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Exciting changes are coming!

New Partner - Same CFFA Team

As we continue to navigate your financial journey together, it's important to us that we share developments that are intended to enhance the support and services we provide you. 

For the past 10 years, CUSO Financial Services, L.P.* (CFS) has been the broker-dealer behind your account relationship with us. Recently, CFS’s parent company, Atria Wealth Solutions, was acquired by LPL Holdings, Inc. (LPL). One of the nation’s leading financial services companies, LPL is rooted in the belief that objective financial guidance is a fundamental need for everyone. We agree.

Because of the purchase, on or about May 17, 2025, your accounts will transfer from CFS to LPL. Your investments will remain the same and you will continue to receive the same personalized advice, guidance and support from the team you know and trust at Community First Financial Advisors. We are looking forward to additional new opportunities the partnership with LPL will bring including enhanced financial planning tools, account access, objective investment research and more to better serve you and your goals.

We understand that change, even when beneficial, can bring questions.  We are here to address any questions you may have and to provide clarity on how these developments will serve to enhance the quality and scope of services we provide.

 

Preparing for Transition and Continued Support

We are currently updating your profile information in our system as part of our annual account maintenance. You may receive automatic email notifications confirming these updates.  Our team is ensuring your information is accurate and up-to-date to maintain record integrity and provide the best service.

If you have additional questions please complete the contact form below and our team will reach out to you. Or, call us directly Monday – Friday from 8:00am – 5:00pm at (920) 830-7200 x8552.

We look forward to continuing to bring you retirement planning, investment and insurance services with our new broker-dealer partner, LPL. 

 

 



 


Frequently Asked Questions


 

 

General Questions

Our Community First Financial Advisors team, through CFS*, will work together with you as we always have, now with LPL as our broker/dealer. Your current CFFA Financial Advisor, through CFS*, remain your primary contact after the transition.
  • LPL is the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer*.
  • LPL offers access to an impressive range of products, services, and resources to help me, as your advisor, provide you with personalized service.
  • By investing heavily in innovative technology and automation, LPL makes it easy for our team to spend more time helping you pursue your financial goals.
  • As the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer, LPL offers innovative resources that enable us to continue providing you with personalized service, such as:
  • Independent research, so we can continue to provide you with personalized financial guidance.
  • Advanced technology platforms and back-office support that frees up our time to give you even more personalized service.
  • LPL is a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm, subject to federal securities laws and the rules of industry self-regulatory organizations.
  • LPL is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) which provides account protection up to $500,000 per member, of which $250,000 may be claims for cash. An explanatory brochure is available at www.sipc.org.
  • LPL purchases $1 billion of excess SIPC insurance that provides additional protection for LPL accounts to cover aggregate net equity (of all member accounts), subject to conditions and limitations. The account protection applies when an SIPC member firm fails financially and is unable to meet obligations to securities members, but it does not protect against losses from the rise and fall in the market value of investments.

 

Member Account Questions

Our broker/dealer relationship will move from CUSO Financial Services (CFS) to LPL officially on or about May 17, 2025.
  • Depending on the account type, you may be required to sign a new agreement with LPL.
  • Once the accounts convert, you will be notified if you need to sign a new agreement.
  • The process is relatively easy and can be done via electronic signature or by hard copy if desired.
  • We will likely reach out to you to confirm your contact information (mailing and email address) and Trusted Contact for your account.
  • For existing advisory accounts moving to LPL, the overall advisory fee to the member will be the same as the current advisory fee.
  • The Brokerage Fee Schedule will be provided in a future mailing you will receive and will apply to all brokerage accounts.
  • You may wish to consider receiving your statements electronically, or you may prefer to continue receiving your statements on paper in the mail. You will be able to make this choice upon the conversion date.
You will access your account information through Account View and we will share more information with you closer to the conversion date.
There should be no tax implications with the movement of accounts. Your accounts will be transferred to comparable products at LPL. However, we would recommend you consult your tax professional for further information.
  • Your fundamental investment strategy and allocations will remain the same for the most part.
  • In some cases, LPL may have advanced investment options that we can discuss after your accounts move.
  • LPL will receive assets on May 17, 2025.
  • Please note you will be able to continue to conduct all of your business with your current CFFA Financial Advisor, through CFS*, per usual during this entire timeframe.
There is no cost whatsoever to you.
  • This will not affect your relationship with our team or your CFFA Financial Advisor, through CFS*, in any way. You can count on us to continue to provide the level of service you expect.
  • Your fundamental investment strategy and allocations will remain the same for the most part. In some cases, LPL may have advanced investment options that we can discuss after your accounts move.
  • Once LPL is the new broker/dealer, we may be reaching out to ask you to sign a new agreement with LPL. The process is relatively easy and can be done via electronic signature, or by paper if desired.


 


Have a Question About the Transition?


 
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*Non-deposit investment products and services are offered through CUSO Financial Services, LP ("CFS") a registered broker-dealer (Member FINRA/SIPC) and SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Products offered through CFS: are not NCUA/NCUSIF or otherwise federally insured, are not guarantees or obligations of the credit union, and may involve investment risk including possible loss of principal. Investment Representatives are registered through CFS. The Credit Union has contracted with CFS for investment services. Atria Wealth Solutions, Inc. ("Atria") is a modern wealth management solutions holding company. Atria is not a registered broker-dealer and/or Registered Investment Advisor and does not provide investment advice. Investment advice is only provided through Atria's subsidiaries. CUSO Financial Services, LP is a subsidiary of Atria.