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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
These consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), which require the Company to make estimates and assumptions regarding the valuation of certain financial instruments, acquisitions, contingent consideration, goodwill and other intangibles,
allowance for credit losses on receivables, share-based compensation, accruals for liabilities, income taxes, revenue and expense accruals and other matters that affect the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions and the differences may be material to the consolidated financial statements.
Consolidation
These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of LPLFH and its subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
Related Party Transactions
In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into related party transactions with beneficial owners of more than five percent of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Additionally, through its subsidiary LPL Financial, the Company provides services and charitable contributions to the LPL Financial Charitable Foundation Inc., a charitable organization that provides volunteer and financial support within the Company’s local communities.
The Company recognized revenue for services provided to these related parties of $31.4 million, $25.5 million and $19.7 million during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company incurred expense for services provided by these related parties of $4.2 million, $3.6 million and $3.6 million during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2025, receivables from and payables to related parties were $13.6 million and $0.6 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, receivables from and payables to related parties were $6.3 million and $0.5 million, respectively.
Reportable Segment
Management has determined that the Company operates in one segment, given the common nature of its operations, products and services, production and distribution process and regulatory environment. For additional information, see Note 20 - Segment Information.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized when control of the promised service is transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those services. For additional information, see Note 3 - Revenue.
Compensation and Benefits
The Company records compensation and benefits expense for all cash and deferred compensation, benefits and related taxes as earned by its employees. Compensation and benefits expense also includes fees earned by temporary employees and contractors who perform similar services to those performed by the Company’s employees.
Share-Based Compensation
Certain employees, officers, directors, advisors and institutions participate in the Company’s various long-term incentive plans that provide for granting stock options, warrants, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, deferred stock units and performance stock units. Stock options, warrants and restricted stock units generally vest in equal increments over a three-year period and expire on the tenth anniversary following the date of grant. Restricted stock awards and deferred stock units generally vest over a one-year period, and performance stock units generally vest in full at the end of a three-year performance period.
The Company recognizes share-based compensation for equity awards granted to employees, officers and directors as compensation and benefits expense on the consolidated statements of income. See Note 16 - Share-Based Compensation, Employee Incentives and Benefit Plans for additional information. The fair value of restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and deferred stock units is equal to the closing price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. The fair value of performance stock units is estimated using a Monte-Carlo simulation model on the date of grant. Share-based compensation is recognized over the requisite service period of the individual awards, which generally equals the vesting period.
The Company recognizes share-based compensation for equity awards granted to advisors and institutions as advisory and commission expense on the consolidated statements of income. The fair value of restricted stock units is equal to the closing price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. Share-based compensation is recognized over the requisite service period of the individual awards, which generally equals the vesting period.
The Company makes assumptions regarding the number of restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, deferred stock units and performance stock units that will be forfeited. The forfeiture assumption is ultimately adjusted to the actual forfeiture rate. As a result, changes in the forfeiture assumptions do not impact the total amount of expense ultimately recognized over the service period. Rather, different forfeiture assumptions would only impact the timing of expense recognition over the service period. See Note 16 - Share-Based Compensation, Employee Incentives and Benefit Plans, for additional information regarding share-based compensation for equity awards granted.
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. The computation of diluted earnings per share is similar to the computation of basic earnings per share, except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional shares of common stock that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential shares of common stock had been issued.
Income Taxes
In preparing the consolidated financial statements, the Company estimates income tax expense based on various jurisdictions where it conducts business. The Company needs to estimate current tax obligations and to assess temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. These temporary differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. The Company then must assess the likelihood that the deferred tax assets will be realized. A valuation allowance is established to the extent that it is more likely than not that such deferred tax assets will not be realized. When the Company establishes a valuation allowance or modifies the existing allowance in a certain reporting period, it generally records a corresponding increase or decrease to tax expense in the consolidated statements of income. Management makes significant judgments in determining its provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowances recorded against the deferred tax assets. Changes in the estimate of these taxes occur periodically due to changes in the tax rates, changes in the business operations, implementation of tax planning strategies, resolution with taxing authorities of issues where the Company had previously taken certain tax positions and newly enacted statutory, judicial and regulatory guidance. These changes could have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated statements of income, financial condition or cash flows in the period or periods in which they occur.
The Company recognizes the tax effects of a position in the consolidated financial statements only if it is more likely than not to be sustained based solely on its technical merits; otherwise, no benefits of the position are to be recognized. The more-likely-than-not threshold must continue to be met in each reporting period to support continued recognition of a benefit. Moreover, each tax position meeting the recognition threshold is required to be measured as the largest amount that is greater than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information.
