Independent BDs

Retiree-focused Cherrington Brotsky left Morgan Stanley to join broker-dealer FSC, a member of Advisor Group.

From suitability and complex products to cyber-security and data integrity, where do broker-dealers start? Here's an overview of some of the areas that FINRA or SEC examinations will likely focus on at firms in the coming year.

Securities America and United Advisors have recruited Kevin Hughes, a top former Morgan Stanley branch manager, to head up their new hybrid independent wealth advisory business.

If an advisor is offered 360% of trailing-12, this app will break down the details: how much is upfront and how much is doled out for various thresholds along the way. Plus, annual payout bonuses will be revealed.

From talking about why advisors may be missing the boat on retirement plans to regulators zeroing in on elderly client protections, here are the most notable quotes from the past week's stories.

Commonwealth scores $500M former LPL firm, while LPL takes $270M practice from Commonwealth.

As waves of baby boomers head into retirement, state and federal regulators expect to take a hard look at the programs firms have in place to ensure they are selling elderly investors appropriate financial instruments.

RCS Capital has made the right moves thus far, the Pershing Advisor Solutions chief says, and the spending spree will likely continue.

If the graying financial services industry is to replenish the ranks of retiring advisors and brokers, firms and trade groups must take a more active role in promoting the field to millennials, says Pershing's Mark Tibergien.

As the Financial Services Institute marks its tenth anniversary, the trade group is focused on expanding its advisor membership and ramping up its advocacy on legislation and regulation at the state level.

Dynasty Financial Partners has hired Ronald Sallet as senior vice president of network development, making good on its promise to boost business development in 2014.

Assets managed by dually registered advisors are growing faster than any other channel -- underscoring the industry's "slow but steady migration" toward independent models, according to new research from Cerulli.

The principles that served him well in selling Paine Webber to UBS, Donald Marron says, helped him pull the trigger to sell Cetera.

RCAP buys J.P. Turner for $27 million; Schorsch is calling IBDs, large and small, in search of deals, says Cambridge's Schwartz.

Northwestern Mutual is fishing for talent -- and it's using 6,400 hooks.

On the heels of a companywide rebrand, some advisors think 'Here we go again'; others are happy with the change.

RCS Capital moved to become the nation's second-largest independent broker-dealer by advisor count on Thursday by agreeing to purchase Cetera Financial Group for $1.15 billion in cash.

As the cost of recruiting new advisors has soared, says CEO Erica McGinnis, such small-scale growth has become more difficult -- and more expensive.

An advisory group in Winter Park, Fla. with $550 million in client assets leaves Morgan Stanley to go independent.

Granite Financial says it hopes moving to the IBD will power growth.