Broker productivity fell in November 2014 [chart]

Total productivity of full-time bank financial advisors, inclusive of recurring revenue, plummeted 16 percent in November 2014, compared with prior month results ($39,199 to $32,888), according to the most recent Bank Insurance and Securities Research Association (BISRA) Monthly Bank Investment Services Monitor.

The study of 5800 full-time financial advisors representing 35 banking institutions found revenues for managed money, trailers and transactional business all fell. However, compared to November 2013 total productivity was down just 1 percent.

Average transactional productivity of full-time financial advisors dropped 16 percent to $12,230 in November and was also down 16 percent compared to a year ago.

“While November is traditionally a slow month for the industry, this productivity decline was more dramatic than anticipated across all categories,” said Dr. Betty Moon, CFP, BISRA managing director.  “In fact, BISRA research shows that average monthly transactional productivity has remained above $14,000 since 2000.”

Annuity sales, which made up half of all revenue in 2009, have fallen to represent only 37 percent of revenue in November 2014.  This may be attributed to the interest rate environment over this period of time.  Additionally banks today rely more heavily on recurring, rather than transactional, revenue.

Platform bank representatives monthly productivity slipped by 7 percent, down from $988 in October to $921 in November. A small gain for life insurance production was more than offset by falling production in remaining product categories.