Third party marketers

Bank Investment Consultant is compiling its ranking of the best program managers in the bank channel. Be sure to get your nominations in.

Advisors' attitudes improve for the second month in a row.

“We’re not maniacally focused on how many advisors we have affiliated with the firm,” says Scott Curtis, president of Raymond James Financial Services.

Advisors in the field, or those who cover multiple bank branches, will be able to electronically transport clients’ documents in an easier format.

The U.S. is in the midst of an economic revolution akin to the Industrial Revolution of the late 1700s and early 1800s, says Raymond James strategist.

Cetera will provide the Chambersburg, Pa.-based community bank with investment, insurance and fee-based advisory services and support.

The Tupelo, Miss.-based financial holding company selected Infinex Financial Group to manage its investment services program.

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The Midwestern community bank has plans to increase its program to seven or eight advisors over the next couple of years.

Since the start of the year, Regions has hired 102 financial consultants and is aiming for 125 by year-end. It is looking to build an advisor force of 160 to 170 by the end of 2014.

According to the new arrangement, Raymond James will send one advisor to join the bank to represent the program to clients and prospects at several locations.

Private banking, trust and brokerage units have each enjoyed periods when they were the big guys on campus. But now no one group is more important than the other.

Banks could boost the profitability of their wealth management programs if they integrated their private banking, trust and brokerage businesses.

The Milford, Mass.-based bank was drawn to Infinex’s technology and lead generation process.

Cetera will provide the Wells, Minn.-based bank with wealth management services and support, including the investing tools clients need.

The Bakersfield, Calif.-based financial institution was drawn to LPL’s retirement planning capabilities, technology platform and in-house insurance services.

The 12 largest bank broker dealers boosted their revenue by 8% to more than $1.5 billion in 2012, marking the fourth consecutive annual increase.

With the multitude of challenges confronting investors today, consumers need financial advice more than ever before. But advisors must first capture their attention and engage them. Steve Dowden says advisors need to build a platform to shout their message from.

The broker-dealers that make up the backbone of the bank channel, inexplicably dubbed third-party marketers, expect sunny skies and room to grow. The one common challenge that most will fess up to: They can't find enough good advisors.

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