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The recruiting season in 2019 did not go out with a bang. It did, though, see some movement tied to the big news of late October, that Advisor Group is scooping up Ladenburg Thalmann.
What's ahead for 2020? Industry recruiters offer mixed views.
Recruiting seemed "a bit dead" after "a very unusually busy summer — then things froze up a bit," said recruiter Jon Henschen of Henschen & Associates, based in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota. "There were [just] pockets of activity."
Heading into 2020, "BDs are seeing a status quo in recruiting or are increasing recruiting," said the recruiter, who focuses on the independent advisor channel.
Some indie firms, though, are bringing on additional recruiters for 2020, according to Henschen. Plus, the amounts of money promised to advisors switching firms has moved around a bit lately at the larger firms, he adds, and could continue to do so next year.
"There's recently been a mix, with some firm pulling back a little or just keeping things flat," he said. Firms that are paying high amounts, like Wells Fargo and Ameriprise are … probably going to stay the same in 2020."
A handful of other firms, though, could lower their levels of transition assistance for departing registered representatives, Henschen adds.
Other Trends
After strong markets over the past 10 years, there's concern about a market correction in 2020. "A big correction means advisors become like a deer in the headlights," said Henschen.
"That's what happened in '08-'09 as the markets started their big descent," he said. "Recruiting lost out."
But recruiter Mark Elzweig doesn't see storm clouds ahead. "I believe 2020 will be a strong year for advisor recruiting — no matter what happens in the markets," he said.
According to Elzweig, there are plenty of advisors who realize "that good markets don't last forever and that it's advantageous to move with big trailing 12 [revenue or production] numbers and happy clients."
The post-crash advisor recruiting deals of a decade ago have now expired, he points out, which makes these advisors free agents.
"Payout reductions and adverse cultural changes at some firms will drive, also, advisor movement," the New York-based recruiter added.
