Independent BDs

These independent broker-dealers reported the highest portion of top-shelf advisors.

Two advisors go independent with Raymond James, looking to structure their practice without wirehouse limitations.

FSI endorses IBD head Brian Kovack for FINRA post; Kovack hopes to win mid-sized IBD seat in which he would says he would represent firms, not investors.

The wirehouses aren't fading yet, but many independents argue that these firms will need to change dramatically to retain market share.

Two veteran advisors went independent with Dynasty, dwarfing the firm's previous recruits.

Leaving the wirehouses for independence can be worth it, but be prepared for the unexpected, advisors say.

"LPL is a different place than when we started there 11 years ago," says CBD Wealth Management partner Robert Comeaux, Jr.

A Morgan Stanley exec and other industry experts urge financial planners to embrace this approach to making investments, popular with both millennials and women.

Advisors play a crucial role in keeping clients accountable to their retirement savings plans, according to experts at the Morningstar conference.

These independent broker-dealers reported the highest portion of fee-based business.

These independent broker-dealers reported the highest portion of fee-based business.

Compliance experts Brian Hamburger and Robert Molinari offer up best practices for preparing for SEC and FINRA audits.

Bad retirement advice forced a woman to take a job earning little more than minimum wage to make ends meet, her lawyer says.

The commission ups its scrutiny of retirement-focused advisors and broker-dealers as elder fraud skyrockets, securities lawyer says.

Two former National Planning Corporation brokers "are just normal dudes and they just screwed up," says a lawyer for one of the men.

Pershing CIO Ram Nagappan offers a framework to help advisors think about how to transform their businesses to digital.

From starting an RIA to joining an independent broker-dealer, there are myriad options for advisors seeking to go independent.

More than two-thirds of brokerage and RIA executives say there aren't enough young advisors to go around, according to a Fidelity survey.

How to help women in junior roles take the steps to become successful independent advisors.

Choosing a broker-dealer and/or a custodian is one of the most important decisions for advisors going independent. Here are five questions for each choice.