Ex-Stifel Adviser Joins LPL and Women-led Bergkamp Financial
Danielle Qualls
Financial adviser Danielle Qualls recently joined LPL Financial’s broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, and custodial platforms, teaming up with existing firm Bergkamp Financial. She reported having served approximately $160 million in advisory, brokerage and retirement plan assets, and joined LPL from Stifel, Nicolaus and Co.
A Kansas native, Qualls started her career in corporate accounting before making the switch to wealth management in 1999. According to LPL, she focuses on connecting with clients at a multigenerational level to develop financial strategies aimed at building family legacies. Looking to extend that collaborative approach to a team setting while enjoying the benefits of independence, Qualls turned to LPL to help find an established practice that fit her goals, clients and personality. This led her straight to women-led Bergkamp Financial.
“I wanted to provide more services and go farther,” Qualls said. “I knew that I’d need to work with a team that had different experiences and specialties. With LPL and Bergkamp Financial, there is opportunity to collaborate by teaming up on what works best for clients.”
Led by Amy McKinley and Lori Zern, both managing partners, Bergkamp Financial serves a wide range of clients, focusing on comprehensive wealth strategies, planning for retirement, investments, life insurance, annuities, and long-term care insurance. The practice also includes financial advisers Ryan Zern and Sam Milner, and adviser assistant Katherine Reif.
Bergkamp Financial has been with LPL since 2021. The Bergkamp team said they appreciate how LPL’s open architecture platform, research capabilities, and insurance product offerings have enhanced their ability to produce strategies that address the unique needs of their broad client base and drive the practice forward.
According to Zern, adding Qualls to the team made sense for the next phase of their growth. “Danielle has the skills and knowledge that we need to build out our services for the benefit of our clients. She shares the same strong work ethic, empathy and compassion, making her the right addition.”
“We have a wide client base, from farmers to teachers to business owners, and we’ll continue to build on our rural grassroots business as we go,” said McKinley. “With Danielle joining us, we are looking forward to enhancing our services as a whole and joining our efforts for more holistic planning. We’re very excited for the future.”
LPL Financial Holdings Inc. serves nearly 23,000 financial advisers, including advisers at approximately 1,100 enterprises and 570 registered investment adviser firms nationwide. Headquartered in San Diego, its total advisory and brokerage assets totaled more than $1.44 trillion as of March 31, 2024.
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