Municipal advisors

Hilltop Securities, the Southwest region's top financial advisor, is hiring and restructuring management two years after a difficult merger with Southwest Securities.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board is postponing its Series 54 pilot examination by a month to March 2019.

MSRB board members and staff are slated to participate in eight events between next month and May.

The public accounting and advisory firm moves into the municipal advisor space by combining with Springsted, Inc. and Umbaugh and Associates.

In its 28-page financial report released Wednesday, the board reported that its net assets increased by over $4.3 million.

The SEC has signaled a focus on pay-to-play and disclosure fraud.

The nation's No. 2 financial advisory services firm is hiring municipal executives in Ohio and Michigan.

The deal allows advisory firm Columbia to grow on the West Coast by combining with an established organization.

Now that the SEC has approved the MSRB's proposal to require MA principals to pass a new exam, a content outline and pilot program are on the horizon.

Sycamore Advisors taps muni veterans Dominick Setari and Chris Valentino to help build its Northeast muni business.