LPL Financial Introduces eSignature to Advisor Technology Platform

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --LPL Financial LLC – the nation's largest independent broker-dealer*, a leading RIA custodian, institutional service provider and a wholly owned subsidiary of LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: LPLA) – today announced that it has introduced DocuSign's eSignature solution to streamline document processing and enhance the client experience. This new technology tool will dramatically increase efficiency, reduce paperwork and improve both the client and advisor experience when signing and submitting LPL Financial forms. 

Powered by DocuSign, the global leader for electronic signature, eSignature is now available across LPL Financial as part of its BranchNet technology platform at no additional cost to advisors or their clients. 

The tool helps LPL Financial boost productivity and save time by:

• Streamlining the account-opening process and reducing document submission turnaround time, eliminating the need for faxes or mailing;
• Automatic routing to multiple signers;  
• Automated tracking of pending documents and automated client reminders;
• Providing the ability to eSign documents on mobile devices anytime, anywhere; and
• Enhancing auditing and risk management practices.

In compliance with the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National (ESIGN) Commerce Act of 2000, eSignature does not require a 'wet ink' signature and is authenticated through an access ID and a knowledge-based authentication process. 

Christopher Giles, Senior Vice President of Advisor-Facing Technology at LPL Financial, said, "We are always seeking new ways to enhance the ability of financial advisors to maximize their time spent on the client-facing aspects of their business while eliminating extraneous tasks and providing a superior service experience.  The launch of DocuSign's eSignature solution is an important step forward for LPL Financial, our advisors and their clients. As a simple example, LPL Financial currently receives about 4 million faxes a year, and eSignature could dramatically reduce that amount, resulting in a significant savings in paper, paperwork and office-keeping tasks.  We believe that eSignature's easy-to-use nature, and its seamless integration with our comprehensive document creation, submission, delivery, storage and retrieval processes, once again underscores our company's commitment to be at the technological forefront of our industry."

Keith Krach, DocuSign's chairman and CEO, added: "We're excited to partner with LPL Financial to help continually enhance the experience of its advisors. The launch of DocuSign's eSignature solution highlights LPL's commitment to its customers with technology that creates a better experience for everyone."

About LPL Financial
LPL Financial, a wholly owned subsidiary of LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: LPLA), is the nation's largest independent broker-dealer (based on total revenues, Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2012), a top RIA custodian, and a leading independent consultant to retirement plans. LPL Financial offers integrated technology, comprehensive clearing and compliance services, practice management programs and training, and independent research to over 13,100 financial advisors and approximately 685 financial institutions. In addition, LPL Financial supports over 4,500 financial advisors licensed with insurance companies by providing customized clearing, advisory platforms and technology solutions. LPL Financial and its affiliates have approximately 2,900 employees with primary offices in Boston, Charlotte, and San Diego. For more information, please visit www.lpl.com.

LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. DocuSign is not affiliated with LPL Financial.  

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "may," "plans," "predicts," "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.  Forward-looking statements are not guarantees that future results, plans, intentions or expectations expressed or implied by LPL Financial Holdings Inc. or its affiliates will be achieved. Matters subject to forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to be materially different than those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements.  Important factors that could cause or contribute such differences include, but are not limited to, LPL Financial LLC's ability to successfully integrate the eSignature service, changes in general economic and financial market conditions, fluctuations in the value of assets under custody, effects of competition in the financial services industry, changes in the number of our financial advisors and institutions and their ability to effectively market financial products and services, the effect of current, pending and future legislation, regulation and regulatory actions, and the other factors set forth in Part I, "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in LPL Financial Holdings Inc.'s 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available on www.lpl.com and www.sec.gov.

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SOURCE LPL Financial LLC