At the expense of slower growth, the year-over-year change in deal volume appears to be stabilizing. Still, the compound annual growth rate of deal volume from 2009 through 2018 was 15.9 percent.

Total assets under management shuffling around as a result of deals has also climbed in recent years.

Most deals are taking place in only a handful of states, partly because some firms are accounting for multiple deals each year.

Expiring forgivable loans are still contributing to a flow of brokers leaving the wirehouses.

Investment in fintech, which includes wealth and investment management technology companies, soared in 2018.

There were 27 wealthtech deals in 2018 and interest is likely to remain strong, according to the bank.