Cetera successfully rolls up its advisor businesses

With a leaner organization, the broker-dealer is funneling cost savings from its streamlining effort into more support for advisors.

Cetera is all set to enter its next chapter of growth with a leaner organizational profile. Cetera Financial Group has announced the successful completion of its advisory business consolidation, merging Cetera Advisors with its sibling registered investment adviser, Cetera Investment Advisers.

Aimed at streamlining operations and reducing costs, the savings from the effort – which was completed on schedule and under budget – are to be reinvested in advisor support and growth initiatives.

The integration is poised to enhance operational efficiency without adversely affecting affiliated advisors, with the continuing entity Cetera Investment Advisers serving as the primary RIA for legacy Cetera communities.

“This consolidation is a win for Cetera and our advisors, and we are pleased to have completed such a large-scale project so efficiently,” Tom Taylor, chief sales and growth officer at Cetera, said in a statement.

Taylor noted the opportunity unlocked by the consolidation to “[reinvest] in tools and resources that will help our advisors grow their businesses and benefit their clients.”

He also lauded the project team behind the reorganization for “their commitment to our financial professionals.”

The consolidation follows a notable move in February, when Cetera launched its “Growth Guarantee” program.

That initiative assures newly affiliated financial advisors and institutions participating in the GrowthLine program a minimum 38 percent increase in their assets under administration or offers a refund of their affiliation fees up to $2,400.

The wealth giant’s ongoing charm offensive aimed at advisors is part of a larger master plan to raise its appeal on Wall Street and among bankers in the run-up to a potential IPO and stock listing within the next five years.