by Patrick M. Kelly | Sep 28, 2012 | Financial Services Industry, Wall Street
Acquiring Morgan Keegan last April, along with the ability to retain a large percentage of their financial advisors, appears to have paid off for Raymond James, who announced an 8% increase in fees and commissions to $250 million during August, 2012. This is up 8%...
by Patrick M. Kelly | Sep 26, 2012 | Financial Services Industry, Wall Street
The end of an era and a bit of history… In 1938, with the merger of two brokerage firms founded by Philadelphians, Charles D. Barney and Edward B. Smith, the modern day Smith Barney was born. Thus began their long history of acquisitions. Smith Barney snatched...
by Patrick M. Kelly | Sep 21, 2012 | Financial Services Industry, Technology
Technology has taken leaps and bounds to augment and enhance what financial planners do, and since 2009, a new breed of technology firms threatens to challenge advisors as well. The rise of the so called “robo advisor”—online startup firms that aim to replace...
by Patrick M. Kelly | Sep 19, 2012 | Job Market
In an effort to attract more independent financial advisors, HighTower has introduced two new options, the HighTower Network and the HighTower Alliance. The Chicago-based, advisor-owned financial services company has grown quickly by attracting heavy-hitting advisor...
by Patrick M. Kelly | Sep 14, 2012 | Financial Recruiting Industry
Bill Willis, President and CEO of Willis-Consulting, Inc. offers insight and analysis of the recruiting “merry-go-round” so prevalent within the financial industry. Will it continue? Read his report “Firms Recruit Top Advisors Instead of Developing Their Own” as...