Ryan Smith
- Co-Founder & CEO - LeafLink
Jersey City, New York
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Ryan Smith
Who Really Owns Your RIA Platform? Why Advisors Need to Understand the Capital Stack
RIA M&A is no longer a side story in wealth management. It is one of the defining forces shaping the industry. Deal activity remains elevated, private equity continues to play a major role, and many platforms are pursuing scale through acquisitions, recapitalizations, mergers, and strategic partnerships. According to ECHELON Partners’ 2025 RIA M&A Deal Report, the industry reached a record 466 announced transactions in 2025, up 27.3% from 2024.
What It Really Takes to Build a Successful Security Drone Program
Beyond the Drone: What It Really Takes to Build a Successful Security Drone Program 1 August 2026 Security Technology, August 2026 When most people think about drone security, they think about the aircraft. What drone should we buy? How far can it fly? What camera does it have? Those are important questions. But after a year of operating remote drone programs nationwide, we’ve learned that the drone itself is only one piece of the puzzle.
Why the Future of Security Depends on People and Technology
Titan Protection’s Ryan Smith explains why the $117 billion security market is moving beyond "guards vs. tech" to embrace high-ROI blended strategies. Not long ago, walking the floor at a security conference meant rows of gates, locks, barriers and key cards. Today, those same conference floors are aglow with analytics dashboards, buzzing with autonomous drones and filled with the latest AI-enabled tech.
How IDC Directions 2026 is Designed to Help Leaders Make Confident Decisions
Business and industry leaders are operating in a different decision environment than even a few years ago. Decisions move faster. Scrutiny is higher. The room for misalignment is shrinking, often before organizations feel fully ready. AI and other emerging technologies are no longer side experiments. They now shape core workflows, operating models, and customer-facing execution. This shift creates opportunity and raises the stakes.
The Invisible Revolution: How 'Dark Software' is Transforming HVAC Operation
HVAC ContractingNewsGuest Column For decades, the commercial HVAC industry and more specifically, the field service providers who power the ecosystem, have operated under a fundamental assumption: growth requires proportional headcount. Need to handle more service calls? Hire more dispatchers. Want to process invoices faster? Add billing staff.
The Invisible Revolution: How 'Dark Software' is Transforming HVAC Operations
HVAC ContractingNewsGuest Column For decades, the commercial HVAC industry and more specifically, the field service providers who power the ecosystem, have operated under a fundamental assumption: growth requires proportional headcount. Need to handle more service calls? Hire more dispatchers. Want to process invoices faster? Add billing staff.
State Farm Basic’s credit standing downgraded
Insurance coverage Information AM Finest has downgraded its Monetary Energy Score (FSR) and Lengthy-Time period Issuer Credit score Score (Lengthy-Time period ICR) for State Farm Basic Insurance coverage Firm. The scores company introduced that it has lowered State Farm Basic’s FSR from A (glorious) to B (honest) and its Lengthy-Time period ICR from “a” (glorious) to “bb+” (honest). The score company has additionally revised its outlook for the insurer’s FSR from secure to detrimental.
Increasing local tax burden is counterproductive
(Editor’s note: The following opinion was sent to the city of South Lake Tahoe and senior management) We the undersigned organizations — The South Tahoe Association of Realtors, The South Tahoe Lodging Association, Tahoe Chamber of Commerce, and the South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce — actively support a meaningful increase in accessible, affordable housing and improved transit and transportation mobility in our community.
Label Studio 1.5.0 - Authenticated Server Side Request Forgery (SSRF)
Platform: Python Date: 2023-03-28 # Exploit Title: Label Studio 1.5.0 - Authenticated Server Side Request Forgery (SSRF) # Google Dork: intitle:"Label Studio" intext:"Sign Up" intext:"Welcome to Label Studio Community Edition" # Date: 2022-10-03 # Exploit Author: @DeveloperNinja, IncisiveSec@protonmail.com # Vendor Homepage: https://github.com/heartexlabs/label-studio, https://labelstud.io/ # Software Link: https://github.com/heartexlabs/label-studio/releases # Version: <=1.5.0 # CVE :...
