Due to large numbers of financial advisors switching employers during these topsy-turvy times, $800 billion in client assets will likely change firms this year, according to Cerulli Associates.

In a recent research report entitled Advisor Migration: The Changing Landscape of Retail Distribution, the Boston-based consulting firm projects that wirehouse firms will lose the most assets and that registered investment advisors and hybrid advisors will gain the most. The report looks at asset flows across seven different channels.

Cerulli estimates that the wirehouses will lose $188 billion to other channels. It also estimates outflows of $13 billion and $6 billion for insurance and regional channels, respectively.

On the other hand, dually-registered advisors and RIAs are expected to see inflows of $62 billion and $50 billion, respectively.