Economy

State regulators accused LPL Financial, Edward Jones, Stifel, RBC and TD Ameritrade of charging their clients unreasonably high and unfair commissions on 1.12 million equity trades over a five-year period.

Industry experts say there's theoretically no reason why firms can't keep getting bigger through recruiting deals. But a lack of good M&A prospects could make growth harder for LPL and other independent broker-dealers.

Investor advocates and others worry that recent changes to who can serve on FINRA panels will exclude arbitrators most likely to be sympathetic to ordinary investors.

The decision comes as a victory for FINRA in a series of legal assaults meant to undercut the authority of self-regulatory organizations.

Paul Algreen, the executive managing director and chief technology officer at Cresset Capital in Chicago, took the opportunity to turn the firm's tech stack from a "blank slate" to the scaling juggernaut it is.

The broker-dealer alleged that a FINRA arbitration panelist who helped hand down the landmark penalty should have recused herself after reaching a similar conclusion in a case involving the same embattled broker.

Industry groups argue a new rule under consideration would give brokerage firms new oversight responsibilities over unaffiliated RIAs — a contention FINRA denies.

The Cincinnati-based bank has partnered with the fintech Trust & Will to make estate planning easy, accessible — and free.

In an earnings call, LPL's CEO said his efforts to woo Commonwealth advisors have extended to a "rain-soaked" bike ride and wine-tasting tour.

Industry trackers see Raymond James' proposal to buy minority stakes in its independent affiliates as a good way to reinvest while also warding off outside competition.