Career moves

But the firms continue to close faster than new ones open, suggesting consolidation remains an industry trend.

The banking giant's asset and wealth management arm boasts more than $4.3 trillion of client assets.

In letters to the FTC, financial planners contend that noncompetition and nonsolicitation provisions can leave them 'handcuffed' to bad firms.

In setting up a breakaway firm, a group of advisors tried not to step over lines when recruiting colleagues and clients. But a lawsuit argues they still went too far.

Although the new leaders at Merrill could offer advisors new hopes, the firm could well suffer further attrition after Andy Sieg's defection last week to Citigroup.

Plaus had planned to leave the bank after March 31. But Merrill head Andy Sieg's sudden departure for Citigroup triggered an executive shuffle.

In a sudden shift, Merrill's leader of the past six years is heading back to rival Citi, where he will be head of global wealth and drive its expansion.

Employees of the collapsed bank are using LinkedIn, and old-school means, to find new jobs.

Headhunters are finding that many employees of the cratered bank's wealth management arms are waiting to see what happens to the parent firm before plotting their next moves.

The panel plans to take through 2024 to complete its 'everything's-on-the-table' review of experience, education and exam standards.