RIAs

Two Florida planners have asked the court to sanction the CFP Board. The organization calls the suit "without merit" and declined to answer dozens of questions in the first deposition.

The $1.3 billion Rockville, Md., advisory firm has added two prominent advisors to its team, adding roughly $50 million to Highline's assets under management.

The FPA and other organizations calling for stricter regulatory oversight of investment advisors reacted with dismay to the omnibus federal spending bill unveiled this week, which they say will leave the SEC unable to effectively police the industry and protect investors.

As the cost of recruiting new advisors has soared, says CEO Erica McGinnis, such small-scale growth has become more difficult -- and more expensive.

Granite Financial says it hopes moving to the IBD will power growth.

The SEC is putting advisors on notice that its examiners will cast a wide net in their reviews of investment advisors over the coming year.

The well-financed venture promised big hiring in 2013, but a November ADV form shows them well short of goal.

As the stock market has soared, firms face new competition for both talent and clients.

Focus Financial Partners, one of the most aggressive aggregators, has added $400 million in capital funding, with another $150 million waiting in the wings, scoring one of the industry's largest lending deals from a consortium of large banks.

The pair, who managed more than $146 million in client assets, joined Raymond James with a practice named Stonegate Financial.