Kelly Milligan vs. Merrill Lynch: A Fight for Rights in Deferred Compensation

Article: News

Milligan, a former broker with over two decades at Merrill Lynch, alleges that the firm illegally withheld $500,000 of his deferred compensation after he left to join an independent broker-dealer. Central to the lawsuit is the argument that Merrill Lynch’s deferred compensation plan should be governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), which includes provisions against such forfeiture. This case highlights a significant tension in the financial sector between employer compensation strategies and the rights of employees under federal law.

Next Generation Planning is Top of Mind for Advisors

Article: News

Life is a constant juggling act for advisors between managing clients, a book of business, and firm needs that there often isn’t time to evaluate next generation (or succession) planning. Today, however, planning ahead is top of mind for advisors for a variety of important reasons with mounting interest in determining if being an employee…

The Gershman Group Partners with LPL’s New PWM Platform

Article: News

LOS ANGELES, March 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Roger Gershman of The Gershman Group who is known to represent the who’s-who of elite advisors for both banks and independents believes LPL’s launch of its PWM platform will change the competitive playing field for the next generation of top advisors. We embrace this launch and we expect many advisors we represent will feel the…

The 2024 Outlook – The Mass Exodus to Independence

Article: News

The new year brings reflections on what transpired in 2023 and thoughts for the year ahead. 2023 was undoubtedly a record year for financial advisors transitioning from traditional banks/brokerages to more friendly advisor centric private wealth platforms, including the various choices of independent platforms. Even gestures by some large banks like Merill to modify their…