Office address: 4707 Executive Drive, San Diego, CA 92121
Website: lpl.com
Year established: 1989
Company type: financial services
Employees: 9,000+
Expertise: wealth management, investment advisory, retirement planning, brokerage services, portfolio management, research, compliance support, technology solutions, institutional services, succession planning
Parent company: LPL Financial Holdings
Key people: Rich Steinmeier (CEO), Matt Audette (CFO), Marc Cohen (chief growth officer), Greg Gates (chief technology and information officer), Emily Field (chief people officer), Matthew Enyedi (chief client officer), Aneri Jambusaria (chief wealth officer)
Financing status: corporation
LPL Financial is a San Diego-based independent wealth management company. The firm has additional offices in Fort Mill, Austin, and Boston. It supports over 28,000 financial advisors and offers investment products, technology, and research tools. The company is known for its flexible business models and broad, non-proprietary investment options.
LPL Financial came to life in 1989 when Linsco and Private Ledger merged to form a new kind of firm. The founders wanted to give independent advisors more support, better technology, and a wide set of investment choices. Their goal was to help advisors serve clients with more freedom and better tools.
The company quickly grew by focusing on advisor independence and client choice. In 2010, LPL formed a political action committee to represent advisors and clients in Washington. This move showed the firm’s commitment to keeping financial advice objective and accessible.
LPL made big moves in the industry by acquiring several firms. In 2017, it bought National Planning Holdings, which added four broker-dealers to its network.
The company also acquired AdvisoryWorld in 2018, bringing new technology for portfolio analytics and modeling. In 2020, LPL expanded further by purchasing E.K. Riley Investments, Lucia Securities, and Blaze Portfolio, adding more advisors and new trading technology.
The company completed its acquisition of Commonwealth Financial Network in 2025. This added around 3,000 advisors and $305 billion in assets. This move brings Commonwealth’s award-winning service culture and improves LPL’s market position.
LPL also welcomed Tennant Financial, a team with $1.3 billion in assets, to its platform in 2025. The group joined from Northwestern Mutual and brought years of experience in serving high-net-worth clients. This move showed LPL’s commitment to holistic planning and advanced technology.
LPL Financial provides many investment and banking solutions for independent advisors and their clients:
LPL Financial is also recognized for its strong research, advisor training, and customizable business models. Advisors benefit from a national network, consultative support, and 24/7 client account access.
According to the company, staff are encouraged to think ahead and focus on customer needs by finding new ways to solve challenges. LPL Financial also highlights a range of benefits for employees:
LPL Financial reports that it values a workplace where different perspectives are respected and welcomed. The firm created a dedicated role to support women advisors and attract more women to its network. It states that diversity and inclusion help strengthen the financial advice profession and its community.
Rich Steinmeier began serving as CEO of the firm since 2024 and previously held leadership roles at the company. Before joining LPL, Steinmeier worked in senior positions at UBS and Merrill Lynch. He earned degrees from Stanford Graduate School of Business and The Wharton School.
The leadership team at LPL Financial brings a range of experience and skills to support the firm’s mission:
These key people at LPL Financial aim to help clients succeed and simplify the advisor experience. Their goal is to let advisors focus on serving clients, not on business complexity.
To help advisors plan for the future and protect their businesses, LPL Financial has launched its Liquidity and Succession program in 2025. The company offers creative solutions like partial book sales and business exit planning, which let advisors focus on clients while optimizing their practice. This approach supports long-term growth for both LPL and its advisors, which makes it more adaptable as the industry changes.
After the company completed its $2.7 billion acquisition of Commonwealth Financial Network, it aimed to keep 90 percent of Commonwealth’s advisors. Although about 5 percent of these advisors left for competitors, LPL continues to focus on retaining top talent. This effort helps provide stability for clients and strengthens the firm’s position in a competitive market.
The firm, which has been a dealmaking machine since it launched in 2004, will go private as a result of its acquisition by private equity manager Clayton Dubilier & Rice.
Thom Maher is launching a firm, Maher Wealth Management, in Phoenix.
Julian Lopez will focus on LPL's relationships with independent advisors.
Albuquerque-based Legacy Financial Group was founded in 1995 by Cris Giron and Eddie Fernandez.
But the deal raises the possibility other firms may go after the Securian advisors; Cetera and LPL have faced off in the past over recruiting advisors amid an acquisition.
Giant financial services companies are starting 2023 with more moves to control and own the assets of financial advisors, rather than servicing them for a modest fee.
But CEO Dan Arnold is optimistic about the start of 2023, noting that the fourth quarter was the best period for recruiting last year and predicting that momentum will carry over into the first quarter.
Jonathan Blakelock and six staff members are joining LPL from Ameriprise and will operate as Blakelock Financial Group in Kingwood.
Bruce and Jeff talk to Ben Carlson, director of institutional asset management at Ritholtz Wealth Management, about going 100% equities in portfolios, dealing with the risk averse versus the non-risk averse, and answering the big recession questions.
Cory Triolo and Tim Checko are joining the IBD's investor and investment solutions team.
The advisors service a combined $275 million in client assets.
Bruce and Jeff are joined by Thomas Moore, director of Betterment for Advisors, to talk about all things Betterment. They leave no stone unturned as they discuss the robo-advisor's business, its strategy and Betterment's outlook on its future.
James Couture of Worcester, Massachusetts, had pleaded guilty in September to being involved in a scheme to steal $2.8 million from clients.
One advisor allegedly recommended unsuitable investments to a client and then failed to monitor her portfolio or meet with her. Another claimed in an ad his retirement program could raise all the money needed for a nest egg in 3 to 5 years.
Jeff and Bruce connect with financial industry vet Mark Tibergien on all things financial advising. He explains how his retirement from Pershing Advisor Solutions in 2020 allowed him to rewire his services, providing greater reach in how he applies his years of experience in the industry.
