SAN DIEGO, Oct. 15, 2014 -LPL Financial LLC, the nation's largest independent broker-dealer*, a custodian for registered investment advisors (RIAs), and a wholly owned subsidiary of LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: LPLA), today announced that Carson Wealth Management Group in Omaha, NE, founded by Ron Carson, has been named "Top Performer" in the 2014 Financial Performance Study of Advisory Firms. The study, conducted by InvestmentNews, recognizes top performing practices in the industry. The winners were announced at the 2nd Annual Best Practices Awards and Workshop in Chicago, IL, on October 14.

Carson and his team participated in the in-depth study, earning a high composite ranking based on the following factors: profit margin, earnings before owner's compensation as a percentage of revenue, 3-year revenue compound annual growth rate, pretax income per owner and revenue per professional. The study is intended to serve as a benchmark for other practices in the industry.

"This recognition of Carson Wealth Management as a 'Top Performer' is confirmation of what all of us at LPL know about Ron and his team's commitment to their clients and their firm's esteemed position in the independent financial advice industry," said Robert J. Moore, president of LPL Financial. "We are proud to have been working with Ron for 25 years and to have offered solutions, including our integrated RIA platform, that support the growth of his practice."

"We are thrilled and honored to be acknowledged by InvestmentNews for our efforts to help our clients obtain and benefit from objective financial advice," said Carson. "Industry recognition such as this is a wonderful validation of our firm's focus on serving clients through holistic financial planning, disciplined investment strategies and proactive personal service."

Carson has been one of LPL's top-ranked registered representatives for 23 consecutive years, based on assets. He has received numerous industry commendations, including top-10 rankings from Barron's1 and Registered Rep2 magazine. He is also the author of three well-known books on wealth management, including Tested in the Trenches and Avalanche. Carson started his firm while attending the University of Nebraska, where he began developing the investment principles and business strategies he continues to practice and share today. In addition to his planning practice, Ron is recognized as one of the country's top trainers for financial advisors. He has shared his principles for success, as documented in his book, Tested in the Trenches: A 9-Step Plan for Building and Sustaining a Million-Dollar Financial Services Practice and its revised 2nd edition, Tested in the Trenches: A 9-Step Plan for Success as a New-Era Advisor, with audiences worldwide. Ron co-authored The New York Times best-selling book Avalanche: The 9 Principles for Uncovering True Wealth and the blueprinting process that goes with it. Together, these tools help advisors learn how to clarify their mission, vision, and values by setting business and life goals.

About LPL Financial
LPL Financial, a wholly owned subsidiary of LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:LPLA), is a leader in the financial advice market and serves $465 billion in retail assets. The Company provides proprietary technology, comprehensive clearing and compliance services, practice management programs and training, and independent research to more than 13,800 independent financial advisors and more than 700 banks and credit unions. LPL Financial is the nation's largest independent broker-dealer since 1996 (based on total revenues, Financial Planning magazine, June 1996-2014), is one of the fastest growing RIA custodians with $78 billion in retail assets served as of June 30, 2014, and acts as an independent consultant to more than 40,000 retirement plans with approximately $110 billion in retirement plan assets served. In addition, LPL Financial supports approximately 4,400 financial advisors licensed with insurance companies by providing customized clearing, advisory platforms and technology solutions. LPL Financial and its affiliates have 3,374 employees with primary offices in Boston, Charlotte, and San Diego. For more information, please visit www.lpl.com.

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial. A registered investment advisor, member FINRA/SIPC.

About Carson Wealth Management Group
Carson Wealth Management Group is based in Omaha, NE and was founded in 1983 on traditional values: hard work, loyalty, uncompromising quality and personal service. The firm oversees nearly $4.3 billion in assets under advisement.* Barron's has consistently ranked Ron Carson among the nation's top advisors. Carson Wealth Management Group is comprised of Carson Wealth, Peak Advisor Alliance and Carson Institutional Alliance - three separately run organizations, each striving to elevate the client-advisor wealth experience by providing investors and advisors with a path to realize their goals.

For more information, please visit www.carsonwealth.com.

*Please note that the amount of CWM, LLC's assets under advisement is considerably larger than the amount of the firm's regulatory assets under management. Assets under advisement include regulatory assets under management reported in CWM, LLC's Form ADV Part 1, in addition to assets with respect to which CWM, LLC may provide consulting and/or financial planning services, but does not have any management, execution or trading authority. CWM, LLC's regulatory assets under management can be found in Item 5.F of CWM, LLC's Form ADV Part 1, available at http://www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.

Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through CWM, LLC, a registered investment advisor. Carson Wealth Management Group, Carson Institutional Alliance, CWM, LLC and Peak Advisor Alliance are separate entities from LPL Financial.

1Registered Rep Magazine Top 100 Independent Advisors Award based on Total Assets Under Management
2Baron's Top Advisor Award based on assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practice and philanthropic work

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