Northern Lights Distributors
Northern Lights Distributors is a FINRA- and SIPC-member broker-dealer that distributes mutual funds, ETFs, interval funds, and tender offer funds to financial intermediaries. It serves fund management companies via a network of hundreds of selling agreements and an online agreement management platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersOmaha, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Northern Lights Distributors does
Northern Lights Distributors, LLC is a privately held broker-dealer founded in 2004 and headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. The firm specializes in the distribution of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), interval funds, and tender offer funds to financial intermediaries, operating alongside its affiliated broker-dealer Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC under the Ultimus Fund Solutions platform. The company is a member of FINRA and SIPC, and it focuses exclusively on the U.S. domestic market.
The company delivers its services through a high-touch operating model in which each fund client is assigned a dedicated Compliance Specialist to navigate State, Federal, and FINRA regulatory requirements. Northern Lights Distributors maintains a network of hundreds of established selling agreements with wire houses, independent broker-dealers, regional broker-dealers, banks, and trust companies, enabling fund clients to access multiple intermediary channels without negotiating individual agreements. Its proprietary online platform, uAGREEMENT, is used to manage and execute selling agreements between fund companies and financial intermediaries, and the firm offers introductions to industry experts in marketing, public relations, web, and media through its network of industry affiliations.
Northern Lights Distributors generates revenue through transaction-fee-based broker-dealer services tied to facilitating fund distribution to financial intermediaries. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company's customