(Source: Business Wire)TD AMERITRADE Institutional, a division of TD AMERITRADE Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: AMTD), has seen the number of advisors interested in joining or starting a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firm double from 720 in 2008 to more than 1,500 in 2009. Advisors considering a move to TD AMERITRADE Institutional represent nearly $160 billion in assets. With the launch of the new Business Evaluator tool, TD AMERITRADE Institutional offers this growing number of advisors in transition a powerful combination of industry experience and advanced technology. Developed in cooperation with ActiFi1, Business Evaluator is an intuitive Web-based program designed to help take the financial and emotional uncertainty out of the decision to join or start an RIA firm.

"More advisors are looking for transition support as the equity market and business environment improves and brokers gain more confidence to approach their clients about leaving full-commission wirehouses. In fact, we've seen a 24 percent increase in the number of breakaway brokers joining TD AMERITRADE in just the first six months of the year," said Tom Bradley, president, TD AMERITRADE Institutional. "Now is the time to go independent, and Business Evaluator is the tool to help advisors get there."

Business Evaluator allows advisors to compare business models, estimate expenses, identify their motivations and strengths and ultimately design a customized action plan to ease the transition to independence. Based on an advisor's unique situation, they will receive a personalized assessment comparing the potential economic opportunity of different affiliation options, including wirehouse representative, affiliation with an independent broker-dealer or full independence as a registered investment advisor. Along with the support of TD AMERITRADE Institutional's experienced transition consultants, Business Evaluator can help advisors move from exploring the RIA model to implementing a business change.

"Advisors want the financial rewards of going independent and the freedom to do what's in the best interest of their clients, but they often don't know what's involved with transitioning to a new business model or where to begin," said Spenser Segal, CEO of ActiFi. "Business Evaluator is a first-of-its kind interactive, easy-to-use tool that provides advisors an objective look at the bottom line so they can make educated decisions about their future career path."

Business Evaluator complements TD AMERITRADE Institutional's full suite of programs available to advisors who are interested in either joining an existing RIA firm or starting their own independent practice.