Comp 2016: Best pay for $2M producers at the wirehouses and regional BDs

For an adviser generating $2 million in production, which firm pays the most?


Our annual analysis of compensation plans at the wirehouse and regional broker-dealers helps elite advisors answer that question by providing the starting points for payouts for $2 million producers. Click through to see how the comp plans stack up now. Or click here to read the single page version.


You can see last year's analysis by clicking here.


By Andrew Welsch

Source: company data; compiled by Tasnady Associates


Note: This analysis represents starting points for payouts. A number of special policies are not included here since they do not affect 100% of the advisor population evenly and therefore are more haphazard to compare. Individual results can vary dramatically, based on the mix of business and policies at each firm. For example, pay can rise from special bonuses and fall from penalties such as discount sharing, small client limits, and ticket charges.


Assumptions for Basic Pay: 25% in individual stocks; 25% in individual bonds; 25% in mutual funds; 25% in fee-based (wrap accounts, managed accounts, etc.); length of service is assumed to be 10 years. Assumes no bonuses from growth, nor asset-based bonuses, or other behavior-based awards. Optional potential voluntary deferral calculations assume 25% of pay voluntary contribution amount. Company matches on optional voluntary deferral programs limited to nonprofit sharing based. Also excludes voluntary deferral matches, 401k matches or profit sharing contributions unless otherwise noted.

How do the payouts for elite advisers compare at the largest wealth management firms?

*Includes core (no growth required) annual value from GrowthPlus award= 4.5% ($45,000)