Thrust into the top leadership role, Rich Steinmeier oversees strong results in his first six months.

The Zurich-based bank is in the midst of overhauling its U.S. wealth business with a greater priority on mass affluent clients and lower costs.

The addition of Prudential Financial and Atria Wealth Solutions helped boost LPL's advisor headcount to a record of nearly 29,000 by the end of last year.

Despite only a slight increase in its headcount of financial advisors amid tough recruiting fights, the firm reeled in record productivity, assets and advisory flows.

Like other wealth managers that have ceased reporting advisor numbers every quarter, Raymond James says the figures have lost meaning.

Stifel chief executive Ron Kruszewski said surging markets have forced firms to be particularly choosy about which advisors they try to poach from rivals. That may change this year.

The Westlake, Texas-based firm called 2024 a transition year after faltering during the regional banking chaos in 2023.

Executives say the Bank of America subsidiary likely benefited from clients in 2023 seeking a safe harbor from teetering regional banks.

The investment banking giant has been the subject of regulatory probes regarding the way it vets prospective clients. So far, that's not driving away potential clients, executives say.

CEO Ted Pick said nearly half of net new assets Morgan Stanley brought in last year landed in fee-generating accounts — and that's right where he wants them.