Independent BDs

Former Securities America rep Hector May carried out a 20-year scam through his outside RIA, according to prosecutors

The 50 largest teams and OSJs to change their affiliations show both the threat to incumbent firms posed by RIAs and the scale afforded by acquisitions.

The IBD and its subsidiaries’ 2,300 advisors appear to be facing a sale by its parent, with bidding reported to be starting as soon as next week.

Evan Guido is looking to partner more closely with CPAs.

Independent Advisor Alliance and Private Advisor Group — two of the firm’s largest hybrid RIAs — say they’ve added billions in clients assets from IFP.

Macroeconomic trends and matters of convenience will move advisors, assets and markets next year in the ever-changing wealth management space.

Six major trends to watch next year include M&A and the breakaway broker movement.

Wealth management transaction activity will reach a record level for the sixth straight year in 2018, according to one forecast.

The rarely dinged firm joined peers grappling with two issues: mutual fund fees and supervision of advisors who've been sanctioned multiple times.

The firm will test markets in a few cities next year in a bid to keep pace with a shifting wealth management landscape.