Charles Paikert

Key performance indicators are becoming increasingly important as a way for owners of financial advisory firms to enhance the value of their business.

'The robo-advisors worry us,' said Rush Benton of CapTrust Financial Advisors at a panel on firm valuations.

Succession planning was the driving force behind the merger, according to principals for both firms.

Market Street will hardly be the only new kid on the block fighting for market share in New York.

As business owners prepare to sell, advisors have new opportunities for growth. Here's what you need to know.

Dynasty began to "unwind" its service agreement with Further Lane following SEC actions against the firm in late October 2013.

Douglas Cowgill, the firm's president and chief compliance officer, attempted to disguise the shortfall from SEC examiners by entering a fake trade in the firm's account records, according to the SEC complaint.

'If the goal is to maximize value, selling to an external buyer is always better,' says Pershing's Mark Tibergien. 'If the goal is based on commitments to clients and associates, selling internally is better.'

'The single most important driver of value by far is growth,' says Dan Seivert, CEO of Echelon Partners.

The value of advisory firms is now being driven by growth, cash flow and risks, says investment banker and consultant David DeVoe.

Deal adds over 6,600 financial advisors, giving RCS the country's second-largest independent network by advisors.

'Mariner is a well-organized and well capitalized growth company,' says John Furey, principal of Advisor Growth Strategies. 'The pace of growth is best in class and I expect it to continue.'

As business owners prepare to sell, advisors have new opportunities for growth. Here's what you need to know.

"There's a lot of nuance that's not reflected in simply listing personal bankruptcy," says Mark Witaschek, whose bankruptcy was cited in a board announcement.

Fortress is the fifth firm to join Omaha-based Arbor Point, which provides an open architecture platform aimed at dually registered advisors, since it launched early last year.

"Advisors will want to know what will happen to the firms' cultures. Will Nuveen be able to keep its culture? Which firms' culture will prevail?"

If the integration process takes longer or is more costly than expected, RCS says it may 'fail to realize' some or all of the anticipated benefits of the pending acquisitions.

Study finds short-term AUM and compensation growth, but long-term problems ahead for financial advisors.

AUM drops 31% as more top brass depart, with parent SunTrust filling executive ranks with veterans of the bank.

The rapidly emerging online distribution channel is attracting serious venture capital, while "do-it-yourself" firms with combined delivery mechanisms will be a "smart bet" going forward. See the list.