RBC pulls $1.2B and $705M teams from rivals, Merrill gets a $420M duo, and several large M&A deals close.

Minority transactions are increasingly appealing to sellers who are wary of giving up the full control of their firms. But experts say the deals do come with strings.

Also, an Ex-Truist/Balentine duo start an RIA, Raymond James grabs a team from Wells Fargo and Janney names a new head of advisor recruiting.

Schwab becomes the latest large wealth manager to cite the shrinking number of publc companies as a reason to help regular investors get into private markets.

Deal structure, transition plans and dog and pony shows represent only a few of the thorny difficulties involved with branching into an acquisition strategy, experts say.

Big aggregators could feel the heat if private equity continues to fund $500M to $1B-AUM firms.

Scott Posner, who's in charge of advisor and institutional recruitment as LPL's business development head, on why LPL leads in advisor "capture" at a time when fewer teams are switching firms.

LPL CEO Rich Steinmeier said the firm is nearing its goals for retaining Commonwealth Financial Network's assets and advisors, freeing up internal recruiters to bring in advisors from other firms.

Wells Fargo pulls $722M in AUM from Merrill while Osaic adds a $540M team from Primerica (but gets sued); Stifel sells independent unit, and First Clearing names new head.

The choice of buyer and the price get the most attention, but a possible merger of equals and the technology side of the transition could loom large in the strategy.

Dynasty Financial Partners' investment bank joins Diamond Consultants to help departing teams vet transition options, whether that's joining another wirehouse, selling to an RIA aggregator or starting their own business.

Janney also adds teams from Morgan Stanley and UBS, while LPL Financial picks up advisors from Janney for its direct employee channel.

The purchase comes as Creative Planning seeks to build out its expertise in managing retirement plans.

With deals like Cetera's purchase of Avantax, Morgan Stanley's of Parametric and JPMorgan's of 55ip, big firms are increasingly able to answer high net worth clients' tax questions without having to send them to outside professionals.

Rick Meyers, head of client and advisory at Bernstein Private Wealth Management, looks to recruiting, training and possibly even acquisitions to further the firm's wealth management ambitions.

Client assets will always represent a key business metric. But $1 billion in AUM doesn't always add up to success — or to happiness.

Historic deal volume isn't slowing. Here are our guides for pricing your firm, buying a book of business, going independent and more.

Several panels and presentations last week at Future Proof focused on the idea of advisors growing their businesses through offering specialized, family office-style services.

Registered investment advisor Savant Wealth Management acquired PrairieView Partners, a CPA-led RIA based in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The group of rapidly expanding firms includes mainstays like LPL Financial, but also smaller upstarts that are enlarging their footprints at a notable clip.