February 2, 2012

RJ dangles indie lure for Morgan Keegan reps

By Darla Mercado

Offer 'clearly compelling,' says headhunter; CEO Reilly expects to retain 90% of MK's advisers

• Raymond James & Associates Inc.

January 31, 2012

Now, Dems iffy about universal fiduciary duty

By Mark Schoeff Jr.

Influential senator tells NAIFA a single standard should not hinder investors' ability to get advice

January 29, 2012

Broker-dealer's parent gets its stock out of hock from a pawn shop

By Bruce Kelly

With financing as tight as ever for independent broker-dealers these days, one holding company, which owns an independent firm, took the unusual step of turning to a network of pawn shops to clean up its balance sheet. Capital Financial Holdings Inc. last fall signed a stock...

• independent broker-dealers

January 29, 2012

The comeback: Can brokers repeat original success?

By Bruce Kelly

A S F. SCOTT FITZGERALD once wrote, there are no second acts in American lives. Well, Mr. Fitzgerald didn't have the securities industry in mind. In fact, brokerage firms are filled with stories of second and third, and even fourth, attempts of brokers and executives striving to...

• independent broker-dealers

January 29, 2012

Keegan producers may find retention deals disappointing

By Andrew Osterland

Raymond James Financial Inc. won't offer Morgan Keegan & Co. Inc. financial advisers who produce less than $300,000 annually any retention packages to stay on, and the offers for the biggest-producing advisers may be substantially less than they could get from competitors, according to one ...

• independent broker-dealers,
• Raymond James & Associates Inc.

January 29, 2012

Business model cracked but not broken

By Bruce Kelly

For many, 2011 will be remembered as the year the broker-dealer model cracked. Scores of independent firms shut down, unable to keep up with rising legal and compliance expenses.

• independent broker-dealers,
• LPL Financial

January 29, 2012

Insurance companies take a step back

By Bruce Kelly

IN THE 1990s, global insurance companies snatched up independent broker-dealers in a buying spree that reshaped the industry. American International Group Inc., ING Groep NV and American Express Financial Advisors (now Ameriprise Financial Inc.) were all big buyers, acquiring...

• independent broker-dealers

January 27, 2012

Reunion continues as UBS snags Merrill advisers with $2.5B in AUM

By Andrew Osterland

Teams rejoin former colleagues McCann, Mulholland; UBS bosses 'seen as regular guys'

• Merrill Lynch,
• UBS Wealth Management

January 25, 2012

Morgan Keegan producers heading to St. Pete to talk retention

By Andrew Osterland

Deals for top producers could fall short of expectations: Recruiter

January 25, 2012

N.Y. B-D down: Ticonderoga expected to halt operations by end of week

Ticonderoga Securities LLC, the New York brokerage with about 75 employees, will halt operations after an attempt to boost capital fell through, according to people with direct knowledge of the decision.

• brokerage