RIAs

Whether you are planning to sell your business to an outside party, thinking of implementing an internal succession plan to transfer ownership to the next generation, or considering the strategic acquisition of another wealth management firm, an understanding of the true drivers of valuation is critical.

Schade replaces the San Francisco firm's co-founder and chief executive, Brodie Cobb, who suffered serious injuries in a bicycle accident last year.

Almost half of the advisors in a new FPA study say they don't have a retirement plan; even more fail on business and succession plans.

The enhanced site allows advisors to alter certain components of their profiles at will -- though not their disciplinary history.

Expansion-minded Savant Capital Management has bolstered its presence in the vibrant Chicago metropolitan market, acquiring Paragon Advisors, a $150 million firm in Naperville, Ill.

A big LPL practice with $3.7 billion in assets under management is picking up a $300 million Chicago-area firm.

Even as the SEC is contemplating an expansion of fiduciary rules to include broker-dealers who operate in the retail space, some advocates argue that the regulatory interpretation of the responsibilities under a fiduciary standard has strayed from common-law precedent and become dangerously diluted.

NetVEST, which is returning to LPL, has approximately $200 million in client assets and specializes in establishing revocable and irrevocable trusts. The firm had been affiliated with Ameriprise for the past year; but had been with LPL for almost 20 years before that, however.

One of the most challenging things advisor Dave Grant faced when setting up his RIA was deciding on a CRM system.

For Jeffrey Thomasson, founder of Oxford Financial -- the largest firm on Financial Planning's 2013 RIA Leaders list -- smooth waters means it’s time to rock the boat.