LPL Financial spends big on recruiting in 2019
February 24, 2020 By Bruce Kelly, Investment News As LPL Financial looks to broaden its recruiting reach this year, it is putting its money where its mouth is: The firm reported a 44.8% increase last year in recruiting bonuses that are used to entice financial advisers to leave a competing broker-dealer and set up shop with LPL. According to its 2019 annual report, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission Friday, LPL reported a balance of $338 million in forgivable loans at the end of 2019, compared to $233.3 million at the end of 2018. LPL defines the loans, also referred to as forgivable notes in the industry, as “made in connection with recruiting” and “forgivable over terms of up to 10 years provided that the adviser remains licensed through LPL Financial.” LPL’s...