Recruiting

Despite only a slight increase in its headcount of financial advisors amid tough recruiting fights, the firm reeled in record productivity, assets and advisory flows.

Stifel chief executive Ron Kruszewski said surging markets have forced firms to be particularly choosy about which advisors they try to poach from rivals. That may change this year.

The wealth management business of the world's largest credit union and its 14 million members opted to choose its own destination after a giant M&A deal.

The team of three advisors have started a firm called T6 Wealth Management, which will operate out of Morgan Stanley's new offices in Midtown Manhattan.

With 37% of financial advisors expecting to retire within the next decade, rookies are still failing at a 70% clip within their first five years, according to a new Cerulli study.

Citizens meanwhile extends its presence in Florida with a $750 million team from RBC and Envestnet hires a new CEO.

Raymond James also recruited from Charles Schwab, and LPL from Raymond James and Merrill

Citi wealth head Andy Sieg told employees that net new investment assets — which surged last year — are the division's "North Star."

The BNY company unveiled an expanded custodial agreement with a large wealth management client in the fourth quarter, as asset values boosted its results.

LPL also drew from Osaic again, RIA aggregators made some big M&A deals and Merrill rehired an executive who left to go to Citi more than six years ago.