LPL says its elimination of positions at Atria Wealth Solutions was always part of its plan to acquire the firm, drawing a sharp distinction with what it's doing with Commonwealth Financial Network.

Patrick Funke & Associates' decision to join Commonwealth Financial Network suggests that despite its pending purchase by LPL, Commonwealth still appeals to advisors seeking a smaller setting.

A consulting firm's report on the future of the channel reveals the ambivalence and frustration many feel about the impact of M&A consolidation.

Jamie Price of Osaic says attrition at his firm was below expectations during its recent internal consolidation of nine separate brokerages and that not having a self-clearing and self-custody business is an advantage these days.

The deal marks the purchase of one private equity-owned firm by a much larger one with majority private equity backing.

Industry experts say there's theoretically no reason why firms can't keep getting bigger through recruiting deals. But a lack of good M&A prospects could make growth harder for LPL and other independent broker-dealers.

Experts say that there are pitfalls, rules and procedures that departing financial advisors should know. Problem is, too many act first and consult lawyers later.

With more than $8 billion in assets under advisement, Simon Quick can comfortably serve high net worth clients. And it's managed to get there without private equity.

Regulators discovered Julie Darrah had been siphoning millions from elderly clients after WEG bought her practice in 2021.

In a consolidating industry, perpetual growth may seem like the only way forward, but financial advisors still have options.

Despite the notable flows and valuations, some sellers get locked into an ill-fitting parent firm without many options for getting away.

Private equity-backed consolidators need platform uniformity to grow — but without sacrificing acquired RIAs' unique strengths.

Industry trackers see Raymond James' proposal to buy minority stakes in its independent affiliates as a good way to reinvest while also warding off outside competition.

A unit of the bank bought by UBS in 2023 pleaded guilty to conspiring to help its customers hide more than $4 billion from the Internal Revenue Service in at least 475 offshore accounts

The CEO of Summit Wealth said that even before LPL announced its acquisition deal, he and his colleagues were already finding Commonwealth too big for their liking.

Could an economic downturn slow the industry's record-setting pace of acquisition deals? Sure, experts say, but not by much.

Experts say it's not just about cold, hard numbers. Knowing client expectations can also make or break any potential deal.

As LPL fights to keep teams in the fold, competitors are making strong plays and pointing to the large brokerage's perceived blemishes. The founders of KRM Investment Counsel said they also found what they wanted at Arkadios, an employee-owned firm.

CEO Paul Shoukry also told analysts that the merger and acquisition deals coursing through the industry could open doors for firms eager to bring in advisors and net new assets.

Agreements from LPL Financial and Betterment top a host of merger and acquisition activity that has jumped since the start of this year.