"Our excess capital position remains above $2 billion even after we accelerated our share repurchase activity, allocating $447 million for share repurchases in the quarter." Also, double-digit growth in management and distribution fees boosted operating net revenues to $2.5 billion, up from $2.3 billion a year ago. Despite selling Securities America to Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services in August, with its nearly 1,800-advisor force, Ameriprise said its advisor headcount increased to 9,714, up 51 from the second quarter. Securities America has been listed under discontinued operations in earnings since the second quarter, according to a company spokesman. The increase in the number of advisors is for advisors employed directly by Ameriprise only, and does not include independent advisors who use Ameriprise's back office services, the spokesman said.