MetLife B-D chief leaves company

MetLife B-D chief leaves company
Broker-dealer group considered non-essential, analyst says.
NOV 20, 2012
The head of the large but quiet network of independent broker-dealers at Metlfe Inc., John Brett, has left the giant insurer carrier and been replaced — for the time being at least — with another company executive. MetLife spokeswoman Meghan Lantier would not comment about the reasons for the departure of Mr. Brett, who was senior vice president of the MetLife Broker-Dealer Group. He left in mid-November. She said that the new interim head of MetLife's Broker-Dealer Group is Bob Begun, also a vice president. He was formerly vice president and chief operations officer for the network, which has four independent contractor firms: MetLife Securities Inc.; New England Securities Inc.; Tower Square Securities and Walnut Street Securities Inc. The broker-dealer group has 8,460 producing registered reps, with the lion's share at MetLife Securities, according to the most recent survey of independent broker-dealers by InvestmentNews. It is, however, a non-essential part of MetLife's business, one analyst noted. “The broker-dealers haven't come up on a conference call in a decade,” said Steven Schwartz, an analyst with Raymond James & Associates Inc. At the end of 2011, MetLife chief executive Steven Kandarian said that “everything was on the table” as the firm went through a strategic business review. Ms. Lantier said that no one at the company would be available last Thursday or Friday to discuss its strategy for the broker-dealers.

Latest News

Federal judge dismisses Eltek manipulation lawsuit against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Federal judge dismisses Eltek manipulation lawsuit against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney

Nine-month electronic trading freeze and share lending program at the center of dismissed claim.

RIA wrap: Dynamic strikes South Carolina deal to reach $7B AUM milestone
RIA wrap: Dynamic strikes South Carolina deal to reach $7B AUM milestone

Meanwhile, Rossby Financial's leadership buildout rolls on with a new COO appointment as Balefire Wealth welcomes a distinguished retirement specialist to its national network.

Rethinking diversification amid a concentrated S&P 500
Rethinking diversification amid a concentrated S&P 500

With a smaller group of companies driving stock market performance, advisors must work more intentionally to manage concentration risks within client portfolios.

Merrill pays second settlement to former Miami Dolphins player, client of ex-broker
Merrill pays second settlement to former Miami Dolphins player, client of ex-broker

Professional athletes are often targets of scam artists and are particularly vulnerable to fraud.

Schwab touts AI as its biggest growth lever at investor day
Schwab touts AI as its biggest growth lever at investor day

The brokerage giant tells Wall Street it will use artificial intelligence to reach clients it has never been able to serve — and turn the technology's perceived threat into a competitive edge.

SPONSORED Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human

As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management

SPONSORED Durability over scale: What actually defines a great advisory firm

Growth may get the headlines, but in my experience, longevity is earned through structure, culture, and discipline