Teck Lim

The need for advisors to tackle succession planning decisions now has garnered increasing attention and discussion in recent years. Yet, even as advisors tend to recognize the importance of taking action to prepare, many still have not gotten started.

Northwestern Mutual, the nation’s 7th largest independent broker-dealer by total-revenue, announced Wednesday it has hired more than 1,100 financial representatives so far this year, and nearly 3,000 financial representative interns.

Michael Brannam and Patrick Brannam will join the firm’s Jacksonville, Fla., branch, where they will be equal partners of Brannan Wealth Management of Raymond James.

Baird has been on a hiring spree in an attempt to bolster the retirement planning services it offers to oil and gas industry professionals in Texas.

More than 80% of people who do not work with a financial advisor only plan their finances for the short term, according to a new global survey by deVere Group, the world’s largest independent international financial consultancy group.

Benjamin Edwards has added offices in Canton, Ohio and Abilene, Kansas., growing the firm to 33 branches in 17 states.

Janney has hired Neil McCauley from Wells Fargo with $98 million in assets under management.

"The bottom-line is to protect investors from advisors who may not have their best interest,” says Jack Waymire, the founder of Paladin Research and Registry. “We’re providing them the process to find out about the advisors they’re thinking of hiring – with a focus on certification, ethics, business practices, and services provided.”

Raymond James announced Wednesday it hired Claire Friedrichs as first vice president of investments.

Advisors must exercise caution and dilligence when it comes to overseas accounting standards.

Advisors have not done enough to prepare the majority of wealthy investors for long-term care costs and financial support for extended family, according to a study conducted by U.S. Trust, a unit of Bank of America.

When selecting global funds, consider the manager’s background and expertise in the particular foreign market.

The economic recession may have sparked a retirement crisis in America, but other significant derailers have also played a role.

In five years, Stratos Wealth Partners has grown from a glimmer of an idea to a firm with 130 advisors nationally and over $6 billion in assets under management. The secret to its success: a hybrid RIA model.

The platform, eSavant Advisor, which was introduced Monday, caters to clients with at least $50,000 in investable assets.

Morgan Stanley has hired three advisors from Deutsche Bank, Merrill Lynch, and Wells Fargo who combined for more than $3.2 million in production.

J.P. Morgan Securities announced Wednesday it has added eight advisors to its offices in Boston, New York City, and Florham Park, N.J.

Mindy Rosenthal has been promoted to president from executive director of the Institute for Private Investors (IPI), Campden Wealth’s U.S. subsidiary, and David Berger was hired as CEO for the Americas.

Linscomb & Williams, a fee-only RIA with $2 billion in assets under management, announced Tuesday it is opening an office in Birmingham, Ala.

IronGate, the largest independent wealth advisory firms in Wilmington N.C., opened its doors in 2005, and has a team of 14 advisors managing $200 million in assets.