The can-do work ethic of the firm's northeast divisional president took him across the country multiple times — and to the top of the profession.

The big payday comes after a year in which the bank made progress toward the removal of a federally imposed asset cap.

Regulators took the wirehouses to task for not having policies directing advisors to consider clients' best interests.

Wells Fargo and other large wealth managers have been under scrutiny from plaintiffs' lawyers and regulators for the returns they pay on uninvested cash. It hardly mattered for Wells' bottom line last quarter.

A FINRA arbitration panel sided with a claimant who contended Wells and one of its advisors should have recognized telltale signs of elder fraud when their client decided to give away tens of thousands of shares of Aflac stock.

Brendan Krebs moved into the top recruiting role in January with a pledge to bring in advisors for Wells' wirehouse, bank-based and independent channels.

Before the injunction, Gary Carruthers is believed to have poached $24.3 million in client assets in breach of a nonsolicitation agreement.

Even as the firm puts pressure on lower-end advisors, it's making it easier for its top wealth managers to earn growth rewards.

Third-quarter results from Wells Fargo surpassed most analysts' expectations, thanks to surging investment-banking fees.

The latest lawsuit accuses the firm of not only failing to look out for clients' best interests but also failing to secure "reasonable returns" on money held in retirement accounts.