Andersen is under pressure to rebuild its scandal-stained reputation quickly to retain clients and stay in business.

The number of social trading networks continues to increase as brokers see them as new growth engines for converting new and retaining old clients.

Kidding aside, L2 's abrupt and surprising start-up underscores the lengths to which agencies will go to retain restive clients in a depressed, tumultuous business climate.

This capability will enhance the ability of Schwab's advisors to retain clients and assets even as those assets are transferred through trusts from generation to generation.

Also, commission-paid planners interested in retaining clients must act in their clients' best interests, many planners said.

Andersen's affiliated partnerships in other countries are severing ties with the American firm, in an attempt to retain clients and to avoid the costs from any Andersen liabilities.

Many lobbyists work in lobbying firms or law firms, some of which retain clients outside lobbying.

In a statement last month, the firm dismissed as "absurd" the accusation that it compromises its standards to retain big clients.

Such cases had made it difficult for Ernst & Young to retain clients and recruit new employees.

Although Zenith wanted him to work full-time as an employee, and head an in-house industrial design group, Budlong wished to remain independent to retain other clients.