Ex-Raymond James, Merrill advisors depart for LPL

Ex-Raymond James, Merrill advisors depart for LPL
The broker-dealer giant is bolstering its ranks in New Jersey and California with latest advisor additions.
JAN 15, 2025

LPL's 2025 recruitment drive is continuing on both the East and the West Coast, with new advisors coming in from Raymond James and Merrill Lynch.

On Wednesday, the firm announced financial advisors Larry Forlenza and Carl Hanks, who previously oversaw nearly $430 million in advisory, brokerage, and retirement plan assets under management, have joined its broker-dealer, RIA, and custodial platforms from RayJay's independent advisor channel, Raymond James Financial Services.

Based in Morristown, NJ, the duo has reconnected with Morristown Wealth Management, which also transitioned back to LPL from RJFS in October.

Forlenza and Hanks bring decades of experience in the financial services industry, with a focus on tailoring strategies for affluent families, business owners, and corporate executives.

“We help clients define what is most important to them and then formulate the strategies that are suited for each individual need, from accumulating wealth or investing for income, solidifying a retirement plan, or devising a distribution approach,” Hanks said in a statement Wednesday.

Forlenza added that their move to LPL was driven by the firm’s flexibility and support, highlighting the firm's open-architecture digital platform and back-office capabilities.

Earlier this week, LPL also announced that Marcus Alexander, formerly of Merrill Lynch – which recently announced a specialist group enhancing its commitment to ultra-high-net-worth clients – joined Linsco within LPL's employee advisor channel to launch Alexander Wealth Solutions.

Based in Newport Beach, California, the British ex-wirehouse advisor and record-setting competitive runner previously managed $340 million in assets.

“My passion is working with business owners, families, and retirees to help guide them toward more secure financial futures,” Alexander said in a statement on Monday.

Merrill Lynch

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