Commonwealth Financial Network

SEC-mandated disclosures for dual registrants could put clients off brokerage options, some suggest.

The IBD’s head of practice management says more planners should explore becoming ensembles, and she also divulged the firm’s “secret sauce.”

The ensemble and enterprise pickups came after the No. 4 IBD added 70 advisors in the first nine months of the year.

Critics reject the notion that disclosure alone is sufficient for reigning in conflicts — but the charges against Commonwealth have put BDs on notice.

The firm didn't disclose its conflicts of interest in receiving over $100 million in revenue sharing from mutual funds over nearly five years, the SEC says.

Commonwealth and Edward Jones remain the top-rated firms — J.D. Power notes they share a few characteristics in common.

Two perennial champions retained their top ranks in 2019 — but the aging demographic poses challenges for all firms, according to J.D. Power.

The combined AUM of the top 10 companies has soared by 60% to more than $770 billion over the past five years.

Mainstays of the sector like Commonwealth, Cambridge and Northwestern Mutual are contributing to it, but smaller firms are also driving change.

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.