Veteran advisor duo skips from Stifel to LPL

LPL has bolstered its advisory presence further in Illinois as a veteran pair from Stifel embark on a long-planned journey of professional independence.

LPL Financial announced Thursday that financial advisors Stephen Shevlin and Jonathan Joelner have launched an independent practice, 1818 Wealth Advisors, through LPL Financial’s broker-dealer, RIA, and custodial platforms.

The advisors previously served with Stifel, managing approximately $300 million in advisory, brokerage, and retirement plan assets.

The name 1818 Wealth Advisors reflects the duo's pride in their home state, as Illinois became the 21st state in 1818. The duo serves clients across approximately 30 states, maintaining a personal approach to financial planning.

Shevlin and Joelner are based in Swansea, Illinois, close to St. Louis, Missouri, and bring a combined 50 years of industry experience to their new venture. The team takes pride in their client-first philosophy, which emphasizes open communication, which occasionally includes difficult conversations, and client education.

"In this industry, it’s the people who make a difference in client engagement and outcomes," Shevlin, a three-decade industry veteran, said in a statement. "We treat our clients exactly how we would want to be treated, no matter their age, career or account size."

The advisors decided to move to LPL to achieve their longtime ambition of owning an independent business. Shevlin and Joelner plan to leverage LPL’s marketing resources to build their brand and develop new marketing strategies.

Joelner, who’s been registered with Finra for nearly 20 years, also highlighted LPL’s retirement tools’ potential to help them provide better investment guidance to their clients.

"We can choose our own path and make decisions that are in the best interest of our clients,” he said. “The harder we work, the more it will benefit them and our business."

The launch of 1818 Wealth Advisors in Illinois extends LPL’s recruitment rally in June, which most recently saw the wealth giant add a $500 million advisor duo from First Republic in California. Before that, LPL welcomed an ex-Corebridge advisor in Texas who launched his own independent practice.