LPL Shifts The Fight To Fees
For years, recruiting top advisors has been defined mainly by transition offers. Firms have gone to war with record-breaking deals, sometimes paying 300% to 400% of trailing twelve-month revenue to land top talent. But even the richest offers have their limits. LPL Financial’s latest announcement signals a shift in the recruiting battlefield. Instead of raising […]
What Advisors Can Learn From LPL’s Acquisition of Commonwealth: By the Numbers Edition
In a recent article, LPL Financial announced that it had signed commitments from Commonwealth advisors representing nearly 80% of assets under management, the industry took notice. That’s a big number, but what’s more interesting is what it reveals about advisor transitions overall. What LPL pulled off with Commonwealth isn’t just a corporate success story. It’s […]
Your Annual Reminder That Choice Is A Superpower
It’s happened again. Another broker-dealer has decided to exit a channel, leaving advisors to ponder their next move. Stifel Financial recently announced that it will sell its independent brokerage unit, Stifel Independent Advisors, to Equitable Advisors, effectively ending its run in the independent space. That means roughly 120 advisors, many of whom built their businesses […]
Top Edward Jones Teams Are Moving Out, Here’s Why…
Why top advisors are crossing the fence and how recent moves reinforce the trend If you’re the kind of advisor who tracks moves, it should come as no surprise that AdvisorHub is reporting this week another move out of Edward Jones, this time a team managing more than $300 million in assets joining Ameriprise Financial […]
What Baseball’s Wildest Double Play Ever Can Teach Financial Advisors
The Play Everyone’s Still Talking About In Game 1 of the 2025 National League Championship Series, the Dodgers looked ready to break the game open. Bases loaded, one out, Max Muncy at the plate. Then came a 404-foot blast to center [video clip]. Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick leapt at the wall, the ball hit his […]
Under 90 Days to 2026: Are You Positioned for Your Next Move?
There’s an old saying: the best time to start something was two weeks ago. The second best time is right now. If you’ve been thinking about switching firms in 2026, that advice couldn’t be more relevant. The difference between a smooth, profitable transition and a stressful one often comes down to timing and preparation. A […]
When Politics Enters the Room: A Guide for Financial Advisors
Politics and money often intersect in ways that make clients anxious. Policy debates, regulatory shifts, and broader social issues can all spark strong reactions. During times of uncertainty, those emotions often surface in advisor meetings. As a financial professional, you are not just managing investments, you are also managing relationships and emotions. The question is […]
Merrill’s New Comp Plan: Another Push Away from Smaller Accounts
Merrill Lynch has unveiled details of its 2026 compensation plan, and one change stands out above the rest: the definition of a “small household” is doubling from $250,000 to $500,000 in assets. On the surface, it may look like just a recalibration for inflation and market growth. But in practice, it means that more client […]
What Ed Jones Advisors See When They Peer Over The Fence
On paper, Edward Jones has bonafides that seem enviable: a stable brand, a proven operating model, and a supportive culture. Yet the firm has also been dogged for years by the perception that it is a “junior level” platform, a place where new advisors cut their teeth but not necessarily where elite producers build their […]