LPL Financial expanded its brokerage and advisory footprint on Sept. 22, 2026, by onboarding two Salt Lake City-area advisory teams from Northwestern Mutual that oversee approximately $1 billion in combined client assets, according to corporate announcements and market data. Cornerstone Advisors, led by Gardner Brown and Brian Lifferth, and Clear Pointe Wealth Management, led by Ron Hunt and Jonathan Groberg, integrated into LPL’s broker-dealer, registered investment advisor, and custodial platforms.
LPL Financial Expands Wealth Management Footprint With Two Utah Advisory Teams Managing $1 Billion
The two practices maintain a decades-long professional relationship and plan to operate from a shared office space while preserving distinct business brands and advisory models. The expansion adds to a broader wave of advisor movement across the wealth management industry, even as third-quarter mergers and acquisitions slowed down across the broader market.
Strategic Integration and Platform Shift
Both incoming practices focus heavily on retirement planning for business owners and individual investors. Cornerstone Advisors specializes in planning-first retirement guidance, while Clear Pointe Wealth Management emphasizes comprehensive retirement planning and investment research for business owners and professionals.
According to Ron Hunt, the platform migration provides the operational scale and product breadth necessary to scale client services efficiently. “We were looking for a partner that would give us the tools, resources and flexibility needed to serve clients at the highest level,” Hunt stated regarding the transition to LPL’s infrastructure.
LPL’s recent onboarding pipeline also includes Horizon Wealth Management, which joined with approximately $385 million in assets, and Northstar Financial Advisors, which brought more than $270 million in client assets.
Broader Industry Context and M&A Slowdown
The advisor additions arrive during a mixed period for wealth management transactions. A report published by DeVoe & Company indicated that third-quarter mergers and acquisitions deals in the wealth management sector slipped 19%, creating headwinds for firms tracking another record-breaking year for registered investment advisor transactions.
Despite the broader deal-volume contraction, individual advisory firms and consolidators continue to execute large-scale acquisitions and team lift-outs. Captrust Financial Advisors recently acquired Melville, New York-based Compass Advisors and Long Island Wealth Management, adding seven professionals and $1.2 billion in client assets. Meanwhile, Modern Wealth Management completed its sixth acquisition of 2026 by purchasing AWA Wealth Management, an Auburn, California-based firm overseeing approximately $290 million in client assets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What platforms do Cornerstone Advisors and Clear Pointe Wealth Management use now?
Both teams operate on LPL Financial’s broker-dealer, registered investment advisor, and custodial platforms.
How much client capital did the two Utah teams bring to LPL?
The two practices manage approximately $1 billion in combined client assets originating from Northwestern Mutual.
Where are the two advisory practices located?
Both Cornerstone Advisors and Clear Pointe Wealth Management operate from a shared office in the Salt Lake City, Utah area.
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