PRNewswire – LPL Financial LLC, the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer* and a wholly owned subsidiary of LPL Investment Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: LPLA), today announced the launch of WomenInvest, a new marketing and practice management platform.  WomenInvest provides a comprehensive suite of tools and resources to help financial advisors build their businesses and increase referrals by more effectively marketing to and serving women investors.

The new platform includes customizable and compliance-approved marketing materials, best practices materials for working with women investors, original research on behavioral psychology, and much more.  All tools and resources are free of charge and accessible through a web-based marketing gateway exclusive to LPL Financial advisors.

Marissa Fox-Foley, Executive Vice President of Marketing at LPL Financial, said, “There is no doubt that women investors represent a tremendous, growing opportunity for advisors, and we are confident that WomenInvest provides LPL Financial advisors with the support they need to more effectively reach out to and serve this important segment of the population.”

Unique within the broker-dealer industry, WomenInvest aligns its tools and resources around four major life stage segments identified by LPL Financial through extensive original research in partnership with third-party thought leaders.  These life stages, which drive the majority of investors’ attitudes and priorities toward money and investing, are as follows:

• In Relationships , where the emphasis is on enabling advisors to effectively engage with both partners in a marriage or domestic union
• In Transition , in which the focus is on providing support to women investors during a time of significant life change, such as a career transition, divorce or death of a spouse
• In Business , which identifies strategies for advising professional women, including women who are business owners or have inherited significant assets
• In Retirement , where the emphasis is on enabling the advisor to work closely with women investors in developing financial strategies that support the goals of living longer and better

Mark Brown, an independent financial advisor who serves as Managing Partner at Denver, Colorado-based Brown & Tedstrom, Inc., an independent wealth management firm with over $400 million in brokerage and advisory assets under management with LPL Financial, said, “I am very excited by the potential of WomenInvest.  This new platform underscores how LPL Financial is constantly focused on enhancing the ability of advisors to support their clients.  As an advisor who has always been committed to serving the needs of women investors, it is also gratifying to see recognition within our industry of the importance of women as financial decision-makers.”

Cam Neri, an LPL Financial-affiliated independent advisor who serves as Managing Partner at San Jose, California-based Retirement Capital Strategies, an independent wealth management firm with over $200 million in assets under management, said, “The WomenInvest program’s focus on four key life cycle stages for women, with specific tools and resources around each, is an innovative approach that will enhance my ability to serve women investors while helping to accelerate the growth of my practice.  The platform is both comprehensive and user-friendly, and I am confident that it will enable us to rapidly add even greater value to our client relationships.”

Marissa Fox-Foley concluded, “Our research shows that women investors tend to be loyal, satisfied with their advisor relationships and willing to provide referrals.  However, success in serving women investors requires a nuanced understanding of their needs at each phase of their lives, and an approach to financial planning that works for them.  We are pleased to support our advisors with this increasingly critical client demographic.”

About LPL Financial
LPL Financial, a wholly owned subsidiary of LPL Investment Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: LPLA), is the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer (based on total revenues, Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2011), a top RIA custodian, and a leading independent consultant to retirement plans. LPL Financial offers proprietary technology, comprehensive clearing and compliance services, practice management programs and training, and independent research to more than 12,800 financial advisors and approximately 670 financial institutions. In addition, LPL Financial supports over 4,000 financial advisors licensed with insurance companies by providing customized clearing, advisory platforms and technology solutions. LPL Financial and its affiliates have more than 2,700 employees with headquarters in Boston, Charlotte, andSan Diego. For more information, please visit www.lpl.com.