LA VISTA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Securities America, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE MKT: LTS, LTS PrA), announced today it has completed the acquisition of certain assets of independent broker-dealer Wall Street Financial Group (WSFG) of Fairport, N.Y.
Sixty-seven WSFG advisors with approximately $11 million in annual gross revenue and $2.1 billion in client assets transitioned to Securities America. WSFG President and CEO Victoria Bach-Fink and Vice President D. Robert Anderson will join Securities America and supervise the branch.
“We are excited to join Securities America,” Bach-Fink said. “For 22 years, WSFG has been committed to enhancing our advisors’ ability to serve their clients. By joining Securities America, we can leverage our client-focused approach with industry-leading resources. As a large OSJ under a leading broker-dealer, we will gain compliance support, strong technology and important value-add programs like succession planning, practice management and a full suite of asset management resources.
“Securities America can provide WSFG’s advisors vital compliance and fiduciary services,” she said. “Our shared vision of providing advisors with top-quality resources makes this an ideal partnership.”
The branch will operate under the name Evolution Financial Advisors.
“The values and culture fostered by Wall Street Financial Group closely align with those found at Securities America,” said Securities America CEO and President Jim Nagengast. “This deal allows the advisors to maintain the valuable relationships they’ve built with their leaders and each other while leveraging Securities America’s infrastructure, technology and practice management programs to continue their growth and success.”
In the past eight years, Securities America has developed industry-leading expertise in transitioning large groups of advisors. With the asset acquisitions of WSFG as well as Foothill Securities, which the company announced last month, Securities America will have successfully completed nine transactions, bringing on board more than 1,000 advisors with approximately $127.8 million in revenue and about $14.9 billion in client assets.
“Our proven, sophisticated, multi-departmental approach to the acquisition process, along with our industry thought leadership pertaining to the DOL rule and its impacts, have made us a desirable business partner for firms such as WSFG,” said Gregg Johnson, Securities America executive vice president of branch office development and acquisitions.
About Securities America
Securities America is one of the nation’s largest independent broker-dealers with more than 2,000 independent advisors and $58 billion in client assets.
Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Securities America Advisors, Inc., an SEC Registered Investment Advisory Firm. Securities America, Wall Street Financial Group and Evolution Financial Advisors are separate entities.
