RIAs

A succession merger deal that was nearly 10 years in the making at Nebraska-based Prairie Wealth Advisors offers a lens into the many factors involved with the wealth management industry's looming financial advisor retirements.

Altruist has earned legions of fans among financial advisors for sleek technology and low, clear fees. But its critics question whether that is enough to catch up to the giants that have dominated the business for decades.

Berger Financial Group plans to more than double its footprint and staff, and Investcorp is looking at more opportunities beyond supporting Berger in the "untapped" wealth space.

Although many advisors choose to leave Wall Street mainstays in favor of firms offering greater independence, some find they're still most at home at another wirehouse. Just ask Todd Hatfield.

RIA owners may feel a "moral dilemma" when considering selling their firms to private equity-backed acquirers. But that didn't prevent PE involvement from reaching a record high in M&A deals in the second quarter.

SEC data compiled by Paithos Research suggests that the massive growth of RIAs looks much different when compared to their small net new clients.

Research from Cerulli Associates indicates that marketing and referrals are the best ways to bring in new clients. Yet few firms devote much time or money to either.

SEI may not be the first firm that comes to mind when thinking about the industry's custodians, but the firm has built a substantial client base of financial advisors over more than 30 years.

Schwab directly or indirectly manages only 2% of the $37 trillion in U.S. wealth that could be in the hands of advisors, according to CEO Rick Wurster. The size of the opportunity means there is no need to compete with the firm's RIA clients.

In its annual survey of industry consolidators, DeVoe and Co. detects signs that the upward march of RIA deal valuations may soon come to a halt.

The well above-average advisor graduation numbers, paired with Merrill's recruiting efforts, suggest the wirehouse is serious about adding lots of talent.

As large wealth managers struggle to retain advisors seeking greater independence, Wells Fargo has taken a distinct approach with its FiNet channel. But is the loss of profit margin worth the retention gains?

The Ensemble Practice's annual growth and profitability report reveals a "scissors shape" between the two, based on a survey of more than 170 firms.

Retaining Bartholomew & Company comes as a big victory in LPL's bid to hold on to AUM and advisors from its acquisition last year of Commonwealth Financial Network.

Even though RIAs reached a record size in four important metrics, experts say equity values are masking weaknesses in their organic growth.

Many clients avoid consolidating their assets at a single firm because they don't want the hassle. Advisors say it's important when to know not only when they're most likely to want to move assets, but also what to say.

The big moves hit the Swiss firm as it continues to lose advisors on a net basis — though now it's reportedly sweetening its recruiting offers.

In a recent industry snapshot, the Investment Adviser Association found the average number of data points advisors have to report in annual regulatory filings has nearly doubled to more than 1,000 since 2011.

Median total compensation for certified financial planners climbed to $195,000 last year. But pay varied widely, depending on factors like experience and type of firm worked at.

Valuation experts say RIA purchasers are most attuned to organic sources of growth — assets from new and existing clients. But market gains also play a role.