Financial institutions

Responding to increased client demand, the firm has launched new efforts to enhance its socially responsible investment options.

Bank of America will retain the Merrill Lynch Wealth Management brand and operations even if it dissolves the parent company, Merrill Lynch & Co.

Bank of America, the second-biggest U.S. lender, plans to merge its Merrill Lynch subsidiary into the parent company to reduce complexity and costs.

UBS has tapped Jonathan Brooks to be a sales director responsible for bringing in corporate clients.

Raymond James has created a new position that will oversee practice management development and education for the private client group.

Clients often dream of retiring overseas for a change of scenery and lifestyle. Here’s what a handful of advisors have to say about some of the most popular overseas retirement destinations among their clients.

Wells Fargo has expanded its Denver, Colo., operations adding an advisor with $150 million in assets under management.

UBS Wealth Management Americas has added a former Morgan Stanley advisor with $600 million in assets.

A former Deutsche Bank Securities advisor with over $2 million in production has jumped to Morgan Stanley.

Baird has brought on four advisors with $330 million in assets.

Wedbush has expanded its Southern California presence with a 40-year industry veteran.

UBS AG, Switzerland’s largest bank, agreed to pay $120 million to settle claims by investors in Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. securities in a lawsuit tied to the investment bank’s 2008 collapse.

The two firms signed off on a deal that creates one of the largest regional brokerages on the West Coast by headcount.

The firm has added an 18-year industry veteran to its Greenville, Del., branch office as a vice president of wealth management.

Wells Fargo has created new positions for a director of client acquisition and a director of client experience.

Wedbush has brought on the former president of First Washington amid questions over his supervision of a former employee.

Brokers who hold investors’ assets will have to file quarterly reports attesting to compliance with measures toprotect customer money and securities under rules adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Mike Boosel of Baird turned a part-time teaching gig, helping seniors learn about retirement planning, into a lucrative source of clients.

The unit’s revenue and profit rose to new highs as productivity per advisor rebounded back to over $1 million.

UBS AG, Switzerland’s biggest bank, said gains at its investment bank fueled an increase in second- quarter profit and announced plans to buy back the fund set up by the central bank in 2008 to help it shed toxic assets.