Equip planners in your practice with a clearly defined purpose and mastery of their craft for greater success.

Here's what industry insiders and elite members of the Top 40 Under 40 say it takes to make it to the top.

Raymond James' Judson Potter says he learned a lot about perseverance by watching his mother go through medical school.

The past year saw some of the biggest moves in recent memory, which may indicate the further dominance of larger teams in the industry, says recruiter Elizabeth McCourt.

The call for nominations is now open for On Wall Street's 9th annual Branch Manager Awards.

This list will appeal to advisers looking for new ideas, practices and perspectives to consider for the new year.

Advisors must ensure that their firms meet the needs of the younger generation of workers.

Ambition and training helped one veteran advisor learn to adopt financial planning tools, account aggregation software, video conferencing apps and tablets in his effort to create "a new client experience."

The high-ranking recruit will work on the firm's expansion plans and serve as a liaison between branch managers and top brass.

How military experience helped a former commanding officer of the Army’s Presidential Honor Guard transition to wealth management.

Looking for quality planning schools near your practice? Launch your search with our comprehensive list of programs organized by region.

For planners looking to recruit as well as those looking for suitable programs, this comprehensive list of planning programs at five dozen colleges and universities across the country includes costs, enrollment and student-to-faculty ratios.

If you find yourself torn between serving clients and growing your practice, you may need some additional staff.

"If I said I had worked for AT&T for 33 years, anybody would ask me, 'Well, when are you going to retire?' But our industry is unique. It's not like a utility company, where after 30 or 35 years, you're done," says Larry Palmer, an advisor at Morgan Stanley.

Female planners can gain an edge in their practice by creating an environment more inviting to clients.

An advisor who moved to a wirehouse from a boutique offers guidance on finding a firm that will offer greater job satisfaction and also benefit clients.

"We can shuffle women from one firm to the next all day long, but we're still going to be at that 15%," says Michelle Lynch, director of Raymond James' Network for Women Advisors.

There are big payoffs for advisors who plan carefully.

How one firm helps advisors map out a plan 10 years before retirement.

The discussion of what happens to an advisor’s book is parallel to the conversations that advisors should be having with their clients: Prepare for the future and the unexpected, says recruiter Elizabeth McCourt.