Midwestern Securities Trading Company

What Midwestern Securities Trading Company does

Midwestern Securities Trading Company, LLC is an independent broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment advisor founded in 1999 and headquartered in East Peoria, Illinois. The firm operates a community-bank-focused distribution model, partnering with community banks and credit unions in 42 states plus DC through consultative, enterprise-field-sales relationships. Financial advisors at partner institutions are contracted as dual employees with both the institution and MSTC, and the firm uses the FastTRACK program to recruit and train new advisors (Series 7, 66, and insurance licensing). MSTC clears through National Financial Services (NFS) and provides client access via the Wealthscape Investor and SS&C Black Diamond portals.

The core product is the Grow & Protect program, a turn-key framework for community financial institutions to launch or scale a self-branded investment services division. Adjacent offerings include Lighthouse Portfolios (model portfolios managed by an in-house Investment Committee), MSTC Total Transitions (a structured broker/dealer migration methodology), an Advisor Coaching program providing 158+ hours of annual professional development, Trust Services (corporate trustee and estate administration), SmartDonor (planned giving for nonprofits), and the CBAI 401(k) Multiple Employer Plan (exclusive to CBAI member banks, administered with Pentegra Services). A wholly-owned subsidiary, Lighthouse Financial Institution Marketing Solutions, provides marketing-as-a-service to affiliated advisors.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: broker/dealer transaction fees, advisory fees on managed assets (including Lighthouse Portfolios), corporate trust and estate administration fees, and platform/subscription fees for back-office, compliance, and technology infrastructure provided to partner institutions. GTM combines enterprise field sales, channel-partner relationships with financial institutions and industry associations (CBAI, Bradley University), and event-driven marketing (annual CEO & Advisor Forum, Banking on Growth podcast, Benefit Builder workshops, keynotes). The firm is privately held, owned by community bankers and financial professionals, and has no parent company, public listing, or external institutional investors.

Name

Midwestern Securities Trading Company

Legal name

Midwestern Securities Trading Company, LLC

Website

https://midwesternsecurities.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Midwestern Securities Trading Company is an independent broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment advisor serving community banks, credit unions, and their affiliated financial advisors across 42 states with turn-key investment services, model portfolios, coaching, and trust services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Broker-Dealer and Investment Advisory Services

NAICS

Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage (5231), Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (523150), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Broker-Dealer / Registered Representative Networks (FSAEACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Full-Service Retail Brokerage & Wealth Platforms (FSAAAAAA), Corporate & Institutional Trust Services (FSAAANAB)

Keywords

• Broker dealer services
• Registered investment advisory
• Financial advisor coaching
• Wealth management programs
• Community bank partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

East Peoria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Broker/Dealer Transaction Fees: Revenue generated from securities transactions executed through the broker/dealer platform for financial advisors and their clients. As an independent broker/dealer, Midwestern Securities earns transaction-based compensation on trades in securities including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and other investment products.
2. Advisory Fees: Revenue from registered investment advisory services, including fees for managing Lighthouse Portfolios model portfolios and providing investment advice to clients of partner financial institutions. Fees are based on assets under management/advisory.
3. Trust Services Fees: Revenue from trust administration services offered to community financial institutions' customers. Financial institutions receive contracted overrides on advisory fees while Midwestern Securities earns corporate trustee fees for handling testamentary/living trusts, executor services, managing agency, conservator, and other trust arrangements.
4. Platform/Subscription Fees: Revenue from providing technology platforms, back-office support, compliance services, and operational infrastructure to affiliated financial advisors and financial institutions. Partner institutions pay for access to the broker/dealer platform, service coordination, and administrative support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Midwestern Securities Trading Company operates as an independent broker/dealer and SEC-registered Registered Investment Advisor, providing community banks and credit unions with turn-key investment services programs, back-office compliance, transition support, advisor coaching, model portfolios (Lighthouse Portfolios), trust services, retirement plans (CBAI 401(k) MEP), and marketing services (Lighthouse Financial Institution Marketing Solutions). The firm's flagship Grow & Protect program enables partner institutions to launch or scale self-branded investment services divisions that generate non-interest income while protecting customer relationships.

Product overview

Midwestern Securities Trading Company is an independent broker/dealer and Registered Investment Advisor offering a platform of financial services for community banks and credit unions. The core offering is the Grow & Protect with Midwestern Securities program, which includes investment program management, advisor coaching (via MSTC Total Transitions™ and Advisor Coaching), and specialized services including Lighthouse Portfolios™ for investment management, Trust Services, SmartDonor™ for charitable giving, CBAI 401(k) Multiple Employer Plan for retirement plans, and Lighthouse Financial Institution Marketing Solutions. Additional offerings include the MSTC fastTRACK™ training program and the Benefit Builder Workshop. The company also produces the Banking on Growth podcast as a thought leadership channel. All services are designed to help financial institutions grow non-interest income while maintaining regulatory compliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• smartdonor™: Planned-giving-focused service designed to help donors be better stewards of their assets and help charities provide better donor experiences.
• Lighthouse Financial Institution Marketing Solutions
• Total Transitions™
• CBAI 401(k) Multiple Employer Plan
• MSTC FastTRACK™

