Securities Service Network Drives Recruitment Of Sixteen Independent Advisors With $441 Million In Client Assets; Identifies Strong Growth Potential In Supporting Tax-Savvy Financial Planners

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Securities Service Network, LLC (SSN), a leading independent advisory and brokerage (IAB) firm, today announced the recruitment of five independent financial advisory practices with a total of sixteen independent advisors and approximately $441 million in total advisory and brokerage client assets. SSN is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services (NYSE American: LTS, LTS PrA).

Wade Wilkinson, President and CEO of SSN, said, "Our recruiting success underscores the growth potential of independent firms that combine a boutique service model and a distinct value proposition with the backing of a well-resourced parent company. Given the changes to our industry landscape brought on by both the fiduciary era and recent reforms to the tax code, we believe SSN has a unique opportunity to advance a longstanding core strength of supporting tax-savvy financial planners. With over 20 percent of our advisor community already working as credentialed or practicing tax advisors, we believe there is a significant opening to drive long-term growth in further developing our ability to serve and recruit advisors that embrace holistic client financial planning strategies."

The newly recruited independent advisory practices are located across the country and encompass the following:

• Valley Investment Solutions, Kaukauna, Wis., $55 million in total client assets;
• Insight Financial Services, Overland Park, Kan., $180 million in total client assets;
• Dercks, Engels & Lautenschlager Financial Services, Greenville, Wis., $90 million in total client assets;
• Summit Financial Group, Fort Wayne, Ind., $11 million in total client assets; and
• Brown & Associates Investment Services, Fayetteville, N.C., $105 million in total client assets.

Richard Lampen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ladenburg Thalmann, said, "We congratulate the SSN team on a terrific start to the new year with their recruiting results. We're looking forward to supporting the buildout of SSN's capabilities to more proactively appeal to and serve independent advisors focused on tax-savvy financial planning, which is a frequently overlooked segment of our industry. Ladenburg is pleased to support Wade Wilkinson and the rest of his team as they continue to advance their vision."

"The independent practices we serve are run by experienced and successful professionals committed to business growth while retaining a high degree of organizational simplicity," concluded Mr. Wilkinson. "Put simply, our affiliated practices are solo businesses or compact teams that value close collaboration with like-minded professionals, without being forced into formal super-structures or override relationships. We're thrilled to welcome these new additions to SSN, and we're confident our unique strategic focus positions us for continued recruiting success throughout 2018 and beyond."

About Securities Service Network, LLC (SSN)
Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, Securities Service Network, LLC (SSN), is an independent advisory and brokerage (IAB) firm founded in 1983 as one of the nation's first fee-based firms in the independent retail financial advice space. SSN serves experienced, tax-savvy financial planners seeking to grow as independent entrepreneurs, while retaining organizational simplicity in their businesses.  In addition to providing a comprehensive range of back and middle office services, SSN also facilitates opportunities for its affiliated advisors to collaborate with other members of its advisor community who have tax advisory credentials and expertise to drive holistic solutions for end clients.

SSN supports over 400 independent financial advisory practices and approximately $13 billion in advisory and brokerage client assets, and its affiliated advisors serve mass affluent and high net worth individuals, families and business owners across the country.  SSN is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE American: LTS, LTS PrA), and has been honored for multiple consecutive years as a top independent firm, as rated by financial advisors, on WealthManagement.com, a leading industry media outlet. For more information, please visit www.joinssn.com.

About Ladenburg Thalmann
Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE American: LTS, LTS PrA) is a publicly-traded diversified financial services company based in Miami, Florida. Ladenburg's subsidiaries include industry-leading independent broker-dealer firms Securities America, Inc., Triad Advisors, LLC, Securities Service Network, LLC, Investacorp, Inc. and KMS Financial Services, Inc., as well as Premier Trust, Inc., Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management Inc., Highland Capital Brokerage, Inc., a leading independent life insurance brokerage company, Ladenburg Thalmann Annuity Insurance Services LLC, a full-service annuity processing and marketing company, and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., an investment bank which has been a member of the New York Stock Exchange for over 135 years. The company is committed to investing in the growth of its subsidiaries while respecting and maintaining their individual business identities, cultures, and leadership. For more information, please visit www.ladenburg.com.

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding future growth, future initiatives and future levels of recruiting. These statements are based on management's current expectations or beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes incircumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors, including the United States Department ofLabor's rule and exemptions pertaining to the fiduciary status of investment advice providers to 401(k) plans, plan sponsors, plan participants and the holders of individual retirement or health savings accounts, future cash flows, a change in the Company's dividend policy by the Company's Board of Directors (which has the ability in its sole discretion to increase, decrease or eliminate entirely the Company's dividend at any time) and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of the Company's business. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies include those set forth in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and other factors detailed from time to time in its other filings with the SEC. The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. Further, investors should keep in mind that the Company's quarterly revenue and profits can fluctuate materially depending on many factors, including the number, size and timing of completed offerings and other transactions. Accordingly, the Company's revenue and profits in any particular quarter may not be indicative of future results. The Company is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise, except as required by law.

Media Contact:
Michael Dugan / Julius Buchanan
Haven Tower Group
424 652 6520 ext. 105 or ext. 114
mdugan@haventower.com or jbuchanan@haventower.com

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SOURCE Securities Service Network, Inc.