What Ausdal Financial Partners does

Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. is a privately held independent securities broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment advisory firm headquartered in Davenport, Iowa, founded in 1979 and operating as a 100% advisor- and employee-owned entity with no single shareholder holding more than 23%. The firm provides a full-service platform to 205 affiliated registered representatives who collectively serve approximately 90,000 end clients holding $13 billion in assets under management. Its operational infrastructure centers on clearing and custody through Pershing LLC (a Bank of New York Mellon subsidiary), with additional custodian optionality through AXOS and Charles Schwab for advisor-managed accounts, and a preferred insurance partnership with MVP Financial.

The firm's core product stack comprises transaction-based brokerage and dealer concession revenue, recurring fee-based investment advisory services through an in-house RIA (supporting fee planning, third-party managers, and advisor-driven models), sales commissions on private placements (e.g., selling-agent roles for equity offerings distributed under Rule 506(b)), and proprietary private investing products offering alternative asset exposure. Hybrid RIA structures are supported, enabling advisors to maintain their own RIA alongside AFP affiliation. The platform is positioned for independent financial advisors seeking autonomy, with production requirements typically set at $100,000 in annual gross dealer concessions, competitive payout structures, errors and omissions insurance provided by AFP, and no mandates on proprietary product usage or exclusive insurance carrier relationships.

Geographically, AFP operates from two offices — Davenport, Iowa (headquarters) and Downers Grove, Illinois (Chicagoland regional office) — serving the Midwest United States. Distribution is indirect: end clients are reached through the affiliated representative network rather than direct-to-consumer channels. Go-to-market relies on advisor recruiting via direct outreach, referral-based relationships, and a corporate website (ausdal.com) with supporting LinkedIn presence. No external funding rounds have been disclosed, and the firm has remained privately held by its advisor and employee shareholders since founding.

Name

Ausdal Financial Partners

Legal name

Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc.

Website

https://ausdal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ausdal Financial Partners is a privately held, 100% advisor- and employee-owned independent broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment advisor, founded in 1979 and headquartered in Davenport, Iowa. It provides clearing, compliance, RIA, and proprietary product infrastructure to 205 affiliated representatives serving 90,000 clients with $13B in AUM across the Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Broker-Dealer & Investment Advisory Services

NAICS

Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Broker-Dealers (Retail Network) (FSAAAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Comprehensive/Full-Service RIAs & Independent Wealth Managers (FSAAACAA)

Keywords

• Independent broker-dealer
• Investment advisory
• Securities clearing
• Financial advisor platform
• Wealth management support

Headquarters

HQ city

Davenport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Brokerage Services: Generates revenue through brokerage clearing services, transaction-based compensation, and dealer concessions from securities transactions executed through the platform.
2. Investment Advisory Services: Offers fee-based advisory services through an in-house registered investment advisory, supporting fee planning, third-party managers, and advisor-driven models.
3. Sales Commissions: Earned commissions on securities sales and distribution, including roles as selling agent for private placements (e.g., $307,500 commission on $2.05M Forms Logic offering).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Ausdal Financial Partners operates as an independent broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment advisory firm providing a platform for affiliated financial advisors. The firm delivers securities clearing, compliance, back-office operations, and investment advisory services while advisors focus on serving end clients through portfolio management, fee-based planning, and access to proprietary private investing products.

Product overview

Ausdal Financial Partners operates as an independent, 100% advisor and employee-owned broker-dealer and investment advisory firm. The company offers a unified suite of securities and advisory services centered around its core securities brokerage platform, supported by in-house RIA services that enable fee planning, third-party manager integration, and rep-driven investment models. The firm also provides access to proprietary private investing products, creating a comprehensive offering for individual and institutional investors seeking both traditional and alternative investment solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 205 registered representatives serving 90,000 clients with $13 billion in assets under management

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, preferred and supporting.

• Pershing LLCcoreOthersMarket-leading clearing firm and subsidiary of Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. Provides electronic brokerage platforms and clearing services for AFP's independent broker-dealer operations.
• MVP FinancialpreferredOthersPrimary insurance partner recommended to affiliated advisors. AFP does not mandate exclusive use but recommends MVP as preferred resource for fixed insurance business.
• Charles SchwabsupportingOthersOne of multiple custodian options offered by AFP for advisor-managed accounts, providing choice and flexibility for affiliated advisors.
• AXOSsupportingOthersCustodian option available for advisor-managed accounts alongside Pershing and Charles Schwab.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• LPL Financial: LPL Financial is the largest independent broker-dealer in the U.S., providing clearing, compliance, and custody infrastructure to a national network of affiliated advisors — directly comparable in business model to AFP but at vastly greater scale.
• Cetera Financial Group: Cetera is a major independent broker-dealer platform serving thousands of affiliated advisors with broker-dealer, RIA, and custody solutions comparable to AFP's offering.
• Raymond James Financial Services: Raymond James Financial Services is the independent broker-dealer channel of Raymond James, providing affiliated advisors with brokerage and advisory infrastructure directly comparable to AFP.
• Osaic (formerly Advisor Group): Osaic is one of the largest independent broker-dealer networks in the U.S., supporting affiliated advisors with broker-dealer, RIA, and insurance services directly comparable to AFP's offering.

Direct peers

• Cambridge Investment Research: Cambridge is a large privately-held independent broker-dealer and RIA platform serving affiliated financial advisors with similar ownership-culture positioning, making it one of the closest functional comparables to AFP.
• Commonwealth Financial Network: Commonwealth is an independent broker-dealer and RIA platform supporting affiliated financial advisors nationwide with similar back-office, compliance, and clearing services as AFP.
• Kestra Financial: Kestra Financial is an independent broker-dealer and wealth management platform supporting affiliated advisors with similar service offerings — clearing, compliance, technology, and advisory platforms — to AFP.
• American Portfolios: American Portfolios is an independent broker-dealer and investment advisory platform serving affiliated financial advisors — a comparable mid-size IBD noted in AFP management's prior employment history.

Others

• First Trust Portfolios: First Trust Portfolios is a financial services firm focused on investment products and unit investment trusts — relevant as a prior employer of AFP's CEO and as an ecosystem participant in the same independent advisor channel.
• Pershing LLC: Pershing LLC is AFP's clearing partner and a BNY Mellon subsidiary; it serves as critical infrastructure for AFP and is relevant as an ecosystem provider rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ausdal-financial-partners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ausdal Financial Partners