Products and services

• Grow & Protect with Midwestern Securities A turn-key program that helps banks and credit unions grow non-interest income through a thriving, self-branded investment services division while protecting against customer attrition by becoming a full-service financial solutions provider. Includes program management, advisor recruitment, compensation design, transition support, and ongoing coaching for community financial institutions.
• Lighthouse Portfolios Total return model portfolios managed by an Investment Committee with diversified global investments across multiple asset classes. Includes Base Model, Fixed Income Blend variations (90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 50/50), Income Focus, Diversified Growth, and Beacon variations with $25,000 and $50,000 minimums plus a no-minimum Beacon option for advisors managing client assets.
• MSTC Total Transitions A structured broker/dealer transition process that provides dedicated on-site transition experts, dedicated Service Coordinators, and clear timelines to re-paper accounts and prevent client disruption when advisors or institutions switch host broker/dealers.
• Advisor Coaching A coaching and professional development program for affiliated financial advisors providing more than 158 hours of coaching and development opportunities annually, including elite coaching sessions, mentor partnerships, case studies with the CEO, industry speaker sessions, and resource libraries.
• SmartDonor A planned-giving service that helps donors be better stewards of their assets and helps not-for-profit organizations and charities provide improved donor experiences through smart gift-planning strategies that increase income, reduce taxes, and build family legacies.
• Trust Services Private-labeled trust solutions for community financial institutions including testamentary and living trusts, executor/administrator of estate services, managing agency, farm management, conservator and guardian, life insurance trusts, and 1031 exchanges. Midwestern Securities earns corporate trustee fees while financial institutions receive contracted overrides on advisory fees.
• CBAI 401(k) Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) A retirement plan Multiple Employer Plan created in partnership with the Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) and Pentegra Services Inc., providing reduced fiduciary responsibility, elimination of 5500 filings and plan audits, and potential cost savings for CBAI member banks in Illinois.
• Lighthouse Financial Institution Marketing Solutions A wholly-owned marketing subsidiary of Midwestern Securities that provides professionally managed social media pages, automated marketing campaigns, branded thought leader videos, and comprehensive branding and marketing support to help financial advisors and partner institutions market their services.
• MSTC FastTRACK An accelerated training and placement pathway for aspiring financial advisors that provides paid hands-on training, guided learning modules, and preparation for FINRA Series 7, Series 66, and Life and Health Insurance licenses, with placement at partner financial institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Non-interest income growth through investment services division
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMidwestern Securities partnered with CBAI and Pentegra Services Inc. to create the CBAI 401(k) Multiple Employer Plan (MEP), available exclusively to CBAI member banks. This partnership provides retirement plan solutions with reduced fiduciary responsibility, eliminates 5500 filings and plan audits, and offers potential cost savings for community banks in Illinois.
• Pentegra Services Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationAs the third-party administrator and recordkeeper for the CBAI 401(k) MEP, Pentegra provides administrative infrastructure, fiduciary services (3(38) investment management and 3(16) administration), and technology platform for participating banks.
• National Financial Services (NFS)coreTechnology or IntegrationNFS serves as Midwestern Securities' clearing firm, providing custody, trade execution, and account processing services. Client account access is provided through the Wealthscape Investor platform.
• SS&C Black DiamondcoreTechnology or IntegrationBlack Diamond Client Portal provides an additional client-facing technology platform for Midwestern Securities' advisors and their clients to access account information, quotes, and research.
• Market Insights (Jim Perry)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJim Perry, Senior Strategist at Market Insights, appeared on the Banking on Growth podcast to discuss the GENIUS Act and stablecoin implications for community banks.
• EvolvminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNellie Schlachter, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Evolv, appeared on the Banking on Growth podcast to discuss merchant services and how community banks can defend wallet share against payment platforms.
• Southwestern Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) at SMU Cox School of BusinessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Bill Chittenden, CEO of SWGSB, appeared on the Banking on Growth podcast to discuss leadership development and strategic education for community bankers.
• Bradley UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBradley University's accounting and finance programs partner with Midwestern Securities for internship opportunities and to prepare industry-ready graduates. The university offers a CFP certification track relevant to the company's advisor development.
• Lighthouse Financial Institution Marketing SolutionscoreOthersA subsidiary company of Midwestern Securities that provides marketing services to financial advisors, including professionally managed social media pages, automated marketing campaigns, branded thought leader videos, and comprehensive branding support.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Cetera Financial Group: Large multi-channel independent broker/dealer and RIA serving independent financial advisors and institutions; comparable because it provides broker/dealer and RIA infrastructure, model portfolios, and transition support to advisors — directly overlapping Midwestern Securities' offering set, but at much larger scale.
• LPL Financial: Largest independent broker/dealer in the U.S. serving financial advisors and institutions with brokerage, advisory, and back-office support; comparable as a direct competitor for affiliated advisors and institutions but operates at vastly greater scale and breadth.
• Advisor Group: Network of independent broker/dealer brands (e.g., SagePoint, FSC Securities, Royal Alliance) supporting financial advisors with brokerage and advisory services; competes for the same advisor pool with multiple brand strategies.

Direct peers

• Cambridge Investment Research: Large independent broker/dealer supporting financial advisors and institutions with similar practice-management, transition, and wealth-management services; one of the most direct head-to-head competitors in the IBD space.
• Kestra Financial: Independent broker/dealer and RIA platform serving financial advisors and institutions with model portfolios, transition support, and practice consulting; closely comparable in offering mix and target advisor profile.
• ProEquities: Independent broker/dealer and RIA serving financial advisors with a mix of brokerage and advisory services, transition support, and back-office infrastructure; comparable mid-sized IBD serving similar advisor and institution segments.
• INVEST Financial Corporation: Independent broker/dealer focused on serving financial advisors affiliated with financial institutions, with a model portfolios and transition support offering that overlaps Midwestern Securities' community-bank focus.
• Geneos Wealth Management:

Emerging players

• USA Financial / USA Financial Advisors: Independent broker/dealer and RIA platform offering model portfolios, marketing resources, and coaching to advisors and institutions; an emerging comparable with overlapping community-bank-focused service positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMdPt52ZJqZzv6LWegN3Kzw
• Facebookfacebook.com/midwesternsecurities
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/midwestern-securities-trading-company-llc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Midwestern Securities Trading Company