Team Breakups Surge Among Financial Advisors Despite Firm Incentives

Posted on October 17th, 2024 at 1:28 PM
Team Breakups Surge Among Financial Advisors Despite Firm Incentives

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

In recent months, several high-profile departures have highlighted a growing trend: financial advisors are splitting from longtime teams and even family members to pursue opportunities with other firms. AdvisorHub reports that this movement underscores the limitations of economic incentives designed by wirehouses to encourage teaming.

For example, an 11-year Merrill Lynch advisor in New Jersey left his team, which included his father and brother, to establish his own advisory firm. Similarly, a Merrill advisor in Connecticut separated from his brother to join UBS, and a duo from UBS in Austin, Texas left a third senior advisor to move to Morgan Stanley.

According to AdvisorHub, those instances are part of a broader pattern where nearly 20 teams have split this year, driven by lucrative recruiting offers, personality conflicts, and the search for better prospects.

Nevertheless, many advisors still work in teams. According to Asher Cheses of Cerulli Associates, 46 percent of advisors are part of a team, rising to over 94 percent among those managing at least $500 million. AdvisorHub reports that firms like Merrill, Morgan Stanley, and UBS have higher rates, with Merrill aiming for all its 11,000 advisors to be on teams by 2030.

But the temptation is real. Recruiting bonuses have skyrocketed, reaching over 400 percent of trailing-12 production for top producers. The average age of advisors also impacts decisions, with senior advisors more inclined to stay for retirement deals while junior partners look to move.

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

Jim, Stephany and the whole team were a God send.  We felt like we were put into a situation where we had no advocate. Jim’s team came in with a strong, well laid out strategy on how to get our story heard. Where our outside compliance company had no ability to help, our Broker Dealer was impenitent, and the regulators were aggressive pursuing vague rules, Jim came like a barricade against an assault we did not understand. Though you pay member dues to be affiliated with FINRA and a B/D, you have no voice. The only thing that is truly heard in this un-level playing field is a bulldog’s bark like Jim’s. I would encourage anyone to call Jim and his team to find a real ally in the tough and complicated world of securities regulation. They are truly the best.

Greg P.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

December 19, 2024
GPB Capital Investors See Progress as Court Confirms Receivership

In a significant development for investors in GPB Capital Holdings, the private equity firm will move into receivership following a prolonged legal battle.

December 18, 2024
SEC Fines Cantor Fitzgerald $6.75 Million for Misleading SPAC Investors

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. with causing two special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) under its control to make misleading statements to investors before their initial public offerings (IPOs). 

December 17, 2024
Former Western Asset Management Co-CIO Charged with Fraud for Cherry-picking Trades

The SEC recently charged Ken Leech, former Co-CIO of Western Asset Management, with fraud.