Merrill Lynch has set a goal to have 100 percent of its advisors assigned to teams by the end of the decade. The firm plans to do this without any mandates from the home office. 

Presently, the number of advisors on teams at the wirehouse has reached roughly 80 percent. Merrill proclaims that teams foster "greater chemistry and greater connections" with clients across generations. That may be true. Teams also may present challenges to advisors planning to transition out of Merrill to another firm.

Merrill also boasts that it provides teams with access to practice management consultants. 

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