There is a membership fee to cover the cost of keeping programs going.

FORBES: How The Village Movement Helps With Aging Parents

HighTower brokers also run their own profit-and-loss statements, so instead of keeping 30% to 40% of gross fee production in W-2 earnings, they reap the benefit of all revenue associated with their clients, including interest spreads earned by lending idle cash in cash-rich accounts to other clients buying on margin.

FORBES: OutFront