RIAs

The RIA channel is growing rapidly as firms with more than $1 billion in assets continues to drive growth, according to a report from Cerulli & Associates.

National Advisors Trust has launched an upgraded version of AdvisorDesk, the firm’s proprietary multi-custodian technology platform.

Securities America announced Thursday that managing partner of Kelley & Mullis Wealth Management, Michael Mullis, has become a registered representative with the independent broker-dealer firm.

Winners of Charles Schwab’s seventh annual Impact Awards were announced Thursday at Schwab’s Impact conference in Chicago. Walter Bettinger, Schwab president and chief executive officer, and Bernie Clark, executive vice president and head of Schwab Advisor Services, took the stage to present the three awards.

Charles Schwab's Advisor Services group is planning to launch an internship program next year to help registered investment advisory firms develop and find new talent.

The Schwab IMPACT 2012 Conference opened Tuesday in Chicago. The annual gathering of independent investment advisors, now in its 21st year, will go on through Friday bringing together the industry’s best and brightest advisors.

Level Four Group, a Plano, Texas, based advisory firm with close to $1 billion in assets under management has moved from Lincoln Financial to LPL in a bid to grow by using the LPL platform and name to increase its stable of advisors.

Beacon Pointe Wealth Advisors announced the addition of its third advisor partner, $130 million AUM RIA Wealth Management Network of Newport Beach, Calif. today. This marks the third deal in the last year and a half for national advisory partnership firm BPWA.

So, you are working in a wirehouse now, how does independence look for you if you launch your own RIA?

Just as the cobbler's children go without shoes, two-thirds of independent advisors ignore succession planning. Such advisors could fall into an “annuity trap,” watching the value of their business degrade as they near the exit from their practice.