From artificial intelligence to analytics advances, fintech is changing the wealth management industry. Pexels

Today's technologies have changed the wealth management industry by providing innovative tools to help empower clients and may allow a more productive and beneficial working relationship between financial advisers and their clients. Whether someone is saving for retirement, college, a new business, or travel, I have found that with new technologies, I am better able to communicate with my clients and help them meet their holistic investment goals.

It is an exciting time for wealth management. The industry is on the cutting edge of creating and adopting new technologies and innovations to empower financial advisers to engage and manage our clients' assets. Technologies such as artificial intelligence and risk analytics can provide financial advisers with a more complete picture of their clients' financial lives, which in turn helps us monitor progress and adjust course as needed.

Clients want a trusted adviser to guide them in meeting their financial goals, and now I am able to implement new technologies that help me provide a higher level of service. Using new platforms, I am able to provide real-time information and advice to my clients. I can use this technology to tailor information to their specific investments, how the market is affecting them, and determine what moves to recommend to help them get them closer to their financial goals.

With recent volatility in the market, having immediate, real-time information helps me to change direction within a client's portfolio if needed, and has been a true blessing. The risk analytics platform enables me to identify financial risks that my clients may be exposed to and allows us to quickly change course if necessary. It's a powerful way to engage. Communicating expeditiously and efficiently is important with all clients including those that have large, diversified portfolios.

Lastly, as some clients mature in age, I have begun working with them and their adult children. Together, we use technology applications to monitor the portfolio's progress to meeting the client's goals. The technological tools available within the wealth management industry have become a beneficial way to conduct business with these younger generations, especially Millennials.

As the world continues to incorporate additional technologies into all facets of life, the new tools available to wealth managers can be impactful. We can improve our relationships with clients, provide dependable information, and help guide their decisions so they may achieve their goals in life.

------

Margo Geddie is senior vice president and financial adviser with the wealth management division of Morgan Stanley in Houston.

Ad Placement 300x100
Ad Placement 300x600

CultureMap Emails are Awesome

Houston brain health co. secures $6.5M for rare disease study

neuro funding

Houston-based Goldenrod Therapeutics, part of Fannin Partners' portfolio, has announced the initial close of a $6.5 million series seed preferred stock round.

The round was led by Ataxia Ventures and an affiliate of Fannin, according to a news release.

Goldenrod Therapeutics plans to use the funding to support manufacturing, formulation optimization, IND-enabling studies and a Phase I study of its drug to treat brain inflammation, known as 11h.

The study will consider how 11h, which blocks the enzyme PDE4, could treat Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), a rare genetic disease that affects movement, speech and balance. To date, other PDE4 inhibitors have proven to regulate neuroinflammation and neuronal signaling, but have had adverse gastrointestinal side effects or have not reached enough of the central nervous system, according to Goldenrod.

The company says its 11h is expected to have "broad applicability" with limited emetric side effects.

“Our 11h program is a next-generation, orally bioavailable, brain-penetrant PDE4 inhibitor, where researchers overcame longstanding limitations associated with earlier PDE4 inhibitors," Dr. Dev Chatterjee, CEO of Goldenrod, said in the news release. "We believe this creates the potential for a best-in-class therapy for Friedreich’s Ataxia and a potential foundation for development across multiple neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory disorders.”

11h was first developed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNeMed). Houston-based Fannin Partners in-licensed the product 2020 and landed SBIR Phase I funding to support its initial development for opioid use disorder soon after.

Goldenrod has also received funding to study 11h's effectiveness for multiple sclerosis, methamphetamine addiction and cocaine addiction.

Goldenrod says it is developing 11h to target a variety of neurological and inflammatory conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS, substance use disorders, Batten disease, pain and traumatic brain injury.

27 Houston companies make Fortune 500 for 2026, led by energy giants

Houston HQs

Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the number of companies based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Houston is a giant among U.S. hubs for corporate headquarters.

The 2026 Fortune 500 lists 27 companies based in the Houston area, with many energy companies claiming top spots. Houston ties with Chicago for the second-most Fortune 500 headquarters, preceded only by New York City (53). Dallas-Fort Worth is home to 24 Fortune 500 headquarters.

Texas leads the nation for Fortune 500 headquarters (57), with California in the No. 2 spot and New York at No. 3.

“Texas is the undisputed headquarters of headquarters,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a news release. “The world’s leading businesses invest with confidence in Texas because of our welcoming business climate, predictable regulatory environment, and skilled and growing workforce. People and businesses are choosing Texas because Texas works.”

The 2026 Fortune 500 ranks the largest U.S. corporations based on revenue in fiscal year 2025.

Here’s a rundown of the 27 Fortune 500 companies based in the Houston area.

  • No. 9 ExxonMobil
  • No. 21 Chevron
  • No. 29 Phillips 66
  • No.55 Sysco
  • No. 75 ConocoPhillips
  • No. 89 Enterprise Products Partners
  • No. 103 Plains GP Holdings
  • No. 133 Hewlett Packard Enterprise
  • No. 149 NRG Energy
  • No. 157 Quanta Services
  • No. 164 Baker Hughes
  • No. 173 Occidental Petroleum
  • No. 179 Waste Management
  • No. 201 EOG Resources
  • No. 204 Group 1 Automotive
  • No. 207 Halliburton
  • No. 223 Cheniere Energy
  • No. 236 Corebridge Financial
  • No. 262 Targa Resources
  • No. 266 Kinder Morgan
  • No. 388 Westlake
  • No. 435 CenterPoint Energy
  • No. 438 APA
  • No. 440 Comfort Systems USA
  • No. 455 NOV
  • No. 488 KBR
  • No. 496 Coterra Energy. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based Devon Energy and Houston-based Coterra Energy merged in early May, with the combined company retaining the Devon Energy name and the Houston headquarters.

The Greater Houston Partnership notes the Houston area soon will welcome its 28th Fortune 500 company. Expand Energy (formerly Chesapeake Energy), appearing at No. 362 on the 2026 list, says it’s moving its headquarters from Oklahoma City to Spring this year.

As the natural gas producer prepares to relocate to Texas, it’s hunting for a new leader. Nick Dell’Osso stepped down as president and CEO earlier this year. Board Chairman Michael Wichterich is interim president and CEO.

Dell’Osso became president and CEO of Oklahoma City-based Gulfport Energy effective May 28.

---

This article first appeared on EnergyCapitalHTX.com.