LPL Adds $700 Million-Asset Skyward Financial, Formerly With Wedbush
The advisers of Skyward Financial joined LPL Financial’s broker-dealer, registered investment adviser platform. They reported serving approximately $700 million in advisory, brokerage and retirement plan assets and join LPL from Wedbush Securities.
“We welcome the Skyward Financial team to LPL. As their partner, we are committed to delivering innovative technology, integrated platforms and strategic resources to help them seamlessly run their practice and provide an elevated client experience,” said Scott Posner, managing director, business development at LPL.
Based in Houston, Skyward Financial was founded and is led by Matthew Houston, Lynn Houston, and Ross Stripling. The team of six advisers said they take a collaborative approach to helping clients establish their financial plans. Most of their clients are business owners and retirees; they also work with Major League Baseball players and are looking to expand their base of college athletes.
“We believe that people need to be comfortable with what they own and understand why they own certain things. There is very close collaboration at the beginning of the relationship and we take the time to understand the client’s full financial picture to craft strategies that reflect their unique needs,” said Matthew Houston. “Our clients hire us for our expertise and direct access to senior advisors with decades of experience.”
Seeking enhanced service experiences and a more robust technology platform, the Skyward Financial team – which includes Carlie Clayton; Jerry Axelrod; Lisa Marcelli, CFP, CDFA; Mike Hamilton; Valencia Linton; and Steven Phan, vice president of operations – transitioned to LPL to scale their client-focused financial support.
LPL held its Focus 2025 conference earlier this month and showcased its latest in wealth management technology. This included a $50 million investment to transform adviser compensation with AI-powered forecasting, multi-custody tracking, and comprehensive analytics.
“The standout benefit for us was LPL’s robust technology. As a historically regional firm, we realized our technology couldn’t keep up, and our younger clients were seeking something that better suited their needs,” said Matthew Houston. “Through LPL, we gain all the tools of a Wall Street firm without actually being one, and still maintaining our independence, including our own branding and image.”
Also in August, the financial advisers of Zarra Wealth Management joined LPL from Ameriprise. They reported serving approximately $270 million in advisory, brokerage, and retirement plan assets.
As of July 31, 2025, LPL supported more than 29,000 financial advisers. Total advisory and brokerage assets were $1.9 trillion.
Click here to visit the AltsWire directory page.
