Commonwealth Financial Network

The survey's perennial champions scored higher than competitors like Wells Fargo, Ameriprise and LPL on every metric.

The largest percentage of women advisors for any single firm rose from the previous year, but the available numbers paint a stark picture.

For the first time, the ranks of the top 25 firms according to their annual business include single entries for IBD networks.

Faced with the retention risk from the RIA-only channel, firms are trying to alter their company cultures and questioning traditional approaches.

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.

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

With transparency about conflicts on the rise even as it varies by firm, critics question whether clients really understand complicated technical documents.

The husband-wife team left LPL after 11 years with an eye toward its rival’s tech and service offerings.

The new standalone firm’s first licensing agreement would bring MassMutual’s 9,000 reps on to the platform developed by the No. 4 IBD.

Financial advisors and their firms are providing zero-interest loans, free counseling and fresh ideas for some 800,000 federal workers going without pay.

The five new advisors kicked off recruiting in 2019 for the No. 4 IBD after it set a record in the previous year.