Leaving UBS in 2026
Short answer: Leaving UBS is a well-worn path: about 318 advisors managing roughly $52 billion left UBS in the US in 2025, according to InvestmentNews, and the firm had a net loss of about 182 advisors in the first half of 2026. UBS left the Broker Protocol in 2017, so plan your exit with an attorney and price what you would forfeit.
Key takeaways
- UBS lost a net ~182 US advisors in the first half of 2026.
- About 318 advisors with roughly $52 billion left in 2025 (InvestmentNews).
- UBS is not in the Broker Protocol, so non-solicit terms matter.
- Compare another wirehouse against supported independence and an RIA.
Why are advisors leaving UBS?
Advisors cite strategy changes in the US wealth business, grid and payout pressure on smaller producers, and uncertainty about the firm’s long-term US direction. Larger teams are also heavily recruited by other firms.
Sources: first-half 2026 wirehouse advisor movement as reported by WealthManagement.com and InvestmentNews; Broker Protocol status as reported in the trade press. Figures are third-party estimates and can be revised.
What you leave behind at UBS
- Deferred compensation: unvested awards are typically forfeited.
- Notes: recruiting or retention loans usually become due.
- Client data: without the Protocol, taking client information carries legal risk.
UBS advisor resource hub
- UBS Advisor Transition Report 2026: free 10-page PDF with 2026 data and 2027 pay changes.
- Transition packages explained: how to compare offers against your deferred comp.
- Going independent as a financial advisor: broker-dealer, hybrid and RIA models compared.
- Advisor transition consulting: a confidential, side-by-side review of your options.
- Financial Advisor Transition Report 2026: every wirehouse compared.
Broker Protocol and your clients
UBS left the Protocol for Broker Recruiting in 2017, so departing advisors cannot rely on its safe harbor for taking client information. Have an attorney review your agreements before you resign.
Where do advisors go after a wirehouse?
Most moves land on one of four rungs. Each step down the list adds independence, and each one adds work you own yourself.
| Model | What changes | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Another wirehouse | Same platform style, new grid, recruiting package paid mostly up front | Advisors who want the brand and support but a better deal or culture |
| Regional or boutique firm | Smaller firm, more voice, usually a lighter bureaucracy | Teams that want a W-2 model with more flexibility |
| Supported independence | You run the practice; an independent broker-dealer or hybrid platform (for example LPL, Raymond James, Cetera or Ameriprise) supplies technology, compliance and transition help | Advisors who want ownership without building everything alone |
| Independent RIA | Full ownership and fiduciary-only model; you pick custodian, tech and staff | Established teams ready to run a business |
Read the full comparison in our guide to going independent.
Leaving UBS step by step
- Get your own numbers first. Pull your T12, AUM, household count and fee-based share, and list every unvested award and note balance.
- Review your agreements with a lawyer. Check non-solicit, confidentiality and notice terms before you talk to any firm in detail.
- Compare real offers side by side. Look at the full five-to-nine-year value, not just the up-front check. Our transition package guide shows how.
- Plan the resignation day. Decide what you may take, who calls which clients, and when paperwork goes out.
- Run the first 90 days. Most of the book moves early, so repapering speed and client communication decide the outcome.
Thinking about leaving UBS?
Get a confidential side-by-side of your options, at no cost to advisors.
FAQ: leaving UBS
Is UBS in the Broker Protocol?
No. UBS left the Broker Protocol in 2017, so departing advisors should get legal advice before taking any client information.
How many advisors left UBS recently?
InvestmentNews reported about 318 advisors with roughly $52 billion left UBS in the US in 2025, and trade-press counts show a net loss of about 182 in the first half of 2026.
Where do advisors go after leaving UBS?
Common destinations include another wirehouse, a regional firm, an independent broker-dealer or hybrid platform, or an independent RIA.
About the author: Marc Elia is the founder of UpTick Consulting Partners, a financial advisor recruiting firm and transition consultancy in Red Bank, New Jersey. He works with experienced advisors and teams weighing a move between wirehouses, regional firms, independent broker-dealers, hybrid RIAs and independent RIAs.
About UpTick Consulting Partners: UpTick is paid by receiving firms, so its consulting is at no cost to advisors. UpTick is not an investment advisor and does not provide investment, tax or legal advice. 646.734.0334 · marc@uptickrecruiting.com · uptickrecruiting.com