In this section we present key findings and insights from our survey questions on practice management and operations, including services offered, the most time-consuming activities, professional designations, custody relationships and documentation trends.
Shortly, Treasury Secretary Paulson and President Bush will announce their plan to freeze sub-prime loan rate “resets.” Is it any wonder why we like to call Democrats and Republicans, “Remocrats” and “Depub
John Thain wasted no time calling on his friends during his first week on the job as the head of Merrill Lynch. The former NYSE Euronext CEO, Thain was appointed CEO
Edward Jones at a Glance Total client assets: $539 billion Number of advisors: 10,136 Average annualized revenue per advisor: $291,229 Pretax profit margin: 11.39% Motto: Making Sense of Investing Best Management move: (Finally) Developing a fee...
Merrill Lynch at a Glance: Total client assets: $1.8 trillion Number of advisors: 16,610 Average annualized revenue per advisor $794,702 Pretax profit margin: 26.0% Mascot: Bull Best management move: Acquiring First Republic Bank Worst management...
The third quarter was tough on all of the major brokerage firms as bets on mortgage derivatives came home to roost. According to an October 26 story in The New York Times, it got so hot at Merrill before the third-quarter earnings announcement...
It was a less than ideal situation. When Jeffrey Keefe left his job as a financial advisor with Ameriprise to start his own Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based firm two years ago, he decided he'd just stay put in the office he shared with several...
Business is looking good for reps: Over the last couple of years, they have become increasingly satisfied with their firms, on average. At least, that's what our Broker Report Card surveys indicate. The cumulative average for all firms we survey...
So far in this young century, the brokerage industry seems to have successfully endured its run down the gauntlet. Let's see, there was that embarrassing tech collapse, in which securities firms and asset managers sure did look, well, greedy and...
Registered Rep.: What was the scariest moment in your career? Geri Pell: Jumping off a 130-foot cliff on a zip-line at a leadership/change retreat. RR: The most triumphant? GP: Qualifying for the Chairman's Advisory Council at Ameriprise. RR: A...
Registered Rep. spoke with Greg Hopper about how the liquidity crisis has affected high-yield issues. RR: There has been a flight to safety, and the spreads between risky corporate debt and Treasury yields have widened. Do you expect this to...