EMC advises on the sale of IEP Financial to Cairngorm Capital-backed Verso Wealth Management
EMC Corporate Finance are pleased to announce the sale of IEP Financial Limited to Verso Wealth Management, a financial services platform backed by Cairngorm Capital Partners LLP in a deal that increases the groups assets under management to over £1.5billion. The EMC team was led by Director Ryan Smith. Founded in 2005, IEP Financial provides specialist financial advice and planning for individuals and corporate clients across Sussex and the South East.
How Ster Kinekor exited business rescue process
By Lara Kahn,Ryan Smith, Rainer Nowak, Leigh Lambrechts and Naledi Mbaba from Webber Wentzel Webber Wentzel assisted and advised Ernst & Young's Stefan Smyth (business rescue practitioner) on a ZAR 250 million business rescue matter involving the refinancing and restructuring of Ster Kinekor’ s debt and the 100% purchasing of the Ster Kinekor shares by Blantyre Capital Limited and Greenpoint Specialised Lending.
How Ster-Kinekor survived business rescue
Image source: Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels The board of directors, after considering an array of factors, including the impact of the pandemic, resolved that the company should commence business rescue proceedings. As a result, Ster-Kinekor commenced business rescue on 27 January 2021. This decision was appropriately timed, allowing Ster-Kinekor to experience a period of relief while proceedings were underway.
Secure transactions top retailers' wish lists this holiday season
We are amid the busiest retail season of the year, with U.S. retail sales expected to grow 10.5% to a record $859 billion this holiday season compared to 2020. The number of transactions is increasing, but so is the number of hackers who are targeting shoppers’ cardholder data. As retailers welcome shoppers and juggle supply chain disruptions, the last things they want to worry about are cyber threats that could lead to data breaches.
It's Time to "Rebrand" the PR Industry for the Better
The relationship between the PR industry and reporters should be mutualistic; akin to the relationship between bee and flower. Unfortunately, reporters analogize their relationship to PR professionals more to “telemarketers” and their unsolicited calls during dinner and/or our favorite shows. Telemarketers are not known for delivering qualified value to their audience; unless you happen to be in the market for an extended warranty on your car.
Application Window Opens for $1 Billion Tribal Broadband Fund | JD Supra
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”) has published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) for the $1 billion tribal connectivity grant program. Applications are due by Sept. 1, 2021.
Application Window Opens for $1 Billion Tribal Broadband Fund | Lexology
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”) has published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) for the $1 billion tribal connectivity grant program. Applications are due by Sept. 1, 2021.
EEOC Announces Deadline For Employers to Submit 2019 and 2020 EEO-1 Data
Last week, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that the 2019 and 2020 EEO-1 Component 1 data collection will open on Monday, April 26, 2021. As a reminder, private employers with 100 or more employees, as well as federal contractors with 50 or more employees, are required to submit EEO-1 Component 1 data, which includes sex and race/ethnic information for the workforce.
Five Ways Associations Can Elevate Their Industries, Members, and Staff
By embracing these five elements, associations will be on the way to not only improving the industries they represent but also their members and volunteers. Research has shown that younger generations, including my fellow millennials, are purpose driven. It is this drive that compels us to have high expectations of where we work and why we work there. In essence, we want to make a difference and know that what we did mattered.
How to Put an End to Data Breaches Involving Sensitive Customer Data
Data breaches pose a significant risk to digital retailers, leading to lost customer trust and potentially far worse. Whether it’s malicious code placed on a checkout page or a clever phishing attack, hackers will find a way to siphon off sensitive customer data. A report published by cybersecurity firm Shape Security showed that 80% to 90% of the people who log in to a retailer’s ecommerce site are hackers using stolen data, accounting for $50 million per day in potential losses.
Six cryptographic trends we'll see next year
2020 was a “transformative” year, a year of adaptability and tackling new challenges. As we worked with organizations to deploy mission-critical data security, cryptography was comparatively stable. What cryptographic trends will gain traction in 2021? The cloud will play a bigger role, especially in financial services The movement toward broad acceptance of cloud-based encryption and key management will accelerate as more of the pieces come together.
