Advisors who are exploring their options will be the first to tell you: The world of recruiting has changed quite a bit in recent years.
Just two years ago, the buzz was all about Morgan Stanley and UBS pulling out of the Protocol, which firms would be next and how it would change an advisor’s ability to move. Ultimately, advisors moved anyway.
Then UBS and Merrill Lynch pulled back on recruiting, while Wells Fargo turned up their efforts with really aggressive deals.
As the big brokerage firms tightened their grips, the independent space was gaining solid momentum, attracting both seasoned veterans as well as younger, longer-term focused advisors.