The number of U.S. financial advisors fell to 310,000 at the end of 2008, from 314,000 at the end of 2004.
Cerulli Associates, Boston, has published those figures in a report on hiring trends at broker-dealers.
The attrition rate for financial advisors may accelerate, because the average age of a financial advisor is about 49, and 14% are over 60.
In the insurance channel, advisors ages 41 to 50 account for the largest share (32%) of the field force, Cerulli says.