LPL Financial LLC, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer, has partnered with financial advisors Josh Brown, Scott Thompson, Joel Gray and James (Jake) Cluverius Jr. to launch a new independent practice, NorthEnd Private Wealth, the companies said today in a news release.

The new firm will be affiliated with LPL Financial’s Strategic Wealth Services (SWS) model, designed to support experienced advisors moving from wirehouses to independent practices. The team will leverage LPL’s broker-dealer, corporate registered investment advisor (RIA) and custodial platforms to support daily operations and long-term business management, the release said.

Brown, Thompson, Gray and Cluverius were formerly with Merrill Lynch, where they managed approximately $650 million in advisory, brokerage and retirement plan assets.

The firm is headquartered in the North End business district of Greenville, S.C., for which the four managing partners named their newly independent practice. According to Brown, all four entered the financial advice field from other professions and have been friends and colleagues for more than two decades.

“We trust each other and we are all like-minded in our work ethic, morals and faith, so partnering together was a natural extension of our relationships,” he said in the news release. “We come from hard-working, blue-collar families, and we understand the amount of work and sacrifice it takes to earn and save $100,000 or $100 million.”

With administrative support from Jeannie Fowler and Ashley Thomason, the advisors primarily provide wealth management, retirement income planning and estate planning services. By launching an independent practice with support from LPL, Brown said he and his partner hope to gain more control over the business, while still placing their clients’ best interests ahead of their own.

LPL’s SWS model, branded with the motto “You own it, we run it,” bridges the transition to independence by providing the team with support and services to launch their business, including real estate sourcing, brand development, technology setup and human resources support, LPL said. In addition, LPL provides ongoing administrative, marketing and CFO services to independent launches.

Brown said in the news release that once settled onto LPL’s platform, the NorthEnd team has two immediate goals: organic growth through referrals and growing its team of advisors.

Founded in 1989, LPL Financial LLC is headquartered in Fort Mill, S.C., San Diego and Boston.