Neutrinvoltaics: the unexpected possibilities of the energy system
Currently, the most important trends in the energy sector can be described as the transition to alternative energies, the end of fossil fuel burning and the transition to electric mobility.
How To Put An End To Data Breaches Involving Sensitive Customer Data
Data breaches pose a significant risk to digital retailers, leading to lost customer trust and potentially far worse. Whether it’s malicious code placed on a checkout page or a clever phishing attack, hackers will find a way to siphon off sensitive customer data. A report published by cybersecurity firm Shape Security showed that 80% to 90% of the people who log in to a retailer’s e-Commerce site are hackers using stolen data, accounting for $50 million per day in potential losses.
COVID-19 Is Setting a New Course for the Future of Cannabis Retail
Online cannabis ordering was illegal in many states prior to COVID-19. (Image: Maridav / Shutterstock.com) As the world responds to the COVID-19 health crisis, cannabis brands and retailers are facing a new normal when it comes to running their businesses. Retailers have had to adapt and innovate in response to social distancing regulations, and while stay-home restrictions will lift at some point, it is unclear if consumer habits will ever return to their original state.
Should you build or buy your next product feature?
Today, it’s no longer viable as a software vendor to sell a single solution for a single purpose. Modern end-users expect the software that they purchase to not only come with a set of features they see as standard, but also to constantly be upgraded with new features and options that will make their lives more convenient. Some providers decide to build new features from the ground up to incorporate them into their solution.
Three Priorities for IT Operations Continuity During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The world has been turned upside down amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and organizations that are trying to maintain best IT and security practices are faced with new challenges such as sudden remote workforces, increased COVID-19-related phishing and business e-mail compromise scams, and quarantine-imposed travel restrictions. Are you facing disruptions in your workforce, limitations in the supply chain and up-ended disaster plans? You’re not alone.
7 ways OpenText empowers software companies to enable digital transformation
Companies today expect a single provider to solve multiple challenges. They expect their vendors to digitally transform themselves and their products to support their own business transformations. OpenText™ has enabled organizations of all shapes and sizes to leverage their information for operational excellence and market supremacy through a suite of world-class information management technology—the broadest selection of information management technology available.
6 Important Questions We Should Be Asking About Legalization
Photo: Darren415 | Getty Images Photo: Darren415 | Getty Images Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Image 1 of 1 Photo: Darren415 | Getty Images Cannabis is booming, despite the United State's government’s reluctance to take action on federal regulations. Since Colorado became the first state to legalize cannabis for recreational use in 2013, the cannabis business has grown from a bold experiment to a multinational, billion-dollar industry.
6 Important Questions We Should Be Asking About Legalization
From interstate commerce to a long-awaited banking solution, these are the issues that need to be raised. Free Book Preview Cannabis Capital Learn how to get your business funded in the Cannabis economy! Email Will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy and in our Book of the Week newsletter January 24, 2020 8 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Cannabis is booming, despite the United State's government’s reluctance to take action on federal regulations.
The Cost of Investing Too Heavily in a JavaScript Framework
Ryan Smith twitter logo github logo Jan 13 ・9 min read 🤠 "What Framework Should I Learn?" Trying to decide what framework to learn is a common question, but there is no clear winner. The common, uncontroversial answer is "You can't go wrong, they are all great frameworks." They are indeed all great, but I think you can go wrong by investing too heavily in a framework. I struggled with deciding what framework to learn and jumped back and forth between them for a while.
Proactively Protecting Sensitive Data
Today’s cybersecurity efforts and implementations are not working. Cyber-attacks are intensifying and hackers are still getting through, in part due to many organizations’ focus on defending the perimeter and the misguided belief that those defenses will hold up. With more than 3,800 publicly disclosed data breaches in the first half of this year alone, according to Risk Based Security, up from 54% compared to the same period last year, we are facing a cybersecurity crisis.
6 Tips to Succeed as a New Hire
Starting at a new company can be difficult, here are some tips for how to get up to speed at a new job. 💻 1. Independent Problem Solving Even though you have a team to support you and collaborate with, working independently is an important skill to develop. Understand the Problem Understanding is the most important step in problem-solving. Often times developers can pressure themselves into diving into code to complete a task quickly.
Enhance your Healthcare Solutions by embedding ApplicationXtender
Organizations that create software and equipment for use in hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities have a responsibility to ensure that only code and components of the highest caliber are used in their products and solutions. OpenText™ technologies are trusted by companies across the most regulated industries. Companies within healthcare – whether it is hospitals, insurance companies, diagnostics, or other service providers – all depend on OpenText products and solutions to operate.
Achieve perfect product chemistry
Partnering with OpenText™ to develop your OEM solutions offers many benefits, but the one I hear about most is how we eliminate the time, money and effort associated with designing, building and maintaining the components that support your vision. While many of these components are critical, they may only play a small role in enabling the proprietary functionality OEM developers are really focused on.
Five reasons to attend HSA Capture 2019
Harvey Spencer Associates’ annual international Capture conference is recognized by the industry’s leading vendors as the must-attend conference to learn where the market is heading and experience leading-edge technology innovations. It is the place to connect key people in the Capture, RPA and Content Intelligence markets. Here are five reasons you should attend HSA Capture 2019 – including what you can expect from OpenText.
Nabbed! SEC Reels in $30 Million Alleged Diamond-Backed Crypto Scam
The U.S. SEC has secured a court order to halt an alleged diamond-backed Ponzi scheme estimated to be worth around $30 million. | Source: Shutterstock Ryan Smith 21/05/2019 Bitcoin Crime, Bitcoin Regulation, Bitcoin Scams, Crypto, News, Op-ed By CCN: The U.S. SEC has secured a court order to stop an alleged diamond-backed Ponzi scheme estimated to be worth around $30 million.
JPMorgan in FX Fraud 'Cartel' Choked by EU with Staggering €1 Billion Fine
JPMorgan in FX Fraud Banking ‘Cartel’ Choked by EU with Staggering €1 Billion Fine JP Morgan Chase is caught red-handed in a sweeping foreign exchange spot trading scandal. | Source: REUTERS/Larry Downing Ryan Smith 16/05/2019 Headlines, News, U.S. Business News By CCN: European Union regulators fine five major banks including JPMorgan – the biggest bank in the US – for taking part in spot foreign exchange (FX) trading cartels.
Elon Musk Skeptic Calls Tesla's Bluff, Bets You $10k That Robotaxis Suck
Elon Musk Skeptic Calls Tesla’s Bluff, Bets You $10,000 That Robotaxis Suck Tesla skeptic Whitney Tilson is so confident that Elon Musk's robotaxi dream will crash and burn that he's willing to bet you $10,000 that he's right. | Source: Frederic J. BROWN / AFP (i), Kase Learning/YouTube (ii). Image Edited by CCN. By CCN: Whitney Tilson has been shorting Tesla since 2014, and the former hedge fund manager and avid TSLA bear is at it once again.
This Stock Market Bubble Makes the Bitcoin Crash Look Like a Joke
This Stock Market Bubble Makes the Bitcoin Crash Look Like a Joke Think bitcoin is a bubble? Have you even seen the stock market? | Source: Shutterstock Ryan Smith 11/05/2019 Crypto, News, U.S. Market News By CCN: Wall Street loves to compare bitcoin to tulip bulbs and beanie babies, but if the stock market isn’t trapped in a devastating bubble then nothing is. It’s easy to trash crypto in the wake 2017 ICO frenzy. From peak to trough bitcoin lost around 85 percent of its value in 2018.
Bitcoin Just a Shady 'Ponzi Scheme,' Rants Goldbug Peter Schiff
Peter Schiff remains ga-ga over gold, and he doesn't believe bitcoin will replace the yellow metal anytime soon. | Source: Gage Skidmore (i), Shutterstock (ii). Image edited by CCN. Ryan Smith 10/05/2019 Bitcoin Analysis, Crypto, News By CCN: Market contrarian and popular gold bug Peter Schiff has once again come out with guns blazing against bitcoin and cryptocurrency.
A Guide To The Cannabis Supply Chain
The recent growth of the cannabis industry attracts hundreds of new business entrants a year, from brands and retailers to ancillary and technology companies. As one of the early technology companies to receive investment from a mainstream venture capital fund, we are frequently approached by investors looking to get into the cannabis space.
5 Big Predictions for Cannabis This Year
Just a few months into 2019, and it’s proving to be another wild year for the cannabis industry. More states will legalize cannabis both for medical and recreational use, and pressure is mounting on the federal government to follow suit. Lumppini | Getty Images Here are some trends to watch. Related: 11 Cannabis Predictions for 2019 1. Big Pharma gets in on cannabis.
What Cannabis Retailers Can Learn From Marie Kondo
How to declutter your cannabis inventory and make room for the products that spark joy for consumers By now, almost everyone has heard of Marie Kondo. She’s the professional organizer turned best-selling author and TV sensation, thanks to her Netflix, Inc.
Motor Row's road to recovery: Chicago’s forgotten auto corridor revs up again
Chicago’s one-time automotive destination, Motor Row, hasn’t weathered time as well as its counterparts, like the Magnificent Mile or Jewelers Row, and the role the city once played in the American auto industry is also often overlooked. “It’s been overshadowed by other industries — meatpacking, railroads, and steel,” said Peter Alter, a curator at the Chicago History Museum.
3 Key Tactics Cannabis Brands Can Learn from Tech Startups
Starting a Business / Cannabis 2.0 Starting a Business Team-Building Customer Acquisition Cannabis 2.0 They've been there, done that. So why not learn from Silicon Valley's tried-and-true techniques. Image credit: 10'000 Hours | Getty Images January 24, 2019 5 min read Opinions expressed by Green Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Many top cannabis brands -- the ones scaling from zero to 7-plus figures -- are following in the footsteps of high-growth technology startups that came before them.
The 6 Biggest Problems With Homegrown Solutions
Posted in Enterprise Data Warehouse / Data Operating system. Add DOWNLOAD As the need for data-driven improvement becomes more urgent, many health systems are finding their data management and analytics solutions are falling behind. Most traditional data warehouses are overwhelmed by analytic requests and lack the ability to support today’s increased and rapidly changing demands.
Now That the Election Is Over, Lets Talk Dollars and Sense
By Ryan Smith Most of the straggling election results have finally worked themselves out, so now it’s time to take a look at how our local and state votes will really impact our pockets. A lot happened at the ballot boxes all over the country and across the state. The Republican Party sustained quite a beating in the first referendum on Trump. While big-ticket items were grabbing the attention, a lot happened in California’s direct democracy, locally and statewide.
A Beginners Guide to Privacy Coin Mining | How to Mine ZCash
So you’re interested in mining privacy coins? Well, ZCash is probably right up there on your priority list. And for good reason. Privacy coins have been gathering a lot of steam lately in the wake of regulators looking to limit Bitcoin and all of the altcoins that have been spawned from it. In this guide, we’re going to get some insights on how to mine ZCash for beginners.
Extra: Extra's Pandemic Comeback
Sugar-free chewing gum brand Extra launched a high-impact multi-channel campaign in the US to put gum back on people's radars post-pandemic, drive growth and boost market share. Confectionery United States Strategy Brand: Extra Brand owner: Mars Wrigley Entrant company: Energy BBDOIdea creation: Energy BBDO Chicago Market: United States Sector: Confectionery Media channels:Social media, Search marketing, Word of mouth, Influencers, KOLs, Online video, Outdoor,...
How the Cannabis Industry Is Redefining Supply Chain Management
Like so much else in the legal marijuana industry, stocking a product that was utterly illegal but is abruptly legal and in huge demand is a unique challenge. Opinions expressed by Green Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Wholesale and retail veterans know that mastering the supply chain is the key to meeting customer expectations. However, it can also be one of the biggest operational headaches.
How Sentinel Protocol Can Protect You Against Crypto Fraud
It often feels like navigating the cryptocurrency investment landscape is like taking a stroll through a treasure island crowded with minefields. The open nature of the technology is both its greatest benefit and its biggest downfall, at least at this early stage of the game. Sentinel Protocol has arrived and they claim they have the solution. By now, you should be aware of the growing problem of identity theft, ICO scams, and hacking that litter the internet.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Ryan
Contact Ryan, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack