Independent BDs

The firm cut its headcount by 22% while boosting productivity by 48% in 2018, and it plans to roll out a new desktop platform for its 1,060 representatives.

The past year brought major changes to the IBD network, including the sale of its majority stake and a structural reorganization.

Firms who resist or fail to understand advisors’ needs will lose the game, according to a panel of executives.

State regulators and state legislature are stepping in to propose initiatives to protect consumers against salespeople wrapped in fiduciary clothing.

Under the deal, private equity-backed Wealth Enhancement Group would make its 10th acquisition in the past five years.

CEO Dan Arnold pledged new tech-enhanced support for advisors as part of a larger cultural transformation.

A new FINRA initiative to root out breaches of supervisory rules on 529 plans provoked criticism from the IBD advocacy group.

The firm suffered from market volatility in the fourth quarter.

Digital tools will not only allow advisors to serve more clients, they can help advisors charge for services with greater accuracy.

In an unusually frank discussion, women executives from five major firms urged the industry to get involved in educating young people about wealth management.

The network’s largest subsidiary will support fee-only advisors, and one of its smaller firms is targeting five times its level of recruitment from 2018.

Monthly charges are the area in which there’s the most variation amongst broker-dealers, writes recruiter Mark Elzweig.

The W Source expects to reach more than 40 chapters over the next three months, creating referral groups of hundreds of professionals.

The No. 1 IBD requested that other variable writers “contractually reaffirm their commitments to protecting trails,” an executive says.

An uptick in retirements dampened the firm’s efforts to expand its brokerage ranks.

Royal Alliance must pay more than $2.5 million to one ex-client while dealing with charges against the firm and a former rep by William Galvin’s office.

Private Advisor Group unveiled a new team with $175 million in client assets, while Integrated Financial Partners says it grew by $900 million in 2018.

An analyst expects “solid” recruiting figures for the fourth quarter after the No. 1 IBD added the five-advisor group plus an ex-Raymond James bank program.

The five new advisors kicked off recruiting in 2019 for the No. 4 IBD after it set a record in the previous year.

Many NEXT Financial reps would cash out their company shares while it boosts technology under a deal with Atria Wealth, the parties say.