Independent BDs

With the acquisition of broker-dealer McAdams Wright Ragen complete, Baird has grown to more than 800 advisors and $125 billion in assets.

As part of the FP50, Financial Planning tracks the percentage of reps producing more than $150,000. Many of the firms with the greatest number of top producers, it turns out, are smaller boutique firms.

Opponents argue that the long time horizon and heated controversy could convince the White House to back away from the retirement plan proposal.

Here are the smartest tips and tricks we’ve heard recently.

For clients, is one type of firm, business model or fee structure better than another?

Clarity in strategic vision and compensation boosts advisor satisfaction, according to a new J.D. Power & Associates study.

Every year we run the numbers to see how the top 10 list would change if the B-D networks aggregated their revenue numbers. This year we added another twist, looking at how the rankings would be affected if the new RCS network had in fact been put together before the end of the year.

High compensation tends to draw top producers. So how do advisors fare at the various independent broker-dealers? The FP50 tracks payout across the top firms; click through to see the independent B-Ds with the highest average payout.

Dedicating enough time and conducting the proper amount of due diligence is the best way to ensure where you're going is a better fit than where you've been.

Lebenthal & Co. said it will exit the municipal public finance underwriting and institutional sales business and shift those resources to its wealth management division.

Who are the financial planning industry's largest broker-dealers? Financial Planning has unveiled its annual list, so take a look to see where your firm ranks.

A fee-based practice is worth more when larger firms are looking to make an acquisition.

Frequently overlooked as a wealth management planning tool, IRS Form 1040 is the best potential tool for delivering integrated tax and investing advice.

Regional wealth manager D.A. Davidson is launching a new training program aimed at bringing recent college graduates into the financial advisor profession.

The independent broker-dealers on the 2014 FP50 list delivered average revenue growth of 15% in 2013. For some firms, revenue growth was significantly greater. Here are the top 10 fastest growing IBDs based on revenue growth.

As growth has surged at the nation's biggest independent broker-dealers, a new player has rocked the rankings and raised questions for the industry.

With new regulations on the horizon, a top FINRA official highlights the agency's efforts to establish a more flexible oversight regime that will be less of a drain on a practice's resources.

Allison Couch's newly created role focuses on sales and distribution strategies across one of the industry's largest broker-dealer networks.

Every firm needs to determine the unique compensation plan that will work best for executives, staff and clients. These guidelines should help you get started.

Most of the new arrivals are employees of larger financial service companies, said president Scott Curtis, and about 25% are already independents.