Securities America Financial Corporation

Securities America Financial Corporation’s roots go back to Financial Dynamics, an insurance marketing organization founded in 1984 by Steve Wild that had between 10,000 and 12,000 independent insurance agents affiliated with the firm. Like many insurance companies, Financial Dynamics recognized the potential of using its insurance sales force to offer investments. To do that, Financial Dynamics created Securities America, an independent securities broker/dealer.

By the end of 1986, Securities America had 156 advisors. In 2009, the company reached more than 1,900 advisors collectively serving more than 450,000 clients. Securities America generated approximately $485 million in gross revenue in 2009.

Securities America adapted to change again in 1994 with the formation of registered investment advisor Securities America Advisors, Inc. Consumer demand for advice and investment management, not just investment transactions, had been increasing. The advisory firm had $2 billion in assets under management by 2000 and grew consistently to more than $15 billion during 2010.

In 1998, 10 years after its successful shift from insurance to investments, Securities America was acquired by Fortune 100 company American Express, which had a long history of professional financial planning and industry leadership development.

Growth came quickly given the support of an industry leader, and by the end of 2004, Securities America had 1,540 advisors, over $230 million in annual gross revenue and ranked sixth among the country’s independent broker/dealers, according to Financial Planning magazine.

In October 2005, American Express spun off its financial services unit as Ameriprise, a Fortune 300 company on its own, with headquarters in Minneapolis. In 2010, Securities America was sold to Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. Now a wholly owned subsidiary of the new firm, Securities America continues to operate independently, focusing on those initiatives that most benefit its advisors and their clients.

Securities America, which ranked fourth on Financial Planning magazine's 2008 Independent B/D list, reached another milestone that year with its first true acquisition, purchasing Brecek & Young Advisors, a California-based broker/dealer, and its subsidiary, Iron Point Capital Management, from Security Benefit Corp. of Topeka, Kan. Around the same time, Securities America struck an exclusive deal to make offers to the top advisors from ePlanning, which was closing its broker/dealer. The company will leverage those experiences, including the resultant formalized processes and procedures, to make additional acquisitions.

The processes and technology developed for the acquisition and super-branch recruitment enabled Securities America to retain 95 percent of the Brecek & Young advisors, which was effectively 100 percent of the advisors expected to transition. Securities America has since refined those systems and created repeatable processes to use with other firms, making Securities America a leader in the industry at bringing on board other broker/dealers and large branch offices.

Securities America, Inc. is a member of FINRA/SIPC. Securities America Advisors, Inc. is an SEC Registered Investment Advisor.