Independent advisors

Concerns with the fiduciary rule, compensation and leadership pushed down satisfaction ratings.

None of the FP50 are close to equalizing their ranks of men and women.

Advisers face fewer choices for clients as both the rule and SEC enforcement roil the market.

The challenges of new regulations may actually allow independent firms to grow and thrive—particularly those which embrace these four advice-centric features.

Your current superstar employees hold the secrets to making future crucial hires, says planner Kelli Cruz.

Compensation is just part of the consideration for an adviser to go independent.

The benefits of going independent are alluring, but wirehouse advisers can't afford to discount the formidable challenges ahead.

See how they stack up: It doesn't always take a large advisory staff to manage big money.