LPL Financial's research arm has launched 17 new Building Block Model Portfolios, pushing the firm's model portfolio platform past $100 billion in assets under management and expanding its lineup to more than 70 strategies available to the roughly 32,000 financial advisors on its platform.
The new offerings are designed as modular, single-purpose strategies, each targeting a specific asset class or investment outcome across equities, fixed income, and alternatives. Advisors can deploy them individually or combine them to build tailored portfolios for clients, including within Unified Managed Account (UMA) structures that consolidate multiple strategies under one roof and allow for total-portfolio tax management.
"The introduction of our building block model portfolios enhances the flexibility and choice we provide to advisors and institutions," said Marc Zabicki, LPL's chief investment officer.
According to Cerulli Associates, UMAs are on track to become the industry's largest platform type, driven by growing demand for personalized investment solutions and tax optimization. U.S. managed account assets reached $13.7 trillion in 2024 — a 19.8% increase year-over-year — with UMAs posting an 18.7% five-year compound annual growth rate and separately managed accounts (SMAs) close behind at 18.3%, according to data cited by LPL Research.
Garrett Fish, CFA, LPL Financial's head of model portfolio management, wrote in a company blog post that the building block approach aims to extend "institutional-grade customization" to a far wider range of clients. The strategies are available as single-asset mutual funds, ETFs, and SMAs, giving advisors the flexibility to match vehicle type to client need without sacrificing portfolio control.
"Surpassing $100 billion in model portfolio assets reflects the strength of our investment platform, the performance of our strategies and the trust advisors place in our team," said Aneri Jambusaria, LPL's chief wealth officer. LPL did not disclose individual strategy performance figures.
The milestone is significant for a segment that has matured quickly. As recently as 2024, advisors debated whether model portfolios represented a surrender of investment differentiation or a smart use of time. The conversation has largely shifted with managed account assets in the US hitting $16 trillion at year-end 2025, according to figures cited by LPL Research, and the model portfolio category has become a key battleground among the major custodians and broker-dealers competing for advisor loyalty.
LPL, which manages approximately $2.6 trillion in total brokerage and advisory assets across some 1,100 financial institutions serving around 8 million Americans, has leaned into the model portfolio space as a means of deepening advisor relationships.
The firm's San Diego-based research team manages the investment process behind the strategies, freeing advisors to focus on client relationships and business development.
Two RIAs expand their geographic footprints with deals in New York's Capital Region and coastal Alabama.
A 27-year Merrill veteran, Florida advisors, and a trio of New Jersey advisors just moved to new platforms.
The mega-RIA with roughly $160 billion in client assets remains firmly in acquisition mode amid rumors of private equity giants vying to scoop it up.
Record annuity demand for principal protection collides with the most hawkish Fed dissent since 2016.
The PE-backed RIA makes its first major move since bringing in a new capital partner, adding a Massachusetts advisory firm alongside a second East Coast RIA
Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains
Dan Biagini of American Equity says the steady decline of pensions, longer lifespans and a reset in interest rates are rewriting how advisors build retirement income
