Merrill Lynch

Financial planners are wary of text-only service options, arguing they would contribute further to the commoditization of advice.

The two advisors generated about $1.5 million in annual revenue, according to the No. 3 IBD.

The unit will provide specialized services for private banking, international and institutional clients."

The firm’s hot recruiting streak forges ahead with another grab from a rival firm.

The firm poached two advisors from its rivals as it expands its talent pool.

One recruiter argues the firm is losing talent because it will eventually exit the Broker Protocol.

At Merrill "it felt like we shifted away a little bit in recent years from the core focus of wealth management," advisor Matthew Spradlin explains.

Among recent career changes, Merrill Lynch lost brokers managing $2.2 billion to rival J.P. Morgan Securities.

The move is the latest in trend of advisors leaving wirehouses for smaller firms.

Thomas Buck spent 33 years with Merrill Lynch before he was fired in 2015.