Independent advisors

Last year set a record for mergers and acquisitions among advisory firms. Industry experts expect more of the same in 2025, driven by a desire for client and asset growth.

Kevin Keller prides himself on the growing public awareness of the CFP mark while warning that his successor is likely to face increased competition from other groups.

In a legal response, LPL contends it has been sued at least seven times in the past year after recruiting advisors from industry rival Ameriprise.

Financial Planning announces its 2025 class of the top 40 most productive employee brokers under age 40 at regional U.S. firms.

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.

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.

Jeffrey Dobyns, the president of SageSpring Wealth Partners, says he and his colleagues were looking for greater freedom to make use of technology their clients wanted and needed.

Lack of freedom and limited investment choices may be driving advisors at broker-dealers to leave their firms this year.

Failing to have a solid succession plan is one of many risk factors that can tank an advisory practice's selling price, industry pros warn.