Independent BDs

The discrimination case revolves around allegations of disparate treatment in the firm’s agency distribution channels.

The firm is maintaining control but dropping its FINRA registration as the sector’s rising expenses and lower margins fuel consolidation.

Actions hit a nine-year high and restitution climbed to the highest total since 2013 — even before the rule’s heightened scrutiny.

Bleakley Financial Group also picked up an ex-hedge fund portfolio manager while expanding its national footprint.

The number is behind previous years, but the firm’s new head of business development says independence is more appealing amid the coronavirus.

Choosing their own technology for clients was a big draw for the advisors, who affiliated with Kestra.

The No. 1 IBD has completed three of the sector’s 10 largest recruiting moves of the year.

The majority of job cuts are in corporate departments, with little impact to advisors or client service roles, the firm says.

The broker hasn't been registered in over a decade, and was using clients’ usernames and passwords to make trades in their self-directed brokerage accounts, according to the regulator.

Some of the recently acquired advisors will open branch offices for the growing BD.