Is The Hybrid Model The “Best Of Both Worlds” for Independent Financial Advisors?

After looking at their options, more and more independent financial advisors are opting into the “hybrid” business model whereby they can conduct both commission-based brokerage business and fee-based advisory business. “Net head count at RIA firms with dually registered hybrid advisors grew by 14.7% annually from 2004 through 2009,” according to Cerulli Associates in a [...]

TD Ameritrade Focuses on Expanding Sales Force…Not Offices

The Schwab Franchise issue popped up at TD Ameritrade’s 2011 Elite Advisor Summit’s opening session Q&A portion two weeks ago in Miami Beach. It seems that an advisor asked Tom Bradley (president of TD Ameritrade) and Fred Tomczyk (CEO) about Schwab’s plans to open franchises with independent contractors. Though they conceded they would be “watching [...]