Fetching coffee and making copies is so old school. Today's most talented students seek meaningful internships that offer learning, growth and networking opportunities. With the launch of a new nationwide RIA Intern Network, TD Ameritrade Institutional1 arms registered investment advisors (RIAs) with tools and resources to build effective internship programs that can attract and develop the next generation of advisors.

Over the next decade, the financial planning industry is expected to grow by 32 percent, nearly twice the average growth rate of all other occupations (14 percent).2 Strong demand for advisory services, coupled with the fact that less than six percent of existing advisors are under the age of 30, points to a worsening talent shortage in the coming years.3 The TD Ameritrade RIA Intern Network aims to attract future RIAs so the industry is well-positioned to serve the next generation of investors.

"If we don't change the course we're on, there's a very real threat there won't be enough young people entering the field to meet the growing demand for financial advice. With the average age of RIAs close to 554, many advisors are concerned about succession planning and want to leave their clients in capable hands once they decide to retire or exit the business," said Tom Nally, president, TD Ameritrade Institutional. "An internal succession transition can take up to ten years to implement, which is why it's so important that we engage students now and raise awareness of a great career opportunity."

The RIA Intern Network seeks to facilitate mutually beneficial relationships for advisors looking to fill entry-level roles and students preparing to enter the workforce. The network can give advisors access to a deeper talent pool while also helping open more doors for young people pursuing a career in financial services. And by attracting tech-savvy, eager interns to their firms, advisors can be in a better position to capitalize on the generational transfer of wealth from Boomers to Gen X and Gen Y investors. Research has shown, high-net-worth investors under the age of 40 prefer to work with an advisor closer to their own age.5

TD Ameritrade Institutional will provide the support and guidance to help RIAs build an effective training and development program within their firms. Advisors participating in the program will receive a comprehensive internship guide that outlines how to build a program that serves their firm's strategy and creates a valuable experience for students. Students and advisors will connect through an online portal to post resumes and internship opportunities, while a dedicated LinkedIn page will connect participants for social networking. Students can network with peers interning at other RIA firms across the country and participate in professional development and education programs together through a Next Gen webcast series. When participating in an internship with an independent RIA firm, students gain professional experience and get the benefit of being part of a larger professional network.

The network could also benefit the RIA industry as it battles rivals in other wealth management channels for the best and brightest.

"Even though RIA channel growth is outpacing the broader industry,6 advisors still face a David and Goliath battle. Smaller RIA firms with fewer training resources can be challenged to compete for students who may perceive better career opportunities at the larger brokerage firms," said Nally. "It's important that independent advisors unite to create a community where both they and these interns can draw from the collective knowledge and strength of an entire industry, so that when students decide which path to follow, they opt for a rewarding career in the fast growing RIA channel."

The guidebook is available now to help advisors lay the groundwork for implementing a successful internship program within their firms. Advisors can download the guide from the TD Ameritrade Institutional Education Center. TD Ameritrade Institutional will launch the online portal and LinkedIn page later this spring, as students and advisors start to gear up for summer internships.

About TD Ameritrade Institutional

TD Ameritrade Institutional1 is a leading provider of comprehensive brokerage and custody services to more than 4,500 fee-based, independent registered investment advisors and their clients. Our advanced technology platform, coupled with personal support from our dedicated service teams, allows advisors to run their practices more efficiently and optimize time with clients.

About TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation

Millions of investors and independent investment advisors have turned to TD Ameritrade's (NYSE: AMTD) technology, people and education to help make investing and trading easier. Our clients want to take control and we help them decide how, whether online, over the phone, in a branch or with an independent investment advisor. We've been bringing Wall Street to Main Street for more than 36 years. An official sponsor of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Team, TD Ameritrade has time and again been recognized as a leader in investment services. Please visit TD Ameritrade's newsroom or www.amtd.com for more information.

Brokerage services provided by TD Ameritrade, Inc., member FINRA (www.FINRA.org) /SIPC (www.SIPC.org) /NFA (www.nfa.futures.org)

1TD Ameritrade Institutional is a division of TD Ameritrade, Inc., a brokerage subsidiary of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation.
2Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Employment Projections to 2020", Monthly Labor Review, January 2012
3Cerulli Quantitative Update, Advisor Metrics 2012
4Cerulli Report, The RIA Marketplace 2013
5 Meeting the demands of Gen X/Y Clients, CEB Research, 2013
6Cerulli Report, "The State of the U.S. Retail and Institutional Asset Management, 2012

TD Ameritrade
Joseph A. Giannone, (M) 1-201-725-8584
Communications & Public Affairs
joseph.giannone@tdameritrade.com
or
TD Ameritrade
Kristin Petrick, (M) 1-402-578-8182
Communications & Public Affairs
kristin.petrick@tdameritrade.com