It’s hard to believe, but this September I’m celebrating my 20-year anniversary as an independent financial advisor with LPL Financial.
For those of you who don’t know, LPL Financial is the organization I partner with that provides the excellent range of investment securities and financial products I offer to my clients. LPL also supplies state-of-the-art proprietary technology and financial planning support to its network of advisors.
Personally, I’m grateful to have partnered with such a high-quality, dedicated company. The value LPL has brought to my firm and especially to my clients cannot be overstated. With that in mind, I’d like to spend today’s blog post thanking LPL and reflecting on my journey over the past 20 years.
The LPL Financial Philosophy
First, I want to give a shoutout to LPL Financial’s company philosophy, which aligns closely with my own philosophy at Caviness Wealth Management. Dan Arnold, LPL’s President and CEO, states “We believe there is a fundamental need for independent financial advice in America and that investors achieve better outcomes when working with a financial advisor.”
I could not agree more with Dan’s words. Much like myself and my firm, LPL prioritizes objective, personalized financial advice that is tailored to each client’s unique circumstances. I strive to always provide financial advice that puts the best interest of the client ahead of everything else, including my own interests.
To live out this philosophy, LPL provides their independent financial advisors (like me) with the support I need so I can focus on creating long-term relationships with my clients and offer the best possible service. By developing mutually trusting, enduring relationships, I’m able to deliver advice and solutions that are more customized to your needs, goals, personality, and habits.
If you’re interested, head on over to the LPL website to learn more about the LPL philosophy and the work they do to promote social responsibility, community involvement, ethical business practices, and environmental sustainability.
My Journey to LPL
Before I joined LPL, I started my career in financial services at Fidelity Investments. Working at Fidelity was a great experience, but I sought a company that would provide me the independence and flexibility I wanted to be able to trulyhelp people take control of their finances. I knew I could offer more to my clients with comprehensive financial advice rather than focusing exclusively on investments.
To make my dream a reality, I began working for an LPL affiliated advisor in 2001, just one year after starting with Fidelity. Working with an affiliated advisor allowed me to transition smoothly from my job at Fidelity to launching my own practice in 2006 – without starting completely from scratch. (I was, after all, a new husband and soon-to-be father.)
In the fall of 2006, I officially launched Caviness Wealth and joined LPL as an entirely independent financial advisor. I was ready to be in charge of my own business and assist my clients with total freedom. I’ve never looked back.
What I Love About Partnering With LPL
Aside from our shared philosophies, there are many other things I love about partnering with LPL. LPL provides the technology, systems, and processes that empower me to focus exclusively on my practice and clients.
The technology and systems provided by LPL make my clients’ lives easier, too. The technology is easy to use and allows my clients to quickly find the information they need, track their progress toward their goals, and ultimately be successful. My clients also benefit because of the extra time and autonomy I have to keep my focus and attention exclusively on them.
Moreover, the LPL culture is that of a client-first mindset. This is evident from the top, as illustrated by Dan Arnold’s words above, and throughout the entire organization. In fact, their mission is to make things easier for advisors like myself so we can focus more on doing what’s best for our clients.
LPL has made important strides in the financial services industry because they’ve enabled advisors like me to go independent – without sacrificing access to the resources that used to only be available at large financial institutions.
My Favorite LPL Memories
LPL is known for overdelivering on value. In addition to the daily ease they provide me and my clients with their technology, systems, and processes, LPL helps their advisors develop a strong sense of community with their annual summer conference: Focus.
Focus has always been a great opportunity to connect with other advisors, hear from industry experts, and discover innovative ways to keep improving. As an independent advisor, it’s great to have the opportunity to still connect with other advisors on a regular basis. Focus is an event I look forward to every year.
Because of my partnership with LPL, my greatest success has been my ability to build a truly client-focused practice since day one. At Caviness Wealth, my clients are like family. And without a strong partner like LPL, I would not have been able to build the practice I have today.
Experience the LPL Approach by Calling Caviness Wealth Today
For me, September 6th will always be an important and special day. Reflecting on the past 20 years of my practice fills me with gratitude and humbles me to see how far I’ve come.
If you’re not a part of the Caviness Wealth Management family yet, but today’s message resonates with you, I invite you to give me a call to see if I can help you create a strong financial future. Click here to schedule a conversation today.
