Unlike in pro sports, the wealth management space doesn’t have a trade deadline, but if it did B.Riley and Stifel just made a huge deadline deal, and the optics are…awkward.

According to AdvisorHub, B. Riley Financial Inc. is handing over a portion of its wealth management division to Stifel Financial Corp. for up to $35 million. The deal, part of B. Riley’s bid to stop the financial bleeding, involves 40 to 50 advisors managing between $3.5 billion and $4.5 billion in assets.

But here’s where things get weird: B. Riley has about 400 advisors overseeing a collective $25 billion. So if Stifel cherry-picked this top slice, what message does that send to the advisors left behind? Are they seen as B. Riley’s core team…or just the leftovers?

For those advisors still at B. Riley, it’s hard to ignore the writing on the wall. This cash infusion might help B. Riley shore up operations and stabilize — but does it mean their sell-off is over? For advisors sticking around, one big question looms: Did B. Riley fight to keep you, or did Stifel decide to pass?

We’re hearing that Stifel is offering some tempting transition incentives to the advisors coming on board, with some packages that are hard to resist. And, as always, we recommend that any advisors facing a ”forced” transition take a moment to see what else is out there. Other broker-dealers may offer better compensation, technology, and support. After all, if you’re thinking of making a move, shouldn’t you have some say in where you land?

For those advisors still at B. Riley, what’s your plan? Who do you want to control your career?

Whether you’re mulling over an offer or just curious about your options, it’s time to take control of the conversation. By reaching out to 3xEquity, you can secure multiple offers and explore potential fits — all while remaining 100% anonymous. Ready? Get started now.