A financial advisor from North Canton, Ohio has left Edward Jones to establish an independent practice through LPL Financial’s broker-dealer and registered investment advisor platforms.
Nathan J. Hershman, ChFC, CEPA, AAMS, CPWA, CRPC, launched SteadRock Private Wealth targeting families, pre-retirees, retirees, and business owners with a particular focus on clients in the manufacturing sector.
Hershman managed approximately $185 million in client assets at Edward Jones, according to LPL’s announcement on November 11.
The move is the latest in a sustained run of advisor recruitment for LPL Financial, which has emerged as the dominant recruiting force in the independent broker-dealer channel. Over a five-year span ending in 2025, LPL recorded more than 7,200 net advisor additions according to an ISS Market Intelligence report - the largest haul of any firm and greater than the net gain of the entire independent broker-dealer channel over the same period.
SteadRock serves clients by considering the connections across investments, retirement planning, business interests, charitable giving, and financial legacies, a practice model Hershman describes as rooted in listening before advising.
"Behind a financial plan is a person, a family and a set of decisions that matter to them," Hershman said. "I want to understand what clients are working toward, what concerns them and what they want their wealth to support before we begin discussing strategies."
For business owners, planning conversations at SteadRock may encompass succession planning, the financial implications of a business sale, and how a future transition could affect retirement and legacy priorities. For families and retirees, the practice centers on understanding the life their assets are designed to support.
"A useful advisory relationship needs room for honest conversations," Hershman said. "Sometimes that means talking through a difficult decision or looking more closely at an assumption. My role is to listen, explain the considerations clearly and help clients think about how a decision fits into the larger picture."
Hershman's departure from Edward Jones reflects a broader pattern of experienced wirehouse and regional broker advisors choosing independence - a trend that has consistently worked in LPL's favor as it scales its platform.
Ken Hullings, recently installed head of advisor recruiting and executive vice president of business development at LPL said the firm sees SteadRock as a strong fit for its platform.
"Nate has built SteadRock Private Wealth around a clear commitment to understanding what matters most to each client and helping them make thoughtful financial decisions," Hullings said. "We're excited to welcome Nate to LPL and support his vision for an independent practice grounded in personal relationships, candid conversations and comprehensive planning."
Through LPL's affiliation model, SteadRock gains access to the firm's technology infrastructure, investment platform, and business support resources - allowing Hershman to operate under his own brand while drawing on the operational scale of one of the country's largest independent broker-dealers.
LPL Financial services and custodies approximately $2.6 trillion in brokerage and advisory assets on behalf of approximately 8 million Americans.
The SteadRock name reflects steadiness and a sound foundation, connecting Hershman's personal interests in photography, backpacking, camping, and travel with the values he brings to client relationships - a nod to the kind of practice he aims to build: durable, grounded, and built for the long term.
As LPL continues to attract advisors from wirehouses and regional firms, breakaway stories like Hershman's illustrate how the case for independence is resonating with experienced practitioners looking to serve clients on their own terms.
For advisors considering a similar path, InvestmentNews' 2026 Rising Stars report profiles a generation of independent-minded planners who are reshaping the advisor landscape through trust and straightforward communication.
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