'An advisor can only blow off the SEC for so long,' said one industry executive.
Sketchy math dogs private market investments sold to retail investors.
"Another schlocky broker-dealer gets hit with an arbitration award and the owner and everyone else declare bankruptcy," said one attorney.
"These firms have to go back, hire a new accounting firm and restate financials," said one senior industry executive.
Deals by LPL underscore surge in price propelled by the ongoing movement to fee-based revenue from one-time commission charges.
"The only way to really address recidivism is through bringing criminal cases," one attorney said.
"Recruiting is as strong as ever" at LPL, one analyst noted.
"Every private equity deal we have seen in the brokerage industry has lasted five to seven years," one executive said.
“We’ve done scores of theft cases over the years and it’s a cancer," said one attorney.
"Interest rates aren’t going down anytime soon," said James Corl of Cohen & Steers.
