What is the Advisor Inclusion Council?

LPL Financial is proud to be able to offer a strong support system that is objective and cares about your advisor business. Denika Tokunga, president of Maven Wealth Management and member of the Advisor Inclusion Council, said of LPL, “They care about me and when I win, they win.”

The Advisor Inclusion Council provides a space where LPL financial professionals are empowered to share ideas and suggestions with LPL leaders. They can highlight challenges they are facing as business owners as well as opportunities to better support their clients.

Ultimately, the goal of the Advisor Inclusion Council is to further diverse and inclusive practices and deliver support that helps financial advisors meet the needs of their clients. We spoke with several council members to hear their insights and experiences.

What LPL advisors are saying about the Advisor Inclusion Council

“I have learned so much more that has made me a better person and has also made me a better financial advisor.” – Bobbie Meola, Stratos Wealth Partners

Reflecting on the work: Advisor Business Communities

“I love what Stanley said [in the video]. It really does feel like a family,” said Nena Chhoum, senior consultant of Advisor Diversity & Inclusion. Nena is part of LPL’s Advisor Diversity & Inclusion team that helps LPL attract and retain a diverse network of financial advisors in the industry.

“We’ve built a strong and symbiotic relationship with the advisors. Our mission is to be the firm of choice for advisors in the industry. Cultivating a diverse advisor community has been such a great part of what we have been able to build,” she added.

The Advisor Inclusion Council started in the summer of 2018, and one of the most notable programs that has stemmed from it has been the Advisor Business Communities. These groups were formed in response to advisor feedback so that advisors could build relationships with their peers and be connected with LPL resources to support their business success.

LPL Financial currently has the following advisor communities:

“I’m so excited about the future of our Advisor Business Communities,” shared Laurie Barela, founder and CEO of Vargas Wealth Management.

“These are starting points for people to make real connections. And those connections can grow into other things. Business opportunities. We learn from each other’s best practices. Maybe a deal will come out of it, a merger, a buyout. And sometimes I feel like in a firm this big, it’s hard to figure out where to go. So, having a smaller community and being able to ask questions and make connections is really valuable.”

Private LinkedIn groups are a core component of the communities. Advisors can connect there, contributing to discussions on business best practices, as well as receiving updates on the latest from the Advisor Diversity and Inclusion team. The team also holds conferences and other virtual and in-person opportunities for advisor engagement.

“We take a step back and let  advisors lead our discussion sessions with their peers. We help facilitate and navigate those conversations and also connect our advisors with other resources at LPL,” said Chhoum.

LPL has worked with the members of the council from the beginning to align Advisor Diversity and Inclusion efforts with what  advisors found most valuable. “The structure of our program has evolved with time; we have learned that what advisors want most is to hear from each other,” she added.

Advisor impact: Building a sense of belonging

“[Being a part of the Advisor Inclusion Council] has helped me personally because of the wonderful, dynamic individuals that are part of this group. It's also helped me to open my eyes to how individuals live their life that are not in symmetry with how I live my life, meaning the traditions that we were taught when we were young. The world is so much more colorful now. And because of these individuals, I have learned so much more that has made me a better person and has also made me a better financial advisor.” – Bobbie Meola, Stratos Wealth Partners

“Communities are important for underrepresented advisors because a lot of times they are working solo. And they’re not as connected to the infrastructure of LPL to know the resources that are there. Having a community where we can go and share ideas and engage with each other is very beneficial. It’s great from a business standpoint, but also how you feel from a morale standpoint.” – Stanley Funches, Intelus Wealth Management

“[The Council has] given me the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people from different backgrounds who service a variety of diverse clients. And what I've found is that while we come from different paths into this career, and we have different experiences, we often as business owners have the same or very similar challenges.” – Jeremy Gussick, Gussick and Barnett Financial Planning

We have 21 advisors in Advisor Inclusion Council currently, all from different walks of life and stages of their career. We want to capture different perspectives and build what tomorrow looks like together. What can we learn from you? How might joining a community make a difference in your tomorrow?

Learn more about LPL’s Advisor Diversity and Inclusion Team.

The views and opinions expressed by the LPL Financial Advisor(s) may not be representative of the views of other Financial Advisors and are not indicative of future performance or success. Neither LPL Financial nor the LPL Financial Advisor can be held responsible for any direct or incidental loss incurred by applying any of the information offered.

The Advisor firms mentioned and LPL Financial are separate entities.