Wells Fargo lands big teams from Merrill and Citi, while Cerity Partners and Mercer Advisors continue their aggressive M&A streaks.

The loss of a $129 billion team for Merrill set the high-water mark in a year that also saw the departure of huge teams from UBS, JPMorgan, Wells Fargo and Oppenheimer.

Rockefeller becomes the latest firm to benefit from a steady stream of advisor defections from UBS this year.

A new survey from DeVoe & Co. suggests a big shift in what RIA firms need today in order to attract potential acquirers. (Hint: It's no longer just superstar advisors.)

While the term "financial supermarket" may have gone out of fashion, firms still see opportunity to boost profits and keep clients loyal by blurring the lines between banking and wealth management.

Also, DayMark Wealth Partners sells a minority stake to Constellation Wealth Capital.

Founders Elissa Buie and Dave Yeske are leaving a legacy in the profession and at the firm under three successors taking over in 2026.

Also, Independent Financial Partners secures a $700M team from Commonwealth/LPL, and NewEdge Capital names a new CEO.

Consolidation has been ongoing for more than a decade in wealth management, but it accelerated to unprecedented levels this year.

Also, Cresset extends its reach in Texas, Janney recruits from Wells Fargo and Ameriprise, Merrill draws from Wells Fargo and Mercer acquires a $1B firm.

Preparation is everything: If clients are aware of the transition well in advance, experts say the risk is pretty low they'll leave the firm.

One of the most consequential M&A deals in years leads this roundup of the many ways big independent firms grew in 2025 and how they plan to continue growing in 2026.

Also, Raymond James lands a $420M father-son team from Edward Jones, Cetera recruits a $350M LPL duo, and Cambridge acquires a $1B AUM dual registrant.

Savant Wealth Management, Moneta Group Investment Advisors and EP Wealth Advisors lead a group of fee-only firms with headcounts well above their peers.

Experts say RIA owners often resist making themselves replaceable. But they'll have to choose between an internal or external deal someday.

Wells Fargo recruits a $543M JPMorgan team, Raymond James adds a $360M family practice and Beacon Pointe acquires a women-led RIA.

This year the top three firms in FP's exclusive study of RIAs that do not do any commission business manage nearly $120 billion combined.

At a time when private equity ownership is causing clashes between independent broker-dealers and some of their largest advisory teams, Private Advisor Group found another option.

The printable PDF includes rankings based on the firms' AUM as well as statistics on each firm's employees, client accounts and financial advisors.

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