RIA Leaders

See which firms in the channel have the most assets under management and meet a six-part criteria eliminating firms that take commissions in any form.

See the ranking of firms like Ballentine Partners, Pathstone, Facet, Savant, EP Wealth and Moneta Group, along with some lesser-known companies.

The former United Capital is losing out on new leads from one of the major sources while folding into a firm known for tapping into the former TD program.

Competitors to the giant custodians say they're developing their own programs even as members of existing networks push back against some of the criticism.

Competitors and critics in an industry fragmented between large and small firms and obsessed with organic growth question the increasing exclusivity and fees.

Using FP's criteria, data partner COMPLY scraped together a listing of the biggest firms that provide financial planning services but don't accept commissions.

Rankings compiled through FP's annual RIA Leaders study show how the largest firms are growing at a record clip in offices across the country.

Names like Wealthspire, EP Wealth, Cresset, Chevy Chase and Moneta ring a bit more familiar compared with other massive firms with less name recognition.

The lack of formal codification and an accurate count of customers leaves the profession struggling with fundamental questions about identifying the true practitioners and their base of clients.

After two years of record M&A, rising asset prices and increasing digitization, independent advisors are poised to take on the brokerages, executives said.