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.

The choice of brokerage or RIA firm involves any number of factors and a range of timelines. Here's what the numbers and experts suggest are the main drivers.

The structure has been delivering tax savings to advisory practices and other professional services firms for decades. But experts say sometimes it's not the best fit.

The LPL CEO says Commonwealth advisors have almost nothing to lose and much to gain by joining a firm whose headcount is fast approaching 29,000. (Plus, experts say he'll be writing big checks.)

Industry experts think LPL will have to work hard to retain Commonwealth advisors who were sold on the idea that they'd be working for a "boutique" firm.

The acquisition will bring LPL as much as $285 billion in AUM and 2,900 advisors when it closes in the second half of the year.