Independent advisors

Andrea Bethune contends in federal court that Carson Group moved her into a new role to make way for a woman 20 years her junior. Eventually, her position was eliminated.

Investor advocates think the money should instead go to clients who haven't been paid outstanding arbitration awards.

Journey Strategic Wealth President Penny Phillips said advisors who broke off from wirehouses and large brokerages are now returning to big firms. The winners will be partners who can welcome them without compromising their independence.

As a result of Comerica's acquisition by Fifth Third Bank, Ameriprise will lose a large contract for its financial institutions group.

Paul Shoukry said Raymond James differentiates itself by not requiring advisors to push banking and other products and by not aggressively pursuing advisors who leave for industry rivals.

A Department of Labor rule adopted under the Biden administration had many brokers worried about their ability to work as independent contractors. A new proposal would roll it back.

Rich Guerrini said the bank plans to expand its advisor ranks by about 50% as it targets mass affluent and other new clients with personalized branch-based service.

Contrasting his firm with private equity-backed consolidators, Paul Shoukry said Raymond James has the luxury of recruiting advisors who will stay for the long haul.

Financial Planning announces its 2026 class of the top 40 most productive employee brokers under age 40 at regional U.S. firms.

CEO Rich Steinmeier looks past advisors defections to tout progress toward its goal of retaining 90% of the assets Commonwealth Financial Network had at its purchase last year.

CEO Paul Shoukry took a swipe at big private equity-backed acquirers, saying in an earnings call that most advisors want to be at firms "where they're not going to have to have another disruption in three to five years."

Brokers were worried a new rule intended to lighten their responsibility to monitor advisors' side hustles would ironically mean greater supervision duties with RIAs.

A Ninth Circuit appellate panel ruled that10 advisors recruited to LPL from Ameriprise have the right to resist turning over their personal devices to a forensic examiner to be searched for evidence of misappropriated client data.

Philadelphia-based Clark Capital will be one of several "boutique" firms in Raymond James' global asset management division.

Wells Fargo stands out among wirehouses with FiNet, its dedicated channel for independent advisors. Wells Fargo Advisors head Sol Gindi says this structure gives the firm a competitive advantage rivals will find difficult to replicate.

The regulator considers raising the AUM threshold it uses when considering how newly proposed rules are likely to affect small RIAs.

Also, DayMark Wealth Partners sells a minority stake to Constellation Wealth Capital.

An industry lawyer warns that RIAs often don't do enough to delineate their responsibilities and shield themselves from liability when they add tax preparation to their service offerings.

With the rapid growth of the RIA industry, large wealth managers are increasingly finding ways to make money by supporting independent advisory practices.

A new Cerulli report finds that advisors who outsource investment management spend more time in direct dealings with clients.