"These are absolutely recruiting tools" to attract more people to theindependent model, and ultimately to Fidelity, said Michael Durbin president ofFidelity Institutional Wealth Services. "We are trying to debunk theeconomics of moving to the independent model versus another wirehouse."
Nearly 170 brokers affiliated with Fidelity in the first three quarters thisyear.
TD Ameritrade said it has seen nearly three times more brokers move independentwith the company this quarter compared with the same period last year.
Financial advisors feel more confident about leaving their employers and arelooking for transition support as the equity market and business environmentimproves, TD Ameritrade Institutional President Tom Bradley said in a recentstatement, when the company released an new online resource to help brokersmoving to an independent model.
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