The Wall Street Journal and others are reporting that Merrill Lynch has upped its recruiting package for top-40 percent advisers by offering an upfront cash bonus of 150 percent of the fees and commissions they generate from clients. In addition, they are eligible to receive back-end awards, including 25 percent of production at their prior firm if they bring over 65 percent of their client assets within 6 months. Merrill is further offering a 50 percent bonus (half in cash, half in stock) if they bring over 75 percent of their clients’ assets in the first year. All told, these recruits could earn a cash bonus of about 200 percent of their annual production the first year.