Be the advisor you want to be

Put the power of choice on your side. When you join Commonwealth as an independent financial advisor, you can come as you are and evolve as you need to. We'll meet you with a flexible infrastructure and the full power of our people.

Uncompromising service for you and your staff
Practice management consulting
Research and advanced planning guidance
Compliance tools and oversight
Integrated technology stack
Marketing and branding tools
Merger, acquisition, and succession support

We'll meet you where you are

Just like there's no one-size-fits-all business model, we don't do one-size-fits-all service. Here's what you can count on—always—a partner to help fuel your business growth, enhance your client relationships, and reinforce the love of what you do.

Advisors may select from the following affiliation models:

Dual Registration

Take full advantage of our broker/dealer and investment adviser registrations to conduct your commission-based business (with a payout of up to 95 percent) and your fee-based business (with a payout as high as 98 percent*).

IAR-Only (Corporate RIA)

Conduct an exclusively fee-based business as an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR) of Commonwealth (with a payout up to 100 percent*) and gain access to the full array of advisory investment choices your clients demand through our Preferred Portfolio Services^® (PPS) and approved third-party platforms.

Hybrid RIA

Maintain your commission-based revenue stream under our broker/dealer and receive a payout of up to 95 percent, and conduct your advisory and planning business through your own independent registered investment advisor with up to 100 percent* payout.

RIA-Only (Independent Registered Investment Adviser)

Experience the advantages of running your advisory and planning business through your own RIA (including up to 100 percent* payout) without the responsibilities of maintaining your own infrastructure. You create the fee structure that works for you and maintain complete control over how you provide advisory, asset management, and financial planning services. You have complete flexibility in how you market and run your business—and we take care of the rest.

*Administrative fees vary based on your overall fee-based assets.

An Infrastructure That Future-Proofs Your Business offer cover

There's more than one way to run your practice. We've got you covered. All ways.

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Partnership that moves with your practice

Throughout your transition to Commonwealth, changing your business model, and through major business milestones like mergers, acquisitions, or succession, your transition assistance never stops. You can count on us to help you:

Evaluate the benefits of your affiliation
Move through business models seamlessly
Find a successor who matches your criteria
Estimate your firm's value and establish purchase terms

"Even the ability to transition in-house to the hybrid RIA model—I don't think they sit around and wait for the industry to dictate terms to them. To a great extent, they're still pioneers."
John Nguyen, Clarendon Wealth Management
with Commonwealth since 2007
Read John's story.

I might want to change my business model in the future. Will I have to leave Commonwealth?

Absolutely not. We know that over the next few years, independent financial advisors are going to explore different affiliation models to figure out what's right for their practice and clients. The reality of the financial services world is that things change all the time, and we don't want you to lock into any one model. Partnering with Commonwealth will give you options while limiting disruptions to your business.

I knew that as I grew, Commonwealth would grow with me. There was no question I would, and could, stay right here.

Ted Kerr, CEO, TouchStone Capitalwith Commonwealth since 2005

I still have commission-based business. Can I join Commonwealth as an independent financial advisor?

Yes! You can take full advantage of our broker/dealer and investment adviser registrations to conduct commission-based business (with a payout of up to 95 percent) and fee-based business (with a payout as high as 98 percent*).