Advisor mobility remained active to start the year, with continued movement across wirehouse, independent, and hybrid platforms. January data reinforces that advisor transitions are not slowing as 2026 begins, particularly among large national firms and established broker dealer platforms.

This report highlights where advisors moved in January 2026, which firms led hiring, which saw the highest departures, and how these shifts shape recruiting and platform strategy heading into the year.

Data as of February 2nd, 2026.

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Most Advisor Hires January 2026

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Several large platforms opened the year with strong recruiting momentum. Raymond James led all firms in advisor inflows, followed closely by LPL Financial. J.P. Morgan Securities and Wells Fargo Clearing Services also showed continued hiring activity, reflecting sustained advisor demand for scale, brand support, and platform stability.

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Top Firms by Advisor Inflows in January 2026

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• Raymond James with 183 advisor additions
• LPL Financial with 159 advisor additions
• J.P. Morgan Securities with 81 advisor additions
• Wells Fargo Clearing Services with 70 advisor additions
• Morgan Stanley with 49 advisor additions

These trends align with patterns seen throughout late 2025, as detailed in the Advisor Moves December 2025 report, where large platforms continued to attract advisors seeking operational resources and client transition support.

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Most Advisor Departures January 2026

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On the outflows side, legacy wirehouse firms continued to experience elevated advisor departures. Merrill Lynch led all firms in January outflows, followed by LPL Financial and Janney Montgomery Scott. UBS and Ameriprise Financial Services also remained active on the departure side.

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Top Firms by Advisor Departures in January 2026

• Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner and Smith Incorporated with 111 advisor departures
• LPL Financial with 92 advisor departures
• Janney Montgomery Scott with 75 advisor departures
• UBS Financial Services with 68 advisor departures
• Ameriprise Financial Services with 65 advisor departures

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This continued pressure on traditional platforms mirrors trends discussed in the US Wealth Advisor Movement Report 2026, where advisor independence and platform flexibility remain key drivers of movement.

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Net Inflows and Net Outflows

When viewed through a net inflow lens, Raymond James and LPL Financial still posted positive advisor growth despite appearing on both hiring and departure lists. Wells Fargo and Huntington Securities also showed positive net movement, while several wirehouse firms continued to experience net advisor losses.

Net movement highlights where recruiting strength is outpacing attrition and where platforms may need to reassess advisor value propositions, compensation structures, or operational support models.

Recruiters and platform strategy teams can further contextualize these shifts by combining advisor movement with ownership and firm structure data, as outlined in Private Equity Ownership in the RIA Space 2025.

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Top Firms by Net Advisor Inflows January 2026

Top Firms by Net Advisor Outflows January 2026

What This Means Heading Into 2026

January activity suggests advisor mobility remains a structural feature of the industry rather than a seasonal spike. Firms that consistently attract advisors continue to invest in transition support, platform breadth, and advisor autonomy. At the same time, elevated departures at legacy firms reinforce ongoing pressure on traditional operating models.

For recruiters, asset managers, and wealth technology providers, early year movement offers valuable signals about which platforms are gaining momentum and where advisor relationships are changing. Turning these signals into action requires timely data, historical context, and workflow integration.

AdvizorPro tracks advisor movement in real time across broker dealers, RIAs, and independent platforms, helping teams identify where growth is happening and who is driving it. If your team is sourcing advisors, prioritizing coverage, or tracking platform shifts, request a free trial and access real time advisor movement intelligence. 

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