RIAs

Many clients avoid consolidating their assets at a single firm because they don't want the hassle. Advisors say it's important when to know not only when they're most likely to want to move assets, but also what to say.

BNY Pershing declined to state the size and fees of its clearing and custody business with RIAs and other wealth management firms. But that's hardly unique in a channel of the industry with shrinking margins.

Some advisors say they already have a hard enough time explaining what a fiduciary is under federal law and that NAPFA's new definition for fee-only planners will only add to the confusion.

Median sale prices for RIAs have long been ticking upward. But some valuation experts argue that impending retirements could lead to an oversupply of firms on the market — and lower price tags.

Clients have many reasons for not divulging details on the assets they have at, including embarrassment. Advisors say it's still important to understand their total financial picture and, above all, not be judgmental.

A note by Morningstar DBRS analysts warned of the risks working against big RIA aggregators' success in consolidating a fragmented channel of the industry so rapidly.

Starting your own RIA can be emotionally taxing and require extensive work — and it comes with some surprises. Here's what founders said caught them off guard when launching their own firms.

The big moves hit the Swiss firm as it continues to lose advisors on a net basis — though now it's reportedly sweetening its recruiting offers.

For some RIAs — particularly those that focus on financial planning — adopting a flat-fee structure can make more sense than a traditional AUM-based model.