden.

0 Comments

Be the first to comment on this post using the section below.

Add Your Comments...

Already Registered?

If you have already registered to IAG Blogs, please use the form below to login. When completed you will immeditely be directed to post a comment.

Forgot your password?

Not Registered?

You must be registered to post a comment. Click here to register.

Blog Archive

Finding The Next Emerging Economies

It looks as if the BRICs have seen their best days, but what's next?

Change Versus Growth for Advisors and Their Firms

Growth -- the kind measured in revenue and profits -- is the ultimate goal for the entire brokerage industry. As On Wall Street editor-in-chief Frances McMorris points out, figuring out how to achieve these goals while dealing with constant change is what firms like Raymond James and its competitors are now learning to do on the fly.

Finding Strength in the U.S. Economy

While there may be investing opportunities in the markets, the weak housing market and unemployment hovering just above 9% are the issues that concern the nation and that are depressing the president’s poll numbers. And, voters -- including those without jobs and those who want to look for better ones --are getting mighty impatient.

Finding Strength in the U.S. Economy

While there may be investing opportunities in the markets, the weak housing market and unemployment hovering just above 9% are the issues that concern the nation and that are depressing the president’s poll numbers. And, voters -- including those without jobs and those who want to look for better ones --are getting mighty impatient.

The Jobs Picture Improves Ever So Slightly

I hate mixed messages but it seems there is finally some good news on the employment front. According to the Department of Labor this morning, non-farm payroll employment added 244,000 jobs in April, with the private sector seeing job growth of 268,000. While that figure exceeded expectations, the unemployment rate rose to 9%. Some experts explained that increase to the people who weren’t looking for jobs now resuming their job-hunt. …

Tough Love For The Mutual Fund Industry

Vanguard's Jack Bogle argues for more competition.

Managers Making It Work

Motivating staff and building relationships lead to success

The Rich But Unsophisticated Athlete/Client

It’s not all Super Bowl rings when you advise star athletes on financial matters.

Too Soon To Celebrate Unemployment Dip

Private sector job growth continues its upward trajectory

Positioning LPL

Bill Dwyer, the independent giant’s president of sales and national marketing, talks about his firm’s progress.

The Bad Client

Whose needs come first?

The Ethical Advisor

What’s a wirehouse advisor to do in this uncomfortable situation? And there’s more on the fiduciary standard.

Being Clutch in the Clutch

Why do some people excel under pressure and others don’t?

How Does a Uniform Fiduciary Standard Help the Confused Investor?

The SEC study is only the first step in the path to a uniform fiduciary standard.

The Advisor’s New Essential Skill

Public speaking is a skill that every advisor must master to be successful in a media-rich society.

How to Build a First-Rate Brand

There are steps to take right now to improve your business in 2011

Lessons Learned from the Top 40 Advisors Under 40

Advisors should be building on their strengths, their interests and, of course, their talents. The best and the brightest advisors have one thing in common: Each one has found his or her specialty or strength and constructed a platform for success.

The Smart Advisor: Dealing with Bad News

Just when the advisory community was hoping that it had put Bernie Madoff behind it, federal authorities announced that two of the disgraced financier’s lieutenants have been indicted on criminal charges and are also facing a civil complaint from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Meanwhile, the Internal Revenue Service announced earlier this week that it has withdrawn the John Doe summons in the UBS AG scandal in which the U.S. demanded that the company hand over…

Dissecting the Possibility of Regulating Broker Pay

Just when branch managers thought their jobs couldn’t get any more complicated, Mary Schapiro says that her agency is looking at regulating broker pay.

Will the Republican Wave Rock the Fiduciary Debate?

The Republicans rule the House now and all signs show that they can’t wait to make their mark on financial regulatory reform—if they can.

The Financial Blows of Illness

If a client’s spouse has been diagnosed with cancer, how does everything change? How do you talk to the client, the spouse and perhaps other family members?

Realizing Advisors Are Free Agents

The president of Raymond James & Associates and the chairman of RJFS talks about recruiting, retention and valuing the control advisors have over their books of business.

What Does It Take to Create a Successful Financial Advisory Team?

There is a 20-year age difference between Shelly Church and Ilona Sawin, yet they have found enough common ground to form their own financial advisory team at Raymond James & Associates.

Wirehouse Brokerage Under Attack

As the battle rages over harmonizing regulation under fiduciary standard, are more rules really the answer?

The Other Side of the Street

At a gala fundraiser, Wall Street shows that money isn’t its only concern but that it can show generosity and patriotism in helping the children of fallen soldiers and wounded warriors.

Why Should Wall Street Care About Senate’s Small Business Bill?

Poverty is sky-high and unemployment remains relentless. Is the new small business bill just a band-aid that can't stop the bleeding?

Was the Economic Collapse an “Inside Job”?

If money is the root of all evil, then Wall Street certainly provides the tree and branches—at least that appears to be the perspective of filmmaker Charles Ferguson.

What Could a New Fiduciary Standard Mean for Advisors?

A closer look at the comments streaming in to the SEC regarding a new fiduciary standard.

The UBS Fallout

So for UBS, the worst is over because the IRS is ending its case against the firm and only a data dump remains. But what's next?