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 in search of greater flexibility, independence, and support. For those following industry trends, this isn’t an isolated event. It is part of a steady pattern of high-performing teams leaving Jones for platforms that offer the technology, autonomy, and infrastructure needed to scale.

And though we don’t know the terms of this particular deal, with offers still topping 300 percent, this move likely provided a very nice payday for the team, another reminder of how competitive the recruiting landscape remains for top producers.

We’ve written extensively about what’s behind these departures, from the cracks advisors see when they peer over the fence, to questions of whether the firm can pull off a Range Rover-style transformation, and the signals that tell advisors when it’s time to make a move.

This latest transition fits the pattern: experienced advisors reaching a growth ceiling at Jones and opting for a platform that promises both freedom and support. The trend is not slowing, it is accelerating.

Peers, Platforms, and Perspective: What Advisors See “Over the Fence”

In “What Ed Jones Advisors See When They Peer Over the Fence,” we explored how the firm’s most productive advisors are increasingly restless. While Edward Jones has long been admired for its brand recognition and local presence, many advisors find that as their practices grow, the firm’s internal systems and controls limit their ability to scale.

Advisors who “peer over the fence” often notice three things elsewhere:

• More robust technology and planning tools

   

• Greater autonomy in structuring their business

   

• Ownership or equity models that align better with top-tier production

   

Moves like the one reported by AdvisorHub show that the friction inside Jones isn’t theoretical. Once an advisor’s business reaches a certain scale, the internal constraints begin to outweigh the benefits of staying. The question shifts from “Can I stay here?” to “Can I afford to stay?”

Can Edward Jones Pull Off a Range Rover?

In “Can Edward Jones Pull Off a Range Rover?” we compared the firm’s transformation to a brand trying to reintroduce itself at the high end of the market. Jones is investing heavily in new platforms and services, hoping to position itself as a destination for more affluent clients.

The challenge is that announcing an upgrade and delivering one are very different things. Advisors managing hundreds of millions in assets do not want to wait years for the full suite of tools they need. They want an ecosystem that is already built for scale.

As a result, Jones finds itself in a delicate position:

• If it does not deliver, more large teams will leave

   

• If it changes too quickly, it risks alienating its traditional base

   

• If it keeps promoting “what’s coming,” advisors will look elsewhere for “what’s already here”

   

For firms like Ameriprise, these moments are opportunities. They offer the perception, and often the reality, of a more complete advisor experience.

When Is the Right Time to Leave Edward Jones?

In “When Is the Right Time to Leave Edward Jones?” we outlined the indicators that tell an advisor it might be time to move on. Many of those indicators are clearly visible in recent departures:

• Frustration with product limitations and platform rigidity

   

• Desire for higher payout and equity

   

• Concerns about legacy, ownership, and succession options

   

• The sense that external firms are already courting them

   

Moves like the one highlighted this week check many of those boxes. The pattern is consistent. High-performing teams recognize that waiting for structural change at Jones often means missing opportunities elsewhere.

Another Month, Another Move

Individually, any departure can be dismissed as circumstantial. But when the headlines appear monthly or even weekly, they form a pattern. Jones continues to lose experienced, high-AUM advisors to firms offering flexibility, ownership, and a more modern platform.

In our reporting, we’ve seen this happen repeatedly: multi-million-dollar producers moving to independent or hybrid models that better match their growth ambitions. For Edward Jones, each move has the potential to erode confidence among top producers and fuel more conversations about what life could look like elsewhere.

These are not random exits. They reflect a firm navigating stigma, growing pains, and a clear desire among advisors to elevate their offerings. Many see an opportunity to modernize their practices, strengthen their value proposition, and generate a cash event while the getting is still good.

What It Means for Advisors

For advisors, these moves are a reminder that it is worth exploring what is possible. The industry has evolved, and firms competing for top talent are still putting triple-digit offers on the table. Advisors who once thought they would never leave are now running the math and realizing that the economics, flexibility, and client experience can all improve with the right move.

For Edward Jones, each departure is a test of how effectively it can deliver on its promise to evolve. Stability has always been its strength, but in today’s environment, agility may matter more.

The Bottom Line

The latest move reported by AdvisorHub is another data point in a growing trend: large, sophisticated teams continue to seek platforms that align with their ambition. Whether it is Ameriprise, LPL, or another destination, the message is clear. Advisors want control, technology, and competitive economics.

For those still at Jones, it is worth taking a moment to look over the fence and ask the question we’ve been asking all along: is this still the best place for you to grow?

Get started now  at 3xEquity.com