Have you been watching the Web lately? Well, there are some great blogs and Web sites worth keying up for their prospective on the Street. They include a lawyer who'll keep you updated on securities fraud and a former top NASD arbitration official who writes about what he knows best. Looking for referrals or jobs? There's plenty of talk that's cheap, free and fun. Lastly, we threw in one Web site that's useful for all the news it compiles — and for linking you up to other blogs.
the10b-5daily.com
Lyle Roberts, a lawyer with Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, authors the “The 10b-5 Daily” blog, keeping readers up on the latest in class-action suits against companies involving securities fraud. Roberts, a defense lawyer, reports (almost) daily on issues related to current settlement news. He also links to noteworthy securities articles, adding some of his own thoughts — which are usually insightful given his extensive securities law background.
sacarbitration.com
Rick Ryder, former director of arbitration in charge of the NASD's nationwide arbitration program, owns Securities Arbitration Commentator and publishes two related newsletters. The site offers, for a fee, customized research and information on arbitration and litigation. One of site's highlights is its broker/dealer dispute of the week. It provides a quick look at important decisions and updates on cases — one of the site's free features.
taxbiz.blogspot.com
This tax and business blog authored by Stuart Levine, a tax-planning lawyer, offers commentary on all things tax-related — reform, court rulings and updates on the tax world in general. Levine analyzes broad tax trends and the nuts and bolts of tax and business laws.
401khelpcenter.com
This online 401(k) help center provides background information, tools and useful news for plan sponsors, small businesses and participant channels. Rick Meigs, founder and president of the site, says over half of the users are brokers. There is also a forum dedicated to 401(k) plans.
stockpatrol.com
Stockpatrol.com wants to help keep you out of trouble by “inquiring, investigating and reporting on interesting, odd and unusual developments in the securities markets.” The site also offers commentary and questions suspicious moves made by public companies.
www.automatic-referrals.com
Horsesmouth.com, a business-development service for financial advisors, recently introduced this blog, which offers advice and tips on scoring referrals. The site, inspired by Horsesmouth's Automatic-Referrals 197-page report, details how an advisor can improve his or her referral strategy.
brokerhunter.com
Nothing is secure in the securities industry — including your job. Brokerhunter.com is the monster.com of the financial-services industry. It serves the career needs of financial advisors/brokers, insurance sales, branch/sales managers, compliance/FINOPs, operations, investment bankers, traders, analysts, wholesalers and sales assistants.
underthecounter.net
This Web site is filled with Wall Street news from many different publications, but some of the best items are stuff like how much investment-banking associates make. There are also links to several blogs and the sites of big-name hedge funds, Wall Street houses and the financial press.