IBD Elite

For the first time, the ranks of the top 25 firms according to their annual business include single entries for IBD networks.

This interactive tool provides the full collection of data from Financial Planning's 35th annual study of the largest firms in the space.

Median revenue surged by 18% in the sector, but forward-looking companies have already adjusted to a fast-changing industry.

The stark figures show that only about one-sixth or fewer of the sector’s financial advisors are women.

The combined AUM of the top 10 companies has soared by 60% to more than $770 billion over the past five years.

The largest increases came from the only firms in the sector reporting jumps of at least 20% or more in 2018.

Mainstays of the sector like Commonwealth, Cambridge and Northwestern Mutual are contributing to it, but smaller firms are also driving change.

Independent broker-dealers have changed with the times. Our annual ranking has, too.

Despite a great year, firms don't see fit to rest on their laurels. Instead, they're preparing and adjusting to falling traditional revenue and rising expenses.

This interactive tool provides the full collection of data from Financial Planning's 34th annual study of the largest firms in the space.

The majority of the top 25 firms boosted their business by double digits in 2018, and five of them reeled in more than 20% growth.

Seven IBDs turn 50 this year. Here's why most of them won't survive another half-century.

Firms’ head counts show how they’re responding to a challenging time in which experts predict the number of advisors to fall in coming years.

The ongoing shift away from commissionable products is driving major changes in the space.

The largest firms’ combined VA and FA revenues hit a three-year low in 2017, but the products still make up a significant portion of their businesses.

The firms with the highest percentage growth year-over-year are cutting their head counts and fueling the record level of M&A deals.

The combined amount across the top 10 firms has jumped 37% to $385.3 million over the past three years.

Experts cite a variety of reasons for the industry’s grim jobs forecast for advisors, but the data reveals much more complexity.

Firms of all sizes have helped push fee-based business above commissions as the industry undergoes a transformation.

Although the industry reflects stark disparities, these firms are leading their peers in the hiring of female registered representatives.