CBOE vs LPLA Comparison

Founded in 1973, Cboe controls the largest option exchange in the US, which provides around 60% of the firm's revenue. The company is best known for its proprietary S&P 500 and VIX index options, which it offers through an exclusive contract with S&P Global. The firm moved into US and European equities through the $3.4 billion acquisition of BATS in 2017. Cboe has continued to look to expand internationally, using acquisitions to build a presence in both Canada and Australia.

LPL Financial is the largest US independent broker/dealer, with more than 32,000 financial advisors, roughly 11 million customer accounts, and roughly $2.4 trillion in client assets under management or advisory affiliated with its platform at the end of 2025. The firm earns the bulk of its profit from interest income earned on client cash balances and from advisory fees, commissions, and asset-based fees. LPL specializes in providing turnkey wealth management services for affiliated independent advisors, but maintains a diverse array of affiliation modalities, running the gamut from more traditional employee models to a pure RIA custody approach. It earns tuck-in revenue from recordkeeping fees and the provision of software tools and services to its advisor base.