By Amit Chowdhry Sep 25, 2026

LPL Financial has added the financial advisors of Cornerstone Advisors and Clear Pointe Wealth Management, two Salt Lake City-area wealth management practices that collectively reported serving approximately $1 billion in assets. The teams joined LPL from Northwestern Mutual and are now affiliated with LPL Financial’s broker-dealer, registered investment advisor, and custodial platforms. LPL Welcomes Cornerstone Adviso…

The two practices have maintained a personal and professional relationship for decades and are preparing to operate from a shared office while retaining their separate business identities. Together, they provide financial planning and retirement-focused wealth management services to business owners, professionals, retirees, and other clients throughout Utah.

Cornerstone Advisors is led by Gardner Brown and Brian Lifferth, CFP, who have worked together since 2004. The practice focuses on clients approaching or already living in retirement, using a planning-first approach designed to address the range of financial decisions that can accompany retirement and major life transitions.

Its services include comprehensive financial planning, investment management, retirement income planning, tax planning considerations, estate-related matters, and wealth transfer strategies. Brown said the firm’s approach extends beyond portfolio management to helping clients coordinate the different components of their financial lives.

Cornerstone selected LPL in part for its technology, investment platform, operational support, and flexibility. The practice said those resources are intended to support continued growth while maintaining the personalized client service around which it has built its business.

Supporting Brown and Lifferth are Lexie Sorensen, John Call III, Daniel Brown, Jennie Frey, and Alexis Rowley. LPL Welcomes Cornerstone Adviso…

Clear Pointe Wealth Management is led by Ron Hunt, CLU, ChFC, RICP, and Jonathan Groberg, CLU, ChFC, CFP, MSFS, who have worked together since 2005.

The team also concentrates on clients preparing for or living in retirement, with a particular emphasis on business owners and professionals. Its process is designed to translate broad financial plans into specific implementation strategies.

Hunt and Groberg have developed complementary roles within the practice. Groberg focuses on investment research, portfolio construction, and manager due diligence, while Hunt concentrates on comprehensive planning and client strategy.

As Clear Pointe continued to expand, the team sought a platform that could provide additional technology, product capabilities, and operational resources. The advisors said LPL’s infrastructure should allow them to increase efficiency while spending more time working directly with clients.

The move brings two established Utah practices onto a platform that has continued to expand its advisor and institutional relationships.

LPL Financial Holdings (NASDAQ: LPLA) supports more than 32,000 financial advisors and approximately 1,100 financial institutions, while servicing and custodying approximately $2.6 trillion in brokerage and advisory assets for about 8 million Americans.

The firm provides financial advisors with multiple affiliation models along with investment products, financial technology, practice management capabilities, and operational services.

For Cornerstone and Clear Pointe, the transition is intended to support future growth without combining the practices into a single brand. The firms plan to maintain their distinct identities while benefiting from shared infrastructure and a closer working relationship.

The advisors also emphasized their longstanding ties to Utah. According to LPL, the advisors have lived in the state throughout their lives and intend to continue serving local families and businesses.

The approximately $1 billion asset figure is based on asset and holding information supplied to LPL as of year-end 2025.

KEY QUOTES:

“Financial planning has always been at the center of our practice. For more than 30 years, we’ve helped clients navigate the decisions that come with retirement and major life transitions. We don’t just manage investments. We help clients address all the moving pieces of their financial lives and serve as a resource for them every step of the way.”

Gardner Brown, Financial Advisor At Cornerstone Advisors

“LPL focuses on advisors so advisors can focus on clients. The technology, investment capabilities, operational support and flexibility available through LPL position us to continue growing our practice while maintaining the personalized service our clients expect. We wanted a platform that could keep pace with the growth of our business and support where we want to go next.”

Brian Lifferth, CFP, Financial Advisor At Cornerstone Advisors

“Cornerstone Advisors and Clear Pointe Wealth Management represent the kind of client-centric, planning-focused businesses that continue to elevate our industry. Gardner, Brian, Ron, and Jonathan have built firms with distinct identities, strong reputations, and enduring relationships. We are proud to welcome them to LPL and look forward to supporting their continued growth while helping them preserve the qualities that have contributed to their success.”

Marc Cohen, Chief Growth Officer At LPL Financial