Regional BDs

The regional BD also recruited a complex manager from J.P. Morgan.

"We are not going to have a separate robo adviser that would disintermediate our existing advisers," says CEO Paul Reilly.

Headcount at the fast-growing firm was up 327 year-over-year.

Advisers join the regional broker-dealer from Wells Fargo and Charles Schwab.

The largest recruits managed more than $17 billion in client assets.

The regional firm also says it recruited a junior Merrill adviser overseeing $39 million in client assets.

The firm bought the unit, which has over 600 advisers, as part of a $150 million acquisition deal to boost its overall broker ranks.

Some call it 'relentless,' but scouting for the best candidates has resulted in a better array of services from the industry's top firms, says leading recruiter Mark Elzweig.

Three industry veterans – one with more than four decades of experience – oversaw more than $205 million in client assets, according to Raymond James.

The Gryphon Group generated $1.3 million in production before leaving the wirehouse.

William Heinzerling, who has led Stifel’s fixed-income business since 2009, is leaving the firm, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The adviser, who has more than 30 years of industry experience, left to join Noyes.

Why advisers should step up their game as the industry goes robo.

Wealth management leaders are weathering current markets while aiming to jumpstart AUM growth with expanded client services and new tech tools.

Yet that wasn't Merrill's only recruiting success, as the wirehouse also picked up a team overseeing more than $500 million in client assets.

The recruits moved to the firm from Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, Stifel and Voya.

The recruit generated $1.7 million in annual production before making the move.

Commission staffers are probing how broker-dealers are handling ETFs and the extent to which investors understand the risks of the funds.

The recruits generated $1.8 million in annual production before making the move.

Recent market and economic headwinds have dampened growth at all three firms, which have been striving to grow through recruiting and acquisition deals.