Securities America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services, announced that it had affiliated with 14 new independent financial advisory firms with more than $2 billion in client assets. All but one of the groups that have come onto the firm’s network came to the Omaha, Neb.-based broker-dealer from National Planning Holdings (NPH).
Securities America is emerging as the biggest winner in the battle to recruit independent firms from the NPH network, which was sold to LPL Financial in 2017. Though LPL is believed to have retained more than 70 percent of NPH's reps, a recruiting free-for-all has erupted for those looking to switch firms after the transaction.
“More financial advisors are taking notice of what we have to offer,” said Gregg Johnson, Securities America's executive vice president of branch office development and acquisitions. “Our service offerings, welcoming culture, innovative resources and technology have provided quite a draw.”
All of the newly added advisory groups, which affiliated with Securities America in the fourth quarter, have both advisory and brokerage client assets and more than 50 financial advisors. All of them except Larson Financial of Leawood, Kan., came from two of NPH's firms, NPC and SII Investments. They will use the various advisory, brokerage and hybrid RIA platforms offered by Securities America.
These are the independent financial advisor businesses recently added to Securities America:
US Advisory, Whitehouse Station, N.J., with over $192 million in client assets.
Azevedo & Greulich Group, Modesto, Calif., with $128 million in client assets.
Eagle Financial Counseling, located in Moscow, Idaho and Portland, Ore., with $151 million in client assets.
Fenton Wangler Financial, Vancouver, Wash., with $140 million in client assets.
Oregon Wealth Management, West Linn, Ore., with $189 million in client assets.