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The Continuity Private Wealth team (L-R): Lisa Baltz, James “Jamie” P. Debuque, Wendy Fratrik and Timothy M. Baltz

Industry Spotlight > Broker Dealers

LPL's Strategic Wealth Channel Lures Billion-Dollar Merrill Team

By Janet Levaux

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LPL Financial says a team from Merrill Lynch that works with about $1 billion in total assets has moved to its Strategic Wealth Services channel. This is the 40th group to join the channel, which was launched by LPL in April 2020. 

“We’ve seen a growing trend of advisors looking for more autonomy; to be the CEO and call the shots for their practice while still having access to sophisticated resources and an open-architecture platform,” according to Scott Posner, LPL executive vice president, business development. “LPL’s Strategic Wealth Services allows advisors to do just that.”

The new LPL-affiliated group does business as Continuity Private Wealth and includes financial advisors James “Jamie” P. Debuque and Timothy M. Baltz; they have worked together for nearly 15 years in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

“By making this move, we now have the freedom to follow a fiduciary standard for our clients without corporate influence,” Debuque said in a statement.

Also on the team — which focuses on high-net-worth families, business owners, executives and professionals — are COO Wendy A. Fratrik, Client Relationship Manager Nicole Ferrara and Wealth Management Associate Lisa Baltz.

“We are excited to be able to offer our clients comprehensive financial services in alignment with their personal tax and estate planning goals, without limitations,” Baltz said. “By making this move, we now have access to a combination of high-net-worth resources and specialists we can lean on for complex situations.”

LPL says it currently serves $130 billion in high-net-worth assets under management. Its total client asset base was $1.35 trillion as of Dec. 31, 2023, which is more than double its 2018 level. Its channels now include 12,660 advisors. 

Pictured: Lisa Baltz (left), James “Jamie” P. Debuque, Wendy Fratrik and Timothy M. Baltz

Janet Levaux

@Think_JanetL

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