LPL Financial

Despite a great year, firms don't see fit to rest on their laurels. Instead, they're preparing and adjusting to falling traditional revenue and rising expenses.

This interactive tool provides the full collection of data from Financial Planning's 34th annual study of the largest firms in the space.

The majority of the top 25 firms boosted their business by double digits in 2018, and five of them reeled in more than 20% growth.

Carson Group has recruited $1.2 billion in client assets this year across 13 different firms.

One departing practice managed $100 million in assets.

CEO Dan Arnold presented details of the firm's mounting ambition after announcing the acquisition of a brokerage and RIA with $3 billion in client assets.

With brokerage firms lining up in support of the SEC proposal, fiduciary planners aim to keep their differences from the BD channel intact.

The regulator and one of its largest members, LPL Financial, engaged in a back-and-forth on the controversial initiative.

In a bid to further enhance its capabilities for advisors, the firm is also slashing ETF transaction fees on select funds later this year.

The No. 1 IBD also nominated a new board member and tapped key executives for advisor support and government relations.

Independent Financial Partners aspires to be a “very, very small agent for change.”

In the first full year under Atria Wealth, the firm added programs from banks and credit unions with $7 billion in assets.

Increased captive insurance coverage due to expanded business in 2018 was a primary driver of a three-year high in regulatory spending, the firm says.

When it comes to building these relationships, it’s better to start early.

The major employer-plan group had previously been affiliated with the predecessor of Global Retirement Partners.

Dan Arnold received $7.1 million in 2018, far below the longer-tenured chiefs of rival firms Ameriprise and Raymond James.

Jamie Grupe will be teaming with veteran Ameriprise advisor Steve Kinney.