Cash and Equivalents
Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less that are not required to be segregated under federal or other regulations. The Company’s cash equivalents are composed primarily of money market funds.
Cash and Equivalents Segregated Under Federal or Other Regulations
The Company’s broker-dealer subsidiaries are required to maintain cash or qualified securities in a segregated reserve account for the exclusive benefit of its customers in accordance with Rule 15c3-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and other regulations. At December 31, 2025, this line item included interest bearing deposits, U.S. treasury bills with original maturities of 90 days or less and approximately $0.2 million of cash for the proprietary accounts of broker-dealers. The U.S. treasury bills accrue income as earned. Discounts are accreted using a method that approximates the effective yield method over the term of the bill and are recorded to interest income, net as an adjustment to the investment yield.
Restricted Cash
Restricted cash primarily represents cash held and for use by the captive insurance subsidiary, which is primarily composed of U.S. government obligations, money market funds, and cash held in escrow as a result of the Company’s acquisition of Commonwealth. See Note 4 - Acquisitions for additional information.
Receivables from Clients, Net and Client Payables
Receivables from clients include amounts due on cash and margin transactions. The Company extends credit to clients of its advisors to finance their purchases of securities on margin and receives income from interest charged on such extensions of credit. Client payables represent credit balances in client accounts arising from deposits of funds, proceeds from sales of securities and dividend and interest payments received on securities held in client accounts at LPL Financial. The Company pays interest on certain client payable balances. 
Receivables from clients are generally fully secured by securities held in the clients’ accounts. To the extent that margin loans and other receivables from clients are not fully collateralized by client securities, the Company establishes an allowance for credit losses that it believes is sufficient to cover expected credit losses. When establishing this allowance for credit losses, the Company considers a number of factors, including its ability to collect from the client or the client’s advisor and its historical experience in collecting on such transactions.
The following table reflects a roll-forward of the allowance for credit losses on receivables from clients (in thousands):
December 31,
202520242023
Beginning balance — January 1$2,044 $1,590 $909 
Provision for credit losses6,473 559 1,054 
(Charge-offs) recoveries, net(453)(105)(373)
Ending balance — December 31$8,064 $2,044 $1,590 
Advisor Loans, Net
Advisor loans, net include loans made to new and existing advisors and institutions to facilitate their partnership with the Company, transition to the Company’s platform or fund business development activities. The decision to extend credit to an advisor or institution is generally based on their credit history and ability to generate future revenue. Loans made can be either repayable or forgivable over terms generally up to ten years provided that the advisor or institution remains licensed through LPL Financial. Forgivable loans are not repaid in cash and are amortized over the term of the loan. If an advisor or institution terminates their arrangement with the Company prior to the loan maturity date, the remaining balance becomes repayable immediately. An allowance for credit losses is recorded at the inception of a repayable loan or upon conversion to a repayable loan upon termination or change in agreed upon terms using estimates and assumptions based on historical lifetime loss experience and expectations of future loss rates based on current facts. Advisor repayable loans, net totaled $406.8 million and $360.8 million as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.
The following table reflects a roll-forward of the allowance for credit losses on advisor loans (in thousands):
December 31,
202520242023
Beginning balance — January 1$17,901 $12,977 $15,144 
Provision for credit losses1,867 10,049 8,393 
(Charge-offs) recoveries, net
(2,723)(5,128)(10,560)
Other116 — 
Ending balance — December 31$17,161 $17,901 $12,977 
Other Receivables, Net
Other receivables, net primarily consist of receivables due from product sponsors and others and miscellaneous receivables. An allowance for credit losses is recorded at inception using estimates and assumptions based on historical experience, current facts and other factors. Management monitors the adequacy of these estimates through periodic evaluations against actual trends experienced.
The following table reflects a roll-forward of the allowance for credit losses on other receivables (in thousands):
December 31,
202520242023
Beginning balance — January 1$2,345 $1,448 $2,788 
Provision for credit losses8,637 8,362 6,500 
(Charge-offs) recoveries, net
(7,585)(8,015)(7,840)
Other— 550 — 
Ending balance — December 31$3,397 $2,345 $1,448 
Investment Securities
Investment securities include trading and held-to-maturity securities. The Company also has securities that have been sold, but not yet purchased, which are reflected in other liabilities on the consolidated statements of financial condition. The Company generally classifies its investments in debt and equity instruments as trading securities, except for U.S. government notes held by its wholly owned subsidiary PTC, which are held to satisfy minimum capital requirements of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) and classified as held-to-maturity securities because the Company has both the intent and the ability to hold these investments to maturity. The Company has not classified any investments as available-for-sale.
