Tr?id=566623520170033&ev=PageView&noscript=1

Exploring Account Fees and Bonuses: Highlights from Cetera and Avantax Webinar

Posted on October 24th, 2023 at 1:27 PM
Exploring Account Fees and Bonuses: Highlights from Cetera and Avantax Webinar

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law 

Cetera Financial Holdings senior management hosted an online seminar with Avantax Inc.'s financial advisors to address concerns raised by 3,100 advisors following Cetera's announcement earlier this month that it is acquiring the tax-specialized broker-dealer for $1.2 billion.

Avantax financial advisors likely inquired about the fate of an unpopular $60 annual fee implemented three years ago for advisers' accounts at outside money managers. This fee, known as," direct to fund," (DTF) among advisers, was a method for selling mutual funds directly to clients. Additionally, discussions were expected concerning the clearing firm currently used by Avantax Investment Services Inc., which presently clears trades through Fidelity's National Financial Services, while Cetera utilizes Pershing.

Another potential topic included the distribution of bonuses, referred to as, "transition assistance," in the industry, to Avantax financial advisors. These bonuses are customary in broker-dealer acquisitions to retain advisors and their client base. Questions concerning the bonus may arise because not all advisors are eligible for such bonuses, as clarified in Cetera's September 11th SEC filing announcing the Avantax acquisition. Cetera stated that they would provide transition assistance to certain firms as deemed appropriate, and the allocation of assistance would be at their discretion. Detailed information on this matter will be communicated separately in the coming weeks, as InvestmentNews reports.

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

I want to extend a tremendous thank you for your dedication, professionalism, hard work and patient demeanor through this challenging time. It was enjoyable interacting with everyone on your team, this certainly helped while dealing with the situation and working towards resolution.

Dan M.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1793294906 Law
October 29, 2026
FINRA Bars Former LPL Financial Broker for Refusing to Cooperate With Investigation

?The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA?) barred Buddy Dean Mason, a former LPL Financial broker in Lakeland, Florida, after he refused to provide documents and information during an investigation into a customer complaint involving an alleged outside investment.

1793209405 Law
October 28, 2026
FINRA Panel Orders Kingswood Capital Partners and Executives to Pay Former Advisor $11.3 Million

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel has ordered Kingswood Capital Partners LLC, CEO Michael Nessim, and Chief Compliance Officer Mohamed Alsoraimi to pay former advisor Rikin Patel $11,341,369.25.

1793123026 Law
October 27, 2026
CFTC Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Crypto Asset Regulatory Framework

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking public comment on a potential regulatory framework for retail commodity transactions involving crypto assets, which the agency calls "CTXs." According to the CFTC's press release, the initiative focuses on Section 2(c)(2)(D) of th...