Merrill lifts 2027 growth bar to $7.5M as RBC hires $1B UBS team

Merrill Lynch told advisors its 2027 growth award requires $7.5 million and four net new households, Financial Planning reported.

The core compensation grid stays flat, and the $150 million Elite Award becomes three categories paying a 50% premium.

For a Merrill advisor, next year's payout on existing production does not change. The grid is flat, and the added compensation sits in the higher growth-award bar and the targeted 2027 bonuses. As written, the award asks for both production and household growth, so an advisor who adds assets without adding a household falls outside the criteria.

RBC Wealth Management hired a five-person UBS team in Pittsburgh that oversaw more than $1 billion. Raymond Nepa and Jennifer Susco lead the group, which joins RBC's Pittsburgh North branch and reports to Great Lakes complex director Frank Albanese. RBC aims to add 600 advisors by 2029.

Osaic added a $576 million practice from Stifel Independent Advisors, a three-generation business in Landrum, S.C., after Equitable Advisors bought Stifel Independent Advisors in February 2026.

Elevation Point took a minority stake in Truing Capital Advisors, a $750 million ex-UBS team in Las Vegas that will custody assets with Goldman Sachs. No price or stake percentage was disclosed.

Kintra Wealth added Scott Seymour's $355 million practice. Seymour, registered with Commonwealth for seven years, joins as a partner and will use Kintra's shared operations, compliance and investment staff.

The four moving teams each carry at least $350 million in client assets. Merrill's thresholds apply to the 2027 plan year, while RBC's 600-advisor goal runs to 2029. The independent platforms in this week's moves are offering partnership stakes, custody choice and a shared back office to recruit teams of similar size.