Recruiting

Schwab, Fidelity and Pershing are facing growing competition, as the industry strives to do business with financial advisors in as many ways as possible.

Financial advisors often place their own health behind that of others, but the firms who help them address it can get an edge in the fight for talent, experts say.

As Raymond James, Wells Fargo and RBC reported big recruiting deals this week, FINRA said it was going to pay back to its members a large chunk of the fees they paid last year.

The momentum is clearly accelerating behind registered investment advisory firms, but every individual team's choice requires careful consideration.

A FINRA arbitration panel's decision marked a rare rebuke for a large wealth manager seeking to reclaim money it provided an advisor recruited from a rival.

Osaic and UBS have both been on the losing end of some recruiting deals in recent months, while this week Cambridge, Rockefeller and RBC were on the winning end.

As an aging cohort of financial advisors prepares for retirement, firms are scrambling for next-gen talent. Yet a new study found that few have developed a comprehensive succession plan.

Also this week, Raymond James pulls from Ameriprise, UBS from Morgan Stanley and LPL from RBC.

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.

Now at Wells Fargo, Matthew McCrea is accused of violating a nonsolicitation agreement he signed at JPMorgan. The suit echoes allegations JPMorgan made days earlier against a broker now at Morgan Stanley.

RBC Wealth goes to UBS again to pull over advisors with large AUM tallies; Carson Group buys a firm in Colorado, and Goldman Sachs alumni set up an RIA through Dynasty Financial.

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.

Laura Sullivan stands accused of accessing confidential customer data and violating a nonsolicitation agreement by bringing along at least 15 client households.

LPL Financial also pulls an advisory team from RBC, and Cetera hires a chief fiduciary officer for its trust subsidiary.

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.

Brian Mora, senior vice president of experienced advisor recruiting, thinks Ameriprise has the antidote to the high dropout rates seen in most industry training programs.

UBS continues to lose larger advisory teams after making changes to compensation policies last year. Meanwhile, Ashton Thomas and LPL both score advisory teams.

The flow of financial advisors to the independent channels is certainly accelerating. But the traditional brokerage giants still offer advantages for some teams.

The annual SmartAsset study reveals how the industry extends far beyond Wall Street's geography.

Also this week, LPL picks up teams from Cetera and Ameriprise and Stifel draws from Merrill