LPL Financial has kicked off its annual flagship conference, Focus 2024, which is set to be one of the largest gatherings of financial advisors globally.
The three-day event, held at the San Diego Convention Center, is set to draw nearly 9,000 attendees, the firm announced.
With a crowd consisting of financial professionals, fintech partners, and investment service providers, the conference will include more than 200 breakout sessions on a wide range of topics such as artificial intelligence, estate planning, and client segmentation.
LPL Financial president and CEO, Dan Arnold, emphasized the Focus event – set to be the largest in the firm’s history – as an extension of the company's commitment to supporting its 23,000 advisors and 1,000 institutions.
“We are investing back into our winning model to create unprecedented flexibility in how advisors affiliate with LPL,” Arnold said.
LPL recently posted a 21 percent year-over-year increase in total advisory and brokerage assets, reaching $1.5 trillion in the second quarter of 2024. The company continues to expand its offerings with a full suite of affiliation models, catering to the diverse needs of financial professionals.
During the conference, LPL also unveiled a refreshed visual identity, featured prominently throughout the event and across its digital channels, which it says reflects its evolution and broad range of wealth management services.
Among the focal points of discussion will be the growing role of artificial intelligence in the wealth management sector, according to Greg Gates, managing director and LPL’s chief technology and information officer.
“Our role to help enable [advisors’] success is to bring innovative ways AI can transform how we all work, ensuring our advisors’ time is prioritized for client engagement,” Gates said in a statement, highlighting the firm's pilot of a new AI tool designed to analyze client data and generate personalized financial planning insights.
Cybersecurity also remains a priority for LPL, the company said as it highlighted several tools to ramp up security for advisors, including secure cloud storage and password management solutions.
These tools are part of LPL's broader effort to protect advisors' practices from cyber threats, which is increasingly important as nearly half of all cyber breaches affect businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees.
The conference stage will also be graced by closing keynote speakers Olympic medalist Apolo Ohno and former NFL champion Jon Dorenbos.
The Focus 2024 event is scheduled from today through August 14.
Rajesh Markan earlier this year pleaded guilty to one count of criminal fraud related to his sale of fake investments to 10 clients totaling $2.9 million.
From building trust to steering through emotions and responding to client challenges, new advisors need human skills to shape the future of the advice industry.
"The outcome is correct, but it's disappointing that FINRA had ample opportunity to investigate the merits of clients' allegations in these claims, including the testimony in the three investor arbitrations with hearings," Jeff Erez, a plaintiff's attorney representing a large portion of the Stifel clients, said.
Chair also praised the passage of stablecoin legislation this week.
Maridea Wealth Management's deal in Chicago, Illinois is its first after securing a strategic investment in April.
Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.
Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.
