Independent advisors

Need a gut check on your career? Read what top recruiters have to say about the big and small firms in the industry.

As the financial planning industry nears a fee-only, fiduciary world, independent broker-dealers will face some important choices about their future business models.

National Financial Services accused the brokers' former IBD of breach of contract in a case displaying the complexities of such moves.

Cetera has provided financing and other services in more than 250 acquisitions across the IBD network since 2015.

IBDs are waging a tough recruiting fight for hybrid RIAs, and Bill Van Law played a pivotal role.

The securities-backed lending platform provides liquidity to borrowers and transparency to advisors, the investment banking giant says.

The 1,778-advisor firm constitutes the largest privately held IBD, underscoring the growing appeal of boutique-like models.

A directive on ETFs took the advisor by surprise after several years with the No. 29 IBD, he says.

Ross Gerber says he left the firm to avoid its strict oversight of his press interviews and social media.

The No. 13 IBD has added 183 advisors through its recruiting efforts in the past two years.