Securities classified as trading are carried at fair value while securities classified as held-to-maturity are carried at amortized cost. The Company uses prices obtained from independent third-party pricing services to measure the fair value of its trading securities. Prices received from the pricing services are validated when security prices move beyond a certain deviation threshold using various methods including comparison to prices received from additional pricing services, comparison to available quoted market prices and review of other relevant market data including implied yields of major categories of securities. In general, these quoted prices are derived from active markets for identical assets or liabilities. When quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities are not available, the quoted prices are based on similar assets and liabilities or inputs other than the quoted prices that are observable, either directly or indirectly. For certificates of deposit and treasury securities, the Company utilizes market-based inputs, including observable market interest rates that correspond to the remaining maturities or the next interest reset dates.
Interest income is accrued as earned. Premiums and discounts are amortized using a method that approximates the effective yield method over the term of the security and are recorded as an adjustment to the investment yield. The Company makes estimates about the fair value of investments and the timing for recognizing losses based on market conditions and other factors. If these estimates change, the Company may recognize additional losses. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on trading securities are recognized in other revenue on a net basis in the consolidated statements of income.
Property and Equipment, Net  
Internally developed software, leasehold improvements, computers and software and furniture and equipment are recorded at historical cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is recognized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The Company expenses software development costs as incurred during the preliminary project and post-implementation stages. The Company capitalizes software development costs for projects during the application development phase, in which management has authorized and committed to funding the project and it is probable that the project will be completed and utilized as intended. The costs of internally developed software that qualify for capitalization are included in property and equipment and subsequently amortized over the estimated useful life of the software, which is generally 3 to 5 years. The Company does not capitalize pilot projects or projects for which it believes that the future economic benefits are less than probable. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of their useful lives or the terms of the underlying
leases. Computers and software are depreciated over a period of 3 to 5 years. Furniture and equipment are depreciated over a period of 3 to 7 years. Land is not depreciated.
Management reviews property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. No impairment occurred for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 or 2023.
Acquisitions
Accounting for business combinations requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions with respect to intangible assets, liabilities assumed, pre-acquisition contingencies, useful lives and liabilities for contingent consideration, as applicable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, future expected cash flows, asset or revenue growth, discount rates, conversion or retention rates, and market conditions and are based in part on historical experience, market data and information obtained from the management of the acquired companies.
When acquiring companies in business combinations, the Company recognizes separately from goodwill the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any liabilities for contingent consideration, as applicable, at their acquisition date fair values. Goodwill is recognized for business combinations as of the acquisition date and is measured as the excess of consideration transferred and the net of the acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed or recorded.
While the Company uses its best estimates and assumptions as a part of the purchase price allocation process to accurately value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, these estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. As a result, during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company records adjustments to the assets acquired, liabilities assumed or liabilities for contingent consideration with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of assets acquired or liabilities assumed or recorded, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recognized in the consolidated statements of income.
The Company also enters into asset acquisitions for single identifiable intangible assets which are accounted for under a cost accumulation model in which cash consideration and transaction costs are allocated to the intangible assets acquired. Accounting for asset acquisitions requires the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions with respect to the useful life of the asset purchased. These assumptions are based in part on historical experience and market data. The Company does not recognize a liability for contingent payments in acquisitions that are accounted for as asset acquisitions as the amounts to be paid will be uncertain until a future measurement date.
Contingent Consideration
Certain of the Company’s acquisitions include contingent consideration, which may result in the transfer of additional cash consideration to the sellers if certain milestones are achieved in the years following an acquisition. Contingent payments are estimated by applying forecasted growth or conversion rates to project future revenue or asset growth and discount rates which are based on the cost of capital. For acquisitions accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations, any such contingent consideration is recognized at its estimated fair value on the date of acquisition. This contingent consideration is remeasured at its fair value at each subsequent reporting date until the contingency is resolved. Any changes in fair value are recognized in other expense in the consolidated statements of income.
Goodwill and Other Intangibles, Net
Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangibles are evaluated annually for impairment in the fourth fiscal quarter and between annual tests if certain events occur indicating that the carrying amounts may be impaired. If a qualitative assessment is used and the Company determines that the fair value of a reporting unit or indefinite-lived intangible is more likely than not (i.e., a likelihood of more than 50%) less than its carrying amount, a quantitative impairment analysis will be performed. An impairment loss will be recognized if a reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, to the extent that it does not exceed the total carrying amount of goodwill. No impairment of goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangibles was recognized for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 or 2023.
