LPLA vs MTB Comparison

LPL Financial is the largest US independent broker-dealer, with nearly 29,000 financial advisors affiliated with its platform and roughly 10 million associated customer accounts at the end of 2024. The firm earns the bulk of its profit from interest income earned on client cash balances and from advisory fees and commissions tied to the $1.7 trillion in assets under management or advisory on its platform at year-end 2024. LPL specializes in the provision of 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.

M&T Bank is a US regional bank with roughly $210 billion in assets as of June 30, 2025. Headquartered in Buffalo, New York, the bank's footprint is mostly concentrated in New England and the US Mid-Atlantic. M&T Bank boasts a community banking approach, and boasts over 900 branches in 13 states and Washington, D.C. Apart from retail and commercial banking, M&T Bank also has wealth management operations through Wilmington Trust and a partnership with LPL Financial, and a corporate trust businesses.