Adviser headcount continued a slow, but steady decline, slipping to 6,915 from 7,116 for the year-ago period.

CEO Dan Arnold said advisers’ uncertainty about the fiduciary rule is waning.

"This is a challenging time for the firm with the DoL rule," CEO Paul Reilly said.

The rule has cost the firm tens of millions of dollars in compliance and lost revenue.

Second-quarter revenue from brokerage services fell 3% year-over-year while assets under management jumped 26% to $14.8 billion.

The Buffalo-based institution generated $127 million in second-quarter revenue from trust services, up 5% year-over-year.

Rising markets boosted revenues for wealth- and asset-management arms at the largest U.S. banks to $18.4 billion in the second quarter, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The firm needs a digital advice offering for clients who don't want a traditional relationship, CEO James Gorman said.

The bank's wealth management businesses earned $124 million on $600 million in revenue in the second quarter.

The firm also said it has benefited from low attrition and its training program.