LPL Financial plans to launch robo-adviser in next two months

LPL Financial plans to launch robo-adviser in next two months
Dan Arnold, LPL's president, says the firm plans to launch a robo that won't replace its financial advisers but will "gain a certain amount of the market."
JUL 28, 2015
LPL Financial is wading gingerly into the burgeoning automated investment management business, commonly dubbed the robo-adviser. Dan Arnold, LPL's president, said the firm was launching a robo-adviser pilot program over the next two months and working with 20 financial advisers to do so. “We believe the robo-adviser will not replace the financial adviser but it will ultimately gain a certain amount of the market,” said Mr. Arnold, who made his comments Monday in Boston at LPL's annual conference, called Focus. LPL will use a third party for the technology interface, he said. The robo offering will be built on a portfolio of low cost exchange-traded funds. At the same time, LPL is also eliminating certain fees on its model wealth portfolios and optimum market portfolios, which are part of the firm's advisory platform, Mr. Arnold said. As part of the changes, the strategist fee charged for all LPL research models in model wealth portfolios will be eliminated in early 2016, the company said in a press release Monday afternoon. This fee elimination translates into a cost reduction of 15 to 20 basis points on those portfolios. In addition, the firm announced that the IRA maintenance fee will be removed from its model wealth portfolios and optimum market portfolios, according to the press release. (More: BattleBots: Big firms run past startups in the robo race) Mr. Arnold gave no other details about LPL's future robo-offering. LPL is the latest independent broker-dealer to acknowledge the potential competition of robo-advisers such as Wealthfront and Betterment. Over the past year, top executives with Cambridge Investment Research Inc. and Commonwealth Financial Network, two of LPL's most significant competitors, have said they intend to look at robo-advisers and how they could mesh with their advisers' practices. Not all traditional firms in the financial advice industry are exploring the robo-adviser. Raymond James Financial Inc. this month said it was not developing a robo-model that would compete with the firm's advisers.

Latest News

Federal judge dismisses Eltek manipulation lawsuit against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Federal judge dismisses Eltek manipulation lawsuit against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney

Nine-month electronic trading freeze and share lending program at the center of dismissed claim.

RIA wrap: Dynamic strikes South Carolina deal to reach $7B AUM milestone
RIA wrap: Dynamic strikes South Carolina deal to reach $7B AUM milestone

Meanwhile, Rossby Financial's leadership buildout rolls on with a new COO appointment as Balefire Wealth welcomes a distinguished retirement specialist to its national network.

Rethinking diversification amid a concentrated S&P 500
Rethinking diversification amid a concentrated S&P 500

With a smaller group of companies driving stock market performance, advisors must work more intentionally to manage concentration risks within client portfolios.

Merrill pays second settlement to former Miami Dolphins player, client of ex-broker
Merrill pays second settlement to former Miami Dolphins player, client of ex-broker

Professional athletes are often targets of scam artists and are particularly vulnerable to fraud.

Schwab touts AI as its biggest growth lever at investor day
Schwab touts AI as its biggest growth lever at investor day

The brokerage giant tells Wall Street it will use artificial intelligence to reach clients it has never been able to serve — and turn the technology's perceived threat into a competitive edge.

SPONSORED Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human

As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management

SPONSORED Durability over scale: What actually defines a great advisory firm

Growth may get the headlines, but in my experience, longevity is earned through structure, culture, and discipline