E.P. Wayne Financial Group's Independence & Partnership With LPL Financial
E.P. Wayne Financial Group is an independent financial services firm in Columbia, SC, with an office in Forest Acres. We provide financial planning, investment management, retirement income planning, wealth management, insurance planning, and group retirement plan services.
What Independence Means to E.P. Wayne Financial Group
As an independent financial advisor, we maintain our own approach to financial planning, investment management, and client service. Independence allows us to evaluate different strategies and solutions based on the needs and circumstances of our clients rather than being limited to a single company's investment approach or product platform.
Our independence allows us to work with clients based on their individual goals and circumstances. We can focus on the advice and services we believe are appropriate for each client rather than following a proprietary approach.
Why E.P. Wayne Financial Group Aligns With LPL Financial
We aligned with LPL Financial for technology, research, and operational support. This relationship gives our firm access to resources that enhance the way we serve our clients while allowing us to maintain the flexibility of an independent financial services firm.
The advisors of E.P. Wayne Financial Group maintain its own client relationships and is responsible for the financial advice and strategies we provide.
Independence and Client Service
For us, the value of our relationship with LPL Financial is the combination of independence and access to the resources of a larger financial services organization. This allows us to focus on our clients and the financial decisions they face while having access to the technology, research, and operational resources needed to serve them.
The advisors of E.P. Wayne Financial Group provide independent financial advice through its advisory services.
E.P. Wayne Financial Group and LPL Financial are separate entities.
LPL Financial provides additional information about why financial advisors choose the independent model and the flexibility, technology, and resources available to independent advisors.
The Independent Advisor ModelCommon Questions
What is LPL Financial in my relationship with E.P. Wayne Financial Group?
LPL Financial is the broker-dealer and custodian behind the firm. LPL provides licensing, trading platform, technology, client statements, compliance support, home-office supervision, and client reporting tools — and LPL holds client assets. Your financial services firm is E.P. Wayne Financial Group, and every decision about your money is made here.
What is home-office supervision?
Home-office supervision is oversight for us, never advice for you. LPL assigns each advisor a Regional Supervisory Principal and provides central supervision — reviews, office visits, and compliance support — freeing the advisors of the firm to manage assets and advise clients. In practice, the home office keeps certain regulatory requirements in front of us — flagging things like an account review that requires documentation, or a position the system identifies as in jeopardy of drifting overweight or underweight relative to the account’s stated investment objective. The decisions stay with the firm.
Does LPL Financial make investment decisions for me?
No. LPL Financial does not make investment decisions for our clients. We make them together with our clients. LPL offers research and idea support — market insights, asset allocation research, and investment product guidance — which we draw on selectively. Every recommendation we make is our own.
Will I ever talk to someone at LPL?
You probably never will — but you can. LPL doesn’t interview clients or manage the advisory relationship. LPL does staff an 800-number client service team you can call if you can’t reach us with an account-related need or question.
Why does my account mail say LPL?
Your advisor is with E.P. Wayne Financial Group. LPL Financial is where the accounts are held. Account statements, trade confirmations, and other account-generated mail come from LPL with the LPL logo most prominent — some of it goes out automatically and does not carry the firm’s logo. That is the most common source of confusion: clients sometimes say “LPL” when they mean where their money is held.
Does LPL market to me?
LPL does not market to our clients.
What happens to my accounts if E.P. Wayne Financial Group ever leaves LPL?
We hire LPL — not the other way around. Just as clients choose to work with us, we choose LPL to support our independent practice. If we ever decided to work with a different company, we have the right to retain our clients and choose another company to support our practice.
Ready to Discuss Your Financial Future?
Connect with us for a focused, confidential consultation.