Former LPL Financial technology executive to lead advisor technology, platform integration and AI development

Rodriguez will report to CEO Jason Van de Loo and join Choreo’s Charlotte-based executive leadership team

CHICAGO, Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Choreo, LLC (“Choreo” or “the firm”) announced today that Gabriel Rodriguez has been named Chief Technology Officer. He will report to Chief Executive Officer Jason Van de Loo, join the firm’s executive leadership team and be based in the Charlotte, North Carolina office.

Rodriguez will build the technology foundation for Choreo’s next phase of growth, creating a connected platform that helps advisor teams deliver coordinated tax and wealth advice consistently as the firm scales. He will leverage AI to expand advisor capacity and will strengthen the planning, reporting and client engagement tools advisors use every day, supported by training that helps teams adopt them.

“Gabriel has spent his career translating the needs of wealth management professionals into technology that helps them do their jobs more effectively,” Van de Loo said. “He brings the technical depth to lead our strategy and the discipline to deliver on it. He understands the role technology plays in supporting advisors and delivering better client experience. That combination will be critical as we expand our capacity to deliver coordinated advice at the intersection of tax and wealth.”

Rodriguez brings over 20 years of industry experience. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Technology at LPL Financial, responsible for ClientWorks, the firm’s advisor workstation. Before that, he spent six years at Vanguard leading technology architecture and engineering for its U.S. intermediary business. Earlier, he led investment research systems at Wellington Management and developed investment systems at Bain Capital.

His experience spans trading, investment operations, advisor platforms and client service. He has also led AI initiatives focused on advisor productivity and technology integration for acquired firms.

Rodriguez added, “Our industry faces several inflection points simultaneously as the wave of the great wealth transfer is about to crash while some industry observers expect more than a third of financial advisors may leave the industry within the decade. However, a clear solution has emerged in artificial intelligence. But that answer isn’t without additional questions, ones that must be considered carefully, strategically and in partnership with operational leadership and advisors in every firm. I’m thrilled to join a firm that understands the importance of this approach and respects the role of technology as a partner for continued growth.”

About Choreo, LLC
Choreo is an independent wealth management firm specializing in tax-smart planning for individuals, families, and businesses. With roots in the CPA profession, the firm brings together tax and wealth perspectives to help clients address interconnected financial needs. Choreo operates in more than 40 locations nationwide and provides investment advisory, financial planning and other wealth management services. Choreo, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser; registration does not indicate a particular level of skill or training.

Media inquiries
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Haven Tower Group
424.317.4850
dcutler@haventower.com

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SOURCE Choreo, LLC

Three years of testing against real-world ransomware attacks show RSI™ has become an increasingly reliable indicator of ransomware susceptibility.

BOSTON, Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Black Kite, the leader in third-party cyber risk management, today announced findings validating the predictive power of its Ransomware Susceptibility Index® (RSI™), which measures the likelihood of which vendors are most likely to be hit with ransomware, using real-time signals to spotlight risk. The Black Kite Research Group evaluated RSI against 7,551 publicly disclosed ransomware victims from 2025. The analysis found that organizations with an RSI above 0.8 were 291 times more likely to experience a ransomware attack than those below 0.2.

“Questionnaires can tell you what a vendor believes to be true about its security posture, but they can’t tell you everything an attacker can see today,” said Bob Maley, Chief Security Officer, Black Kite. “Organizations need evidence-based scoring, and RSI delivers it by reflecting how threat actors actually operate and calibrating against thousands of publicly disclosed ransomware victims.”

How RSI Works
RSI assesses an organization’s susceptibility to ransomware by comparing its external risk signals and characteristics against patterns from thousands of publicly disclosed ransomware victims. Scores range from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating greater susceptibility. In many cases, RSI begins to rise months before a ransomware attack, giving risk teams an early signal and more time to act.

Unlike point-in-time assessments and self-reported controls, RSI is grounded in observable evidence, providing a continuously updated view of ransomware susceptibility based on what attackers can see from the outside.

Tested Every Year since 2023. The model keeps getting sharper.
RSI has been tested against real-world ransomware outcomes for three consecutive years, and its ability to distinguish between high- and low-susceptibility organizations has strengthened each year. Organizations in the high-RSI band were 27 times more likely to experience a ransomware attack than those in the low band in 2023. That increased to 96 times in 2024 and 291 times in 2025. Importantly, the percentage of high-RSI organizations hit by ransomware remained consistently elevated, while the percentage of low-RSI organizations hit fell from 1.7% to 0.5% to just 0.14%. The result is a model that has maintained its ability to identify organizations at high risk while becoming increasingly precise at identifying those at low risk.

The Proof

Validated against real attacks: The Black Kite Research Group measured RSI against 7,551 publicly disclosed ransomware victims from 2025.Separates high-risk from low-risk organizations: Organizations with an RSI above 0.8 were 291 times more likely to experience a ransomware attack than those below 0.2.Year-over-year validation: RSI’s ability to distinguish high- from low-susceptibility organizations has strengthened across three consecutive annual calibrations, from 27x in 2023 to 96x in 2024 and 291x in 2025.Scores and real-world outcomes: 41% of the high-RSI band was hit by ransomware, compared with 0.14% of the low band.

RSI is available within the Black Kite platform. To learn more, get a free RSI™ rating for your organization or a third party at blackkite.com/free-rsi-rating.

About Black Kite
Black Kite is an AI-native third-party cyber risk management platform built for the connected world. By distilling billions of external risk signals from millions of monitored organizations, Black Kite delivers the trusted intelligence that powers a connected defense network, enabling organizations to identify risk earlier, act faster, and move from isolated defense to collective resilience. With Black Kite, organizations benefit from greater control, earlier warning, and the confidence to work safely with third parties at scale. Black Kite has received numerous industry awards and recognition from customers. Learn more at www.blackkite.com, or on the Black Kite blog.

Media Contact:
Michelle Kearney
Hi-Touch PR
443-857-9468
kearney@hi-touchpr.com

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SOURCE Black Kite

How can freight forwarders strengthen digital capabilities, access new business opportunities and build trusted partnerships across borders?

MILAN, Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — These questions were central to the 2026 FIATA World Congress, held in Milan, Italy, from 6 to 9 October under the theme “Empowering Global Logistics”. Marking FIATA’s 100th anniversary, the Congress brought together professionals from across the global logistics industry.

As a Congress partner, JCtrans showcased its digital platform capabilities, exchanged industry insights and connected with freight forwarding associations across multiple markets. Founder and CEO Jacy Qiu shared his perspectives on supply chain resilience, digitalisation and international collaboration.

What Digital Solutions Did JCtrans Bring to FIATA 2026?

JCtrans highlighted its platform services for business matching, company verification, risk protection and transaction support, demonstrating how digital tools can support freight forwarders’ daily operations and international business development.

A key development is Data Compass, launched in September 2026 as part of JCtrans’ upgraded membership benefits. By bringing key business performance metrics into one view, it helps freight forwarders monitor platform activity, identify areas for improvement and make more informed business decisions.

These capabilities reflect JCtrans’ focus on helping freight forwarders make better use of business data, build trust with potential partners and access opportunities across markets.

How Is JCtrans Strengthening Global Industry Connections?

During the Congress, JCtrans connected with freight forwarding associations including ALSEA COMO and FEDESPEDI in Italy, BIFA in the UK, CIFA in China and EFFSAA in Ethiopia. These exchanges created opportunities to share industry perspectives, better understand market needs and explore potential areas for international cooperation.

In his remarks, Jacy Qiu highlighted the importance of preparation, reliable information and trusted partnerships in helping freight forwarders navigate supply chain uncertainty. While digitalisation can improve information exchange and business decision-making, professional judgement and collaboration remain essential to managing complex logistics challenges.

Through its participation in FIATA 2026, JCtrans brought together digital solutions, industry insights and international connections. The company will continue to develop its platform services and strengthen relationships across the global freight forwarding community, supporting businesses in navigating market changes and exploring cross-border opportunities.

Media Contact: marketing@jctrans.com
https://www.jctrans.com/en/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/jctrans-platform/posts/?feedView=all

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