RIAs

Schwab, Fidelity and Pershing are facing growing competition, as the industry strives to do business with financial advisors in as many ways as possible.

An annual snapshot report tracks the record expansion and changing nature of the growing industry channel fueled by financial advisors and their clients.

As Raymond James, Wells Fargo and RBC reported big recruiting deals this week, FINRA said it was going to pay back to its members a large chunk of the fees they paid last year.

Once client data enters a tech provider's software, does your firm still own it? It's not a given.

The momentum is clearly accelerating behind registered investment advisory firms, but every individual team's choice requires careful consideration.

Osaic and UBS have both been on the losing end of some recruiting deals in recent months, while this week Cambridge, Rockefeller and RBC were on the winning end.

Financial advisors report a variety of pros and cons with either setup, and experts say the decision comes down to highly particular factors at each advisory practice.

Roughly 200 advisors at the firm are being named "founder specialists" for their track record helping entrepreneurs do everything from set up employee-benefit plans to take their firms public.

Also this week, Raymond James pulls from Ameriprise, UBS from Morgan Stanley and LPL from RBC.

A consulting firm's report on the future of the channel reveals the ambivalence and frustration many feel about the impact of M&A consolidation.