Wirehouses

The firm also said it has benefited from low attrition and its training program.

The advisers previously worked at RBC Wealth Management, with one of them making the firm’s Chairman’s Council.

The two advisers bolted in a quarter that saw their ex-firm lose 130 advisers.

This is the second time Jefferies has poached Miami-based adviser talent from the wirehouse.

Despite hiring pullbacks at the larger firms, there's been no shortage of multibillion dollar moves.

The firm's headcount has steadily declined since the bogus account scandal came to light last year.

"With 15,000 financial advisors, it's hard to change financial planning software. It's hard to change the day-to-day stuff," adviser Jim Denholm III says.

Naureen Hassan says tools in development will make advisers "faster and smarter" in serving clients.

The deciding factor might be ruthlessness.

The four advisers had spent their entire careers at Merrill before making the switch.