When brokers usually retire, all their hard work of building up client relationships is gone in a flash as the staff left behind divides the spoils. That's changing at Merrill Lynch, which The Wall Street Journal reports is introducing a program that will give retirees up to 50% of commission fees generated from their clients for up to four years. The benefits to the company are manifold, as the program is likely to serve as a recruitment incentive to snag, and hold on to, top talent, while also making for a smoother transfer of power to successors when a broker retires. In addition, says The WSJ, it will help cut down on the number of lawsuits charging firms with failing to properly allocate accounts of retired co-workers. According to The WSJ, an estimated 15% of Merrill Lynch's financial advisers qualify for the program and about 25 have signed up for it so far.