About Cetera Advisor Networks (Our Broker/Dealer)

Cetera Advisor Networks was founded in 1983 as Financial Network Investment Corporation, a pioneer on the emergent independent-contractor broker-dealer scene. It was built on the belief that advisors could enjoy even greater success by joining high- performance teams offering local support and guidance, while sharing best practices across a nationwide network. From that belief, the firm’s hallmark regional model was born. 

What began with 13 regional directors has now grown to 60, spread throughout the United States but connected through Cetera Advisor Networks’ home office in El Segundo, California. In 2010, the company became part of Cetera Financial Group and gained the ability to both expand its ground-breaking wealth management platform, first constructed in the 1990s, and also draw on substantially more resources through the scale and expertise of the collective Cetera organization. 

Through these resources, the regional directors lead the way in helping advisors dramatically grow their business at every career stage. And when advisors are ready to retire, the regional directors’ partner with Cetera Advisor Networks to provide succession options and financial support that creates successful transitions. It’s a model that built the firm into one of the nation’s largest and most successful independent broker-dealers.

About Cetera Financial Group (B/D Parent Company)

Cetera Financial Group is one of the nation’s largest privately-held, independent broker- dealer and investment advisor families. Through its four independently managed firms: Cetera Advisors, Cetera Advisor Networks, Cetera Financial Institutions and Cetera Financial Specialists, it provides comprehensive broker-deal services, innovative technology, and competitive advisory programs to approximately 6,500 independent financial professionals and more than 600 financial institutions. 

Cetera was formed on February 1, 2010, upon the sale of three ING broker-dealers and their technology and back-office support teams to an affiliate of Lightyear Fund II, L.P., which is managed by Lightyear Capital LLC, a private equity firm specializing in financial services. Led by CEO Valerie Brown, Cetera’s diverse management team is comprised of industry veterans averaging more than 22 years’ experience in financial services and is governed by an executive board that brings an additional wealth of investment and technology acumen to the group. 

Committed to using our collective knowledge and expertise in service to and for other, Cetera is focused on the growth of our financial professionals’ independent practices by giving them the industry and market insight, technology, resources and solutions they need to better focus on helping their clients pursue their own financial goals. 

About Pershing LLC (Account Custodian)

Pershing, a BNY Mellon company, and its affiliates provide global financial business solutions to advisors, asset managers, broker-dealers, family offices, fund managers and registered investment advisory firms. A financial services market leader located in 23 offices worldwide, we are uniquely positioned to provide advisors and firms global insights into industry trends, regulatory changes and best practices, as well as shifts in investor sentiment and expectations. Pershing provides solutions—including innovative programs and business consulting—that help create a competitive advantage for our clients. 

As the New Model Clearing Firm™, Pershing LLC provides a broad suite of financial business solutions so advisors and broker-dealers can drive their business forward in a dynamic industry and regulatory environment. We are the #1 clearing firm in the U.S.* and our clients range from full service, institutional and independent firms to self-directed and bank-affiliated broker-dealers and span the globe. With a keen eye on delivering dependable operational support, robust trading services, flexible technology, an expansive array of investment solutions, practice management support and service excellence, our solutions help advisors and firms manage their businesses efficiently and serve their clients effectively. Pershing LLC (member FINRA/NYSE/SIPC) is a BNY Mellon company. 

*InvestmentNews, August 2013