Recruiting

For many firms, looming advisor retirements and the need to retain client households through the next generations will create difficult problems.

In an earnings call, LPL's CEO said his efforts to woo Commonwealth advisors have extended to a "rain-soaked" bike ride and wine-tasting tour.

CEO Tony Miller thinks the financial backing Janney draws from the private equity firm KKR allows it to provide a full gamut of advisor support without losing its intimate feel.

Also this week, Focus Financial ups the responsibilities for some top executives and Advisor Asset Management appoints a new CEO.

Edward Jones meanwhile reshuffles its leadership ranks amid its push to become a full-service financial planning firm, and Rockefeller picks up big teams from Merrill.

Jim Cracchiolo told analysts that the firm's retention "is quite good," even though his company, like many of its rivals, stopped providing statistics to verify such claims.

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.

Record revenue wasn't enough to offset costly legal charges that the firm racked up in the first quarter.

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.

In a big week for industry recruiting, Stifel lands practices managing $2.9 billion at Merrill, Merrill recruits a $1.9 billion team from Raymond James and Rockefeller pulls part of a $2.3 billion team from UBS.