Financial Planning recently released its annual analysis of base compensation for financial advisors. This is the first of several posts, beginning with advisors who have $400,000 in annual production at leading wirehouses and other broker-dealers.

This year's data, analyzed by Tasnady & Associates, compares base pay, deferred year-end payments, and total pay for advisors across nine firms. Individual advisor earnings may vary based on bonuses, penalties, and specific firm policies. Here is the breakdown:

 Stifel

   - Base Pay: $155,000 

   - Deferred-YE: $20,000 

   - Total Pay: $175,000 

 Edward Jones

   - Base Pay: $157,500 

   - Deferred-YE: $10,120 

   - Total Pay: $167,620 

 Raymond James

   - Base Pay: $166,000 

   - Deferred-YE: $0 

   - Total Pay: $166,000 

 Merrill Lynch

   - Base Pay: $148,000 

   - Deferred-YE: $14,000 

   - Total Pay: $162,000 

RBC Wealth Management

   - Base Pay: $156,000 

   - Deferred-YE: $0 

   - Total Pay: $156,000 

 Wells Fargo

   - Base Pay: $154,640 

   - Deferred-YE: $0 

   - Total Pay: $154,640 

Morgan Stanley

   - Base Pay: $132,600 

   - Deferred-YE: $3,400 

   - Total Pay: $136,000 

UBS

   - Base Pay: $115,200 

   - Deferred-YE: $12,800 

   - Total Pay: $128,000 

Janney

   - Base Pay: $80,000 

   - Deferred-YE: $0 

   - Total Pay: $80,000 

Financial Advisor Transitions consults advisors nationwide to explore employment transition options and to preserve and protect their practice in any transition that they make.