how many registered investment advisors (RIAs) are there in the U.S.,
both SEC registered and state registered? What % of these RIAs are
affiliated with: wirehouses; regional brokerage firms; independent
broker dealers; banks; and, insurance company broker dealers?

Hello Larry7,

According to Cerulli Associates ?at the end of 2004, the whole arena
of advisers consisted of about 280,000 individuals.  RIAs and 81,412
reps at independent broker-dealers, 47,623 reps at insurance
broker-dealers, 73,394 brokers at wirehouse firms, 22,725 brokers with
bank-owned brokerage houses and 22,618 advisers with regional
broker-dealers.?

Source:
FSO Advisor?s Weekly
May 15, 2006 Edition
http://www.fsonline.com/enews_archive/enews051506/enews0515.shtml



According to an LPL Financial Services presentation by Mark S. Casady
President & CEO, November 2, 2005:

-------------------------------------------------
Financial Advisors by Channel
-------------------------------------------------
Channel                        Number of Advisors
Independent Broker / Dealers   106,688
Wirehouse                       70,805
Insurance                       49,795
RIA                             38,068
Bank                            18,280
Regional                        16,342
-------------------------------------------------
Total                          299,978
-------------------------------------------------
2004 Year End

Source (page 45)
Source: Cerulli Associates - Intermediate Markets report 

Download here:
http://www.investis.com/prudential/pdfs/20042005/full.pdf


Search terms:
Number of registered investment advisors
Wirehouses  regional brokerage firms independent broker dealers
Banks insurance company broker 


I hope the information provided is helpful!

Best regards,
Bobbie7