Former Forbes editor in chief Randall Lane received a $6 million payment from RJ Shook for advising on the sale of Shook Research to private-equity firm PPC Enterprises. This undisclosed compensation led to Lane’s firing in July after Forbes discovered the transaction, which Shook described as a "thank you" for Lane's guidance and past success.

Lane admitted he made a "serious error in judgment" by failing to disclose the payment. Forbes stated that accepting the funds was unacceptable and inconsistent with its principles of trust and transparency. While an independent review is underway, the magazine found no evidence that editorial integrity or ranking fairness was compromised during Lane’s tenure.

Shook Research, a long-time partner since 2016, expressed regret over the situation but defended the independence of its rankings. The company announced that RJ Shook and his wife have settled their roles and ownership. To restore confidence, Shook will commission annual third-party reviews of its governance and methodology.

The controversy has impacted business relationships, with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management suspending its participation in the Forbes-Shook Research rankings following the reports.