Industry

Some financial advisors may still hesitate to get on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or TikTok. But experts say growing firms need to be on the social platforms.

Though advisors keep heading for the door following the sale of Commonwealth, industry analysts believe LPL Financial can still hit its post-purchase goals for retaining assets and headcount.

The purchase comes as Creative Planning seeks to build out its expertise in managing retirement plans.

With deals like Cetera's purchase of Avantax, Morgan Stanley's of Parametric and JPMorgan's of 55ip, big firms are increasingly able to answer high net worth clients' tax questions without having to send them to outside professionals.

Business owners often can't rely on standard retirement strategies. Advisors explain how goal-setting, diversification and exit planning can secure their financial future.

Rick Meyers, head of client and advisory at Bernstein Private Wealth Management, looks to recruiting, training and possibly even acquisitions to further the firm's wealth management ambitions.

But Commonwealth Financial Network retains its appeal, pulling a team from Morgan Stanley, while LPL draws a large practice from RBC.

Client assets will always represent a key business metric. But $1 billion in AUM doesn't always add up to success — or to happiness.

A Cerulli report puts numbers to the channel's transformation. We have resources for advisors who want to better understand the space.