2013 Independent Brokerage Report Card

1.	Which most accurately describes your primary job function within the company for which you work or are affiliated?
		Money Manager: My practice provides recommendations and trade execution for clients in individual securities, mutual funds, etc. based upon my practice's own analysis of market trends and opportunities.
		Investment Planner: My practice focuses on managing clients’ assets through investment selection and monitoring, but also provides some basic financial planning services (college planning, retirement planning, etc.)
		Financial Planner: My practice provides personalized, comprehensive financial planning services for clients, including income planning, college planning, estate planning, investment planning, etc. and uses a broad range of investment products to implement plans and recommendations (mutual funds, annuities, insurance, etc.).
		Wealth Manager: My practice specializes in complex wealth management and transfer issues, including stock option planning, complex trust and estate planning, charitable giving, tax planning, family governance, etc. either as part of a team of specialists or in conjunction with other professionals in my firm.
		Non-Advisor: Management, branch manager, compliance, sales assistant, retired or unemployed.

2.	With which broker/dealer are you currently affiliated?
		1st Global Capital Corp.		Investacorp, Inc.		Sammons Securities Company, LLC
		The Advisor Group		Investment Centers of America		Sanders Morris Harris Inc.
		American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc.		Investors Capital Corp.		Securian Financial Services, Inc.
		Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.		J.P. Turner & Company, L.L.C.		Securities America, Inc.
		Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc.		J.W. Cole Financial, Inc.		Securities Service Network
		Berthel, Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc.		Kovack Securities Inc.		Sigma Financial Corporation
		Broker Dealer Financial Services Corp.		Lasalle St Securities, L.L.C.		SII Investments
		Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc.		Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc.		Sterne Agee Financial Services
		Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.		LPL Financial Corporation		Summit Brokerage Services, Inc.
		Cbiz Financial Solutions, Inc.		M Holdings Securities, Inc.		SWS Financial
		Centaurus Financial, Inc.		MML Investors Services LLC		The Investment Center, Inc.
		Cetera Financial Specialists (formerly Genworth Financial Securities)		Multi-Financial Securities Corporation (soon to be Cetera Advisors)		The O.N. Equity Sales Company
		Commonwealth Financial Network		National Planning Corp		Tower Square Securities, Inc.
		Crown Capital Securities, L.P.		National Securities Corporation		Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc
		Financial Network Investment Corporation (soon to be Cetera Advisor Networks)		Next Financial Group, Inc.		Triad Advisors, Inc.
		Financial West Investment Group, Inc.		NFP Advisor Services Group		United Planners' Financial Services of America A Limited
		First Allied Securities, Inc.		Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc.		VSR Financial Services, Inc.
		Foothill Securities		Park Avenue Securities LLC		Waddell & Reed
		FSC Securities Corporation		Planmember Securities Corporation		Walnut Street Securities, Inc.
		Geneos Wealth Management, Inc.		PrimeVest Financial Services (soon to be Cetera Financial Institutions		Wedbush Securities
		Girard Securities, Inc.		Princor Financial Services Corporation		Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC
		H. Beck, Inc.		ProEquities Inc.		WFG Investments, Inc.
		H.D. Vest Investment Securities, Inc.		Questar Capital Corporation		Woodbury Financial Services, Inc.
		Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Inc.		Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.		WRP Investments, Inc.
		Independent Financial Group, LLC		Resource Horizons Group		Other (please specify)
		ING Financial Partners, Inc.		Royal Alliance Associates, Inc.
		INVEST Financial		Sagepoint Financial, Inc.

3.	Approximately how many advisors are affiliated with your broker/dealer?
		Fewer than 20
		20 to 49
		50 to 99
		100 to 499
		500 to 999
		1,000 or more

4.

How many years have you been working as a financial advisor? (If less than 1 year, please enter 0)

5.

How many years have you been a financial advisor with your current firm? (If less than 1 year, please enter 0)

6.

Previous to my current firm, I worked as a financial advisor for a:

--Click Here--WirehouseIndependent Broker/DealerRegional Broker/DealerInsurance Broker/DealerBank Broker/DealerBank Trust/Private Client GroupI had my own Registered Investment Advisor (RIA)I was an independent RIA and maintained an independent B/D registrationOtherNot applicable

6a

How many years were you a financial advisor with that firm? (If less than 1 year, please enter 0)

The next few questions ask you to rate various aspects of your company on a scale of 1 to 10. This section is divided into 8 parts: Sales and Service Support, Professional Development, Technology, Product Offerings, Compensation and Benefits, Compliance, Management and Overall Performance.

