LPL Financial Welcomes Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management To Broker-Dealer And Hybrid RIA Platforms

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- LPL Financial LLC, the nation's largest independent broker-dealer* and a wholly owned subsidiary of LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: LPLA), today announced that Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management has transitioned to the LPL Financial broker-dealer and hybrid RIA platforms, bringing approximately $175 million of client assets.

Based in Santa Monica, CA, Gerber Kawasaki focuses on wealth management for established families and individuals, as well as wealth building for a younger generation of investors.  Combining traditional investment services based on long-term, personal relationships with the extensive use of modern technology and social media to build and enhance the client experience, Gerber Kawasaki seeks to establish a new model for how investment firms conduct business. Founded in 2010 by industry veterans Ross Gerber and Danilo Kawasaki, the firm has grown rapidly to include 19 affiliated financial advisors. 

Ross Gerber, President and CEO, said, "Gerber Kawasaki focuses on both the needs of the baby boomers planning for retirement as well as on generations X and Y still learning to build wealth.  It is our vision to create not just a wealth management firm, but a revolutionary technology platform for clients to communicate, learn, and engage with their investment advisors.  From our office in Santa Monica, we serve a national clientele with highly mobile financial advisors. We conduct a constant dialogue with our 4,000 Facebook and 1,500 Twitter followers, and meet often with our national clients via Skype.  In short, we are constantly pushing the envelope in how we can deliver service to our clients and believe we are cultivating a new generation of financial advisors."

Mr. Gerber continued, "We are excited about our transition to LPL Financial's broker-dealer and RIA platforms, which represent a very progressive model for the industry.  We thoroughly reviewed the leading broker-dealers and custodians in the country, and LPL Financial was the ideal choice. We believe the many tools and resources they offer, together with the integration of their broker-dealer, custodial and clearing capabilities, will enable us to provide our clients with an efficient and cost-effective service."

Bill Morrissey, Executive Vice President of Business Development at LPL Financial, said, "We are delighted to welcome Gerber Kawasaki to LPL Financial. This rapidly growing young firm is on the cutting edge of the financial advice industry, and we are proud they have chosen LPL Financial as the most effective partner to help them achieve their strategic growth objectives.  Gerber Kawasaki's decision to affiliate with LPL Financial is a reflection of the choice, flexibility and bandwidth that we offer through the integration of our broker-dealer, custodial and clearing capabilities, which are unparalleled within our industry.  We are pleased to serve them, and to empower the continued growth and development of this firm."

About Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management
Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management was founded in June, 2010, by Ross Gerber and Danilo Kawasaki as an independent investment advisory firm that believes in long-term, personal client relationships while using technology and social media to enhance the client experience. Through its two financial planning programs, wealth building and wealth management, Gerber Kawasaki helps not only wealthy clients manage their assets, but also educates younger individuals and families on the financial strategies needed to build wealth for the future. Based in Santa Monica, CA, Gerber Kawasaki has 19 affiliated financial advisors and a total of $175 million of assets under administration.

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 headquarters in Boston, Charlotte, and San Diego. For more information, please visit www.lpl.com.

Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial.  A Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC

Investment advice also offered through Gerber Kawasaki Inc, a registered investment advisor. Gerber Kawasaki Inc. and Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management are separate entities from LPL Financial.

*Based on total revenues, Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2012

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements (regarding management expectations, strategic objectives, business prospects, financial results, and other similar matters) that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "will," "expects," "believes," and similar terms. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and our actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to, LPL Financial LLC's ability to successfully transition advisors to its platform, changes in general economic and financial market conditions, fluctuations in the value of assets under  management or administration, 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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Media Contacts
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Haven Tower Group LLC
(206) 402 5853 or (206) 420 3851 
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SOURCE LPL Financial LLC