Intangibles that are deemed to have definite lives are amortized over their useful lives generally ranging from 5 to 18 years. They are reviewed for impairment when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances
indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparing the carrying amount to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the estimated fair value. There was no impairment of definite-lived intangibles recognized for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 or 2023. See Note 9 - Goodwill and Other Intangibles, Net, for additional information.
Securities Borrowed
The Company borrows securities from other broker-dealers to make deliveries or to facilitate customer short sales. Securities borrowed, which are included in other assets in the consolidated statements of financial condition, are accounted for as collateralized borrowings and are recorded at the contract value, which represents the amount of cash provided for securities borrowed transactions (generally in excess of market values). The adequacy of the collateral deposited, which is determined by comparing the market value of the securities borrowed to the cash loaned, is continuously monitored and is adjusted when considered necessary to minimize the risk associated with this activity.
As of December 31, 2025, the contract and collateral market values of borrowed securities were $1.8 million and $1.7 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, the contract and collateral market values of borrowed securities were $4.8 million and $4.6 million, respectively.
Fractional Shares
The Company acts in a principal capacity in respect of fractional shares resulting from the dividend reinvestment program (“DRIP”) that is offered to clients by aggregating dividends received by clients, executing purchases of whole shares and allocating the whole shares to clients on a fractional basis based on the dividend amounts that are reinvested. Shares remaining after this process and fractional shares purchased by the Company in client liquidations are included in the Company’s inventory and reflected as investment securities on the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition. Fractional shares that have been allocated to clients do not meet the criteria for sale accounting in Accounting Standards Codification 860, Transfers and Servicing, and are accounted for as a secured borrowing (repurchase obligation related to shares held by clients) with a corresponding investment in fractional shares. These are reflected in other assets and other liabilities, respectively, on the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition. The Company has elected the fair value option to measure these financial assets and the corresponding repurchase obligation and determines fair value based on quoted prices in active markets.
Debt Issuance Costs
Debt issuance and amendment costs are capitalized and amortized as additional interest expense over the expected term of the related debt agreement. Debt issuance costs are presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability. Costs incurred while obtaining the revolving credit facility are included in other assets in the consolidated statements of financial condition and subsequently amortized ratably over the term of the revolving credit facility regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the revolving credit facility.
Leases
Lease assets and liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future lease payments over the lease term at the lease commencement date and reflected in other assets and other liabilities, respectively, on the consolidated statements of financial condition. The Company estimates its incremental borrowing rate based on information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. For additional information, see Note 12 - Leases.
Commitments and Contingencies
The Company recognizes a liability for loss contingencies when it believes it is probable a liability has occurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. If some amount within a range of loss appears at the time to be a better estimate than any other amount within the range, the Company accrues that amount. When no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, the Company accrues the minimum amount in the range. The
Company has established an accrual for those legal proceedings and regulatory matters for which a loss is both probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated.
The Company also accrues for losses at its captive insurance subsidiary for those matters covered by self-insurance. The captive insurance subsidiary records losses and loss reserve liabilities based on actuarially determined estimates of losses incurred, but not yet reported to the Company as well as specific reserves for proceedings and matters that are probable and estimable. The captive insurance subsidiary is funded by payments from LPL Financial and has cash reserves to cover losses, including $127.8 million in restricted cash. Assessing the probability of a loss occurring and the timing and amount of any loss related to a legal proceeding or regulatory matter is inherently difficult and requires management to make significant judgments. For additional information, see Note 14 - Commitments and Contingencies - “Legal and Regulatory Matters.”
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2025, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2025-06 Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software to modernize the accounting for and disclosure of software costs. The ASU may be applied prospectively, retrospectively or via a modified transition approach and is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. We are currently assessing the amendment’s impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, which requires public business entities to disclose, in interim and annual reporting periods, additional information about certain expenses in the notes to financial statements. The ASU should be applied prospectively and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact on the related disclosures; however, it does not expect this update to have an impact on its financial condition or results of operations.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures to enhance the transparency of income tax disclosures relating to the rate reconciliation, disclosure of income taxes paid, and certain other disclosures. The ASU was applied prospectively and is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The adoption did not have an impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. See Note 13 - Income Taxes for related disclosures.