7.	Please rate your broker/dealer on the following aspects.

Sales and Service Support 1 = Unacceptable, 10 = Outstanding
	1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		N/A
Marketing services the firm provides for me to market my business
Practice management support
Succession planning support
Transition/ on-boarding support
Clarity of account statements
Resolution of client account problems
Helpful home-office support staff
Overall rating of sales and service support

8.	Please rate your broker/dealer on the following aspects.

Professional Development 1 = Unacceptable, 10 = Outstanding
	1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		N/A
Continuing education opportunities
Access to in-house financial planning experts
Access to in-house product selection experts
National and/or regional sales conferences
Peer networking opportunities
Sales coaching
Overall rating of professional development opportunities

9.	Please rate your broker/dealer on the following aspects.

Technology 1 = Unacceptable, 10 = Outstanding
	1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		N/A
CRM
Desktop applications
Technology service and support
Customization
Quality of online investor tools
Overall rating of technology

10.	Please rate your broker/dealer on the following aspects.

Product Offerings 1 = Unacceptable, 10 = Outstanding
	1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		N/A
Quality of investment research
Range of products offered
Quality of products offered
Access to alternative investments
Lending and investment banking
Freedom from pressure to sell proprietary products or inventory
Due diligence
Managed account and fee offerings
Overall rating of product offerings

11.	Please rate your broker/dealer on the following aspects.

Compensation and Benefits 1 = Unacceptable, 10 = Outstanding
	1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		N/A
Cash compensation (payout grid)
Timely payout of commissions and fees
Deferred revenue and other non-cash compensation
Group health and retirement benefits
Other perks
Overall rating of compensation and benefits

12.	Please rate your broker/dealer on the following aspects.

Compliance 1 = Unacceptable, 10 = Outstanding
	1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		N/A
Risk management
Clearly communicated compliance policies and procedures
Reduction of administrative burden (time and effort)
Turnaround time for material submitted to compliance department
Knowledgeable compliance staff
Ability to choose mix of commission and fee business
Ability to set up own RIA
Dodd-Frank information and resources
Social media support
Overall rating of compliance support

13.	Please rate your broker/dealer on the following aspects.

Management 1 = Unacceptable, 10 = Outstanding
	1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		N/A
Access to senior management
Strategic focus
Ethics
Brand/Public image
Morale
Leadership and stability
Firm culture
Firm’s financial performance
Overall rating of your broker/dealer's management

14.	How would you rate your overall experience at your broker/dealer? 1 = Unacceptable, 10 = Outstanding
		1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10

15.	How likely are you to still be affiliated with your current broker/dealer one year from now?
		Very likely
		Somewhat likely
		Somewhat unlikely
		Very unlikely

15a.	Why?

16.	How important would the following factors be in causing you to look for a new B/D?
		Least important = 1		2		3		4		5		6		Most important = 7
	Service
	Technology
	Product selection
	Business support
	Rewards (e.g. Top Producer Trips, Conferences, etc.)
	Payout/Compensation
	Strategic vision of firm and upper management
	M&A Activity
	Increased Independence
	Brand Erosion
	Conflict with direct manager
	Compliance responsiveness
	Client concerns about my firm's solvency
	Other (please specify below):

17	Which independent broker/dealer firm do you think is the best to be affiliated with?
		1st Global Capital Corp.		Investacorp, Inc.		Sammons Securities Company, LLC
		The Advisor Group		Investment Centers of America		Sanders Morris Harris Inc.
		American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc.		Investors Capital Corp.		Securian Financial Services, Inc.
		Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.		J.P. Turner & Company, L.L.C.		Securities America, Inc.
		Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc.		J.W. Cole Financial, Inc.		Securities Service Network
		Berthel, Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc.		Kovack Securities Inc.		Sigma Financial Corporation
		Broker Dealer Financial Services Corp.		Lasalle St Securities, L.L.C.		SII Investments
		Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc.		Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc.		Sterne Agee Financial Services
		Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.		LPL Financial Corporation		Summit Brokerage Services, Inc.
		Cbiz Financial Solutions, Inc.		M Holdings Securities, Inc.		SWS Financial
		Centaurus Financial, Inc.		MML Investors Services LLC		The Investment Center, Inc.
		Cetera Financial Specialists (formerly Genworth Financial Securities)		Multi-Financial Securities Corporation (soon to be Cetera Advisors)		The O.N. Equity Sales Company
		Commonwealth Financial Network		National Planning Corp		Tower Square Securities, Inc.
		Crown Capital Securities, L.P.		National Securities Corporation		Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc
		Financial Network Investment Corporation (soon to be Cetera Advisor Networks)		Next Financial Group, Inc.		Triad Advisors, Inc.
		Financial West Investment Group, Inc.		NFP Advisor Services Group		United Planners' Financial Services of America A Limited
		First Allied Securities, Inc.		Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc.		VSR Financial Services, Inc.
		Foothill Securities		Park Avenue Securities LLC		Waddell & Reed
		FSC Securities Corporation		Planmember Securities Corporation		Walnut Street Securities, Inc.
		Geneos Wealth Management, Inc.		PrimeVest Financial Services (soon to be Cetera Financial Institutions		Wedbush Securities
		Girard Securities, Inc.		Princor Financial Services Corporation		Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC
		H. Beck, Inc.		ProEquities Inc.		WFG Investments, Inc.
		H.D. Vest Investment Securities, Inc.		Questar Capital Corporation		Woodbury Financial Services, Inc.
		Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Inc.		Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.		WRP Investments, Inc.
		Independent Financial Group, LLC		Resource Horizons Group		Other (please specify)
		ING Financial Partners, Inc.		Royal Alliance Associates, Inc.
		INVEST Financial		Sagepoint Financial, Inc.

18.	Please indicate all professional designations, charters, licenses, and educational programs that you have achieved or completed.
		FINRA Series 7		ChFC
		FINRA Series 65/66		JD
		FINRA Series 6		MBA
		FINRA Principal license (e.g. 24, 26)		CIMC
		Insurance license (state)		CPA
		CFP		CPWA
		CFA		Other
		CIMA		None of the above
		CLU

19.	Do you consider yourself a fiduciary?
		Yes
		No
		Sometimes

20.	What is your annual gross production?
		Under $100,000		$500,000 to $999,999
		$100,000 to $249,999		$1,000,000 to $1,999,999
		$250,000 to $499,999		$2,000,000 or more

20a.	How does that compare to one year ago?
		Increased by 50% or more		Decreased by 1% to 9%
		Increased by 25% to 49%		Decreased by 10% to 24%
		Increased by 10% to 24%		Decreased by 25% to 49%
		Increased by 1% to 9%		Decreased by 50% or more
		Remained the same

21.	What are the total assets you have under management (AUM)?
		Under $25 million		$100 million to $149.9 million
		$25 million to $49.9 million		$150 million or more
		$50 million to $99.9 million

21a.	How does that compare to one year ago?
		Increased by 50% or more		Decreased by 1% to 9%
		Increased by 25% to 49%		Decreased by 10% to 24%
		Increased by 10% to 24%		Decreased by 25% to 49%
		Increased by 1% to 9%		Decreased by 50% or more
		Remained the same

22

Approximately how many clients does your practice have?

23.	What percentage of your income came from each of the following sources in 2012? The total should sum to 100%.
	Commissions:
	Asset-based fees:
	Salary:
	Total:

24.	Did you receive a recruiting bonus when you affiliated with your current broker/dealer?
		Yes, as a percentage of on-board assets
		Yes, as a percentage of T-12 production
		Yes, using a different criteria
		No

24.a	How big was the recruiting bonus as a percentage of on-board assets?

24.a	How big was the recruiting bonus as a percentage of T-12 production?

24.a	How was the recruiting bonus calculated?

25.	Into which of the following ranges does your age fall?
		Under 25
		25 to 34
		35 to 44
		45 to 54
		55 to 64
		65 or older

26.	Are you:
		Female
		Male

27.	If you would be interested in further discussing the topics of this survey with a member of our editorial staff, please enter your contact information (name and phone number) below.

Thank you for your time and input! To enter into a drawing for an iPad, please fill in your name and contact information. Only surveys that contain all information are eligible for the drawing.  Again, all answers will remain completely confidential.

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