LPL Financial

Industry experts think LPL will have to work hard to retain Commonwealth advisors who were sold on the idea that they'd be working for a "boutique" firm.

The acquisition will bring LPL as much as $285 billion in AUM and 2,900 advisors when it closes in the second half of the year.

U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich found Ameriprise failed to furnish evidence that data taken by a recently recruited advisory team was going to be used to solicit their clients to LPL.

In a legal response, LPL contends it has been sued at least seven times in the past year after recruiting advisors from industry rival Ameriprise.

Thrust into the top leadership role, Rich Steinmeier oversees strong results in his first six months.

The addition of Prudential Financial and Atria Wealth Solutions helped boost LPL's advisor headcount to a record of nearly 29,000 by the end of last year.

The wealth management business of the world's largest credit union and its 14 million members opted to choose its own destination after a giant M&A deal.

The case reflects the extent of industry efforts — and failures to enforce — guidelines such as customer identification programs.

Michael Bernier oversaw roughly $165 million in client assets at Canter Strategic Wealth Management, a firm with $300 million under management. Then he left to join LPL.

The rival firms will pay for a forensic consultant to preserve evidence of transferred confidential data while they await FINRA arbitration.