In the first major defection announced since LPL Financial’s purchase of National Planning Holdings, a four-advisor firm with $170 million in client assets joined Securities America.
Benson Financial Group bolted from National Planning weeks after
Founder Pat Benson opted to align his Hannibal, Missouri-based firm, which includes four client-facing advisors and four other producing representatives, with
“We love the idea of them being in the Midwest. We just felt like it would be a great fit,” says Benson, 55. “We really would rather be a part of a smaller BD. I’m not sure LPL would have been the right fit for us.”
A spokeswoman for National Planning did not respond to a request for comment, while an LPL spokesman declined to comment on the Benson’s departure.
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Securities America adds 10 advisors in the second recent poach by a Ladenburg Thalmann firm.
August 14 -
The nation’s largest broker-dealer must convince thousands of NPH advisors to make the transition.
August 16 -
Experts say firms that clear through Pershing have an advantage in the looming recruiting fight.
August 28
Regional brokerages and firms that assist breakaway advisors have been picking off top talent at the wirehouses.
The move came three weeks after LPL’s big buy. The deal carries a $325 million initial price plus up to $123 million more, depending on how much production LPL transfers into its fold from NPH’s four firms. The nation’s largest IBD could surpass the largest wirehouse in headcount if it keeps most NPH advisors.
However, LPL’s competitors, including La Vista, Nebraska-based Securities America,
NEW BD, NEW OSJ
Benson started Sept. 6 at Securities America after nine years with National Planning, according to FINRA BrokerCheck. The 21-year industry veteran began his advisory career with Franklin Financial Services in 1996, spending six years there prior to a five-year tenure with American General Securities. Benson’s clients include family business owners, farmers and educators, he says.
Benson’s eight producers, along with three other staff members, opted for Securities America and the 10-advisor, three-location Compass Financial, which lists $340 million in client assets. The parent firm announced Compass’ exit from National Planning the day before LPL acquired NPH last month.
Compass will serve as Benson’s office of supervisory jurisdiction under the practice’s new arrangement, according to Benson. He praised
“We just felt that they had done their due diligence,” Benson says. “They’re really prepared for it.”
Securities America, a subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann, has more than 2,200 advisors with $72 billion in client assets. The firm’s advisors make up around half of the headcount at Ladenburg’s five IBDs.
