Forbes Fires Top Editor Over Seven-Figure Gift Linked to Ranking Firm

Forbes fired Randall Lane, its chief content officer, after learning he received about $6 million from RJ Shook of Shook Research—a longtime partner in Forbes’ adviser rankings—and described it as a “gift.” The payment raised conflict-of-interest concerns given Forbes’ relationship with Shook Research, and Lane acknowledged he should have disclosed it, a misstep that led to his ouster; Kerry Lauerman was named interim editor.