The LPL–Commonwealth deal has set off a full-blown feeding frenzy across the industry.

Commonwealth’s nearly 2,900 advisors — long known for high client satisfaction and strong independence — are suddenly the most in-demand professionals in wealth management. And everyone is calling.

LPL is offering retention bonuses reportedly around 50 basis points of assets in hopes of keeping as many advisors as possible. Meanwhile, broker-dealers like Cetera are going public with their recruitment efforts. And now, Fidelity is quietly encouraging RIAs on its custodial platform to make a play for Commonwealth advisors who may not want to transition to LPL’s proprietary clearing system.

If you’re a Commonwealth advisor, your phone is probably lighting up with texts, calls, and emails — each one pitching you on why you should make a move, or stay put.

But this is the exact moment to do something different.

Silence the phone. Hit pause. Call a pro.

Before you respond to anyone’s pitch — even LPL’s — consider pressing pause and taking control of the process.

“This could be the most important career decision many of these advisors will ever make,” says Chris Stacey, COO of 3xEquity, a leading transition consulting firm. “There’s a lot of emotion in the air. We encourage advisors to take a beat, get clear on what they really want, and let us do the work of surfacing the best options.”

Transition consultants like 3xEquity act as objective guides. They solicit offers on your behalf — confidentially — and help you weigh each one not just by the numbers, but based on how each firm aligns with your values, goals, and client experience.

And right now, that kind of clarity is more valuable than ever.

Why rushing could cost you more than you think

If you truly wanted to join LPL, many insiders note, you likely would have already made that move — when you had more control over the financial terms, the onboarding timeline, and the overall structure of your transition. Now, with the deal in motion, your leverage has shifted.

Staying on autopilot might seem easiest — especially when a retention offer is on the table — but there’s no guarantee it’s the best decision for you or your clients long-term.

“There are firms offering more aggressive transition deals right now, and others that may be a better cultural fit,” Stacey adds. “But the only way to know is to compare. Not guess. Not assume.”

The industry is loud — but your decision should be calm

Between LPL’s internal efforts, Cetera’s public push, Fidelity’s RIA nudge, and recruiters flooding inboxes, there’s no shortage of momentum. But momentum isn’t a strategy.

This is your practice. Your reputation. Your future.

Now is the time to quiet the noise, seek clarity, and make a decision that reflects your long-term vision — not someone else’s urgency.

A skilled transition consultant can remove the emotion, remove the hassle, and bring back the focus: what’s truly best for your career, your clients, and your life.

Because in the end, it’s not about who wants you. It’s about where you want to be.

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