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Financial Services Review: Specials Magazine
Most fintech brokerages build front ends first and figure out infrastructure later. TradeUP did the opposite. From day one, the company developed its clearing operations, trading systems, risk controls, and data architecture entirely in-house, then layered an intuitive, retail-friendly experience on top. The result is a platform that delivers institutional rigor with everyday accessibility, serving retail investors, professional traders, and institutional clients alike. Behind TradeUP's interface is a self-clearing operation led by licensed U.S. market professionals with decades of experience and a disciplined risk culture. This backbone allows TradeUP to control the full trade lifecycle, resolve issues quickly, and innovate without vendor constraints. The end-to-end ownership has enabled features like 24/5 U.S. equities trading and global client support across more than 34 countries. “Behind our app is a clearing operation with decades of experience in the U.S. markets and a very disciplined risk culture,” says Vincent Lupo, COO. “On top of that, we’ve built a clean, intuitive platform for self-directed investors who want powerful tools without unnecessary complexity.” That combination is what truly differentiates TradeUP.
Top Registered Investment Advisor 2026
In the world of wealth management, where commissions and sales quotas often dictate client interactions, Schutte Financial has carved a different path, one rooted in a fiduciary decision-making process. Founded in 2016 by Daniel Schutte, MBA, the independent registered investment advisor (RIA) firm has positioned itself as a leader in client-first financial planning. At its core, Schutte Financial prioritizes transparency, long-term client success, and a pressure-free environment where advice is shaped by individual goals rather than external pressures. For Schutte, the inspiration to build such a firm came from his experience working at large advisory organizations. He quickly observed how traditional models sometimes allowed sales incentives to influence client outcomes. This realization led him to launch a firm where clients could receive advice based solely on their best interests, without the typical sales-driven motives. “We believe that our fiduciary process should guide every decision, from financial planning to investment strategies,” Schutte explains. “It’s about removing pressure and allowing clients to make informed, confident decisions about their financial future.”
Top Crypto Tax Management Service 2026
When cryptocurrency first entered the mainstream, tax reporting struggled to keep pace. Most investors were forced to rely on do-it-yourself platforms that required them to upload wallets, classify transactions, and generate reports on their own. Without accounting expertise, many simply hoped their records were accurate enough to satisfy the IRS. The process was confusing, time-consuming, and risky. Count On Sheep was founded to remove that burden. Instead of asking investors to become their own accountants, the company built a service model centered on professional digital asset reconciliation (DAR). Its founders assembled a team of experienced tax and accounting specialists, many with Big Four backgrounds, and trained them to work directly with blockchain data. The goal was not to replace existing CPAs, but to support them by delivering clean, reliable crypto tax reports. At the center of the company’s work is Digital Asset Reconciliation, a method it helped pioneer. Unlike traditional accounting, blockchain accounting requires tracing transactions across public ledgers, wallets, and exchanges. Each movement of a digital asset must be verified and connected to its original cost basis. The process more closely resembles forensic accounting than bookkeeping. “By reconciling a client’s full transaction history, we provide the clarity that most crypto investors lack,” says Nick Slettengren, co-founder and CEO.
CXO INSIGHTS
Strategic Planning: What Is The Shelf Life Of A New Strategic Plan?
Paul S. Young, Chief Financial Officer, Liberty Bank
Engineering Trading Systems - Challenges and Opportunities
Denis Imaev, Managing Director, Head of Algorithmic Trading Development, Cantor Fitzgerald
Comparing the Housing Market in 2008 vs. Today - Are home prices about to collapse?
Jason Obradovich, Chief Investment Officer, New American Funding
Credit Risk As Customer Service
Clayton Dexter, Underwriting Manager, Vice President, ANB Bank
Navigating the Wellness Landscape and Leveraging Digital Marketing for a Positive Impact
Aura Rebelo, CEO Fully wellness Ecosystem, Prudential International Insurance
Leading Finance Forward with Innovation in Focus
Richard Kung, Chief Financial Officer, CTBC Bank Corp. (USA)
Three Moves, One Philosophy: How Cross Industry Transitions Shaped My Approach to Modern Indirect Tax Leadership
Taiwo Ogundele, Senior Director US Operations Tax, The Coca-Cola Company [NYSE: KO]
IN FOCUS
EDITORIAL
Disciplined Innovation in Financial Services
Capital markets infrastructure, regulatory accountability, and disciplined advisory models are transforming the way financial institutions operate in volatile environments. This edition of Aerospace and Defense Review examines how platform ownership, compliance rigor, and fiduciary discipline are redefining performance across trading, digital assets, and wealth management.
Leading this issue, TradeUP is recognized as the Top Advanced Trading Platform 2026. Unlike many fintech brokerages, TradeUP built its clearing operations, trading systems, and risk controls in-house before developing its retail interface. Its self-clearing model, disciplined risk culture, and unified technology architecture enable end-to-end control across retail, institutional, and correspondent clearing services. By combining institutional-grade infrastructure with an intuitive trading experience, TradeUP delivers operational resilience under real market volatility.
In the digital assets space, Count On Sheep earns distinction as the Top Crypto Tax Management Service of 2026. The firm specializes in Digital Asset Reconciliation, tracing blockchain transactions across wallets and exchanges to deliver CPA-ready, IRS-compliant reporting. Its forensic approach reduces compliance risk while identifying legitimate tax optimization opportunities. Meanwhile, SCHUTTE FINANCIAL, named Top Registered Investment Advisor 2026, reinforces fiduciary discipline through transparent, fee based advisory services. By aligning investment strategy strictly with client interests and integrating tax-efficient technology within a structured fiduciary framework, the firm prioritizes long-term stewardship over transactional incentives.
Executive insights further contextualize these themes. Jacqueline Breslauer, Executive Vice President and Chief Audit Executive at Valley Bank, highlights emerging risks including social media volatility, AI governance, and liquidity pressures, underscoring the role of modern internal audit as a strategic partner within the Three Lines of Defense model. Aura Rebelo, CEO of Fully Ecosystem at Prudential International Insurance, emphasizes the necessity of integrated digital ecosystems to enhance engagement and strengthen enterprise-wide strategy.
Collectively, these organizations reflect a sector advancing through infrastructure ownership, compliance precision, and disciplined innovation. As financial complexity increases, durable systems and accountable leadership will define sustained success. Readers are encouraged to explore the full features shaping this evolving landscape.
