Photo Gallery: Five Top Independent Broker/Dealer Leaders on the Industry's Biggest ChallengesPhoto Gallery: Five Top Independent Broker/Dealer Leaders on the Industry's Biggest Challenges

What's the state of the independent broker/dealer industry? Challenging, according to these top execs.

Low interest rates and rising costs, a lack of qualified candidates for open positions, and increasingly burdensome regulations are some of the challenges they face. Yet these leaders show that a passion for client service and some innovative business strategies can still lead to success in the channel.

Read the Q&As with these executives, and view the Top 35 Independent Broker/Dealers as ranked by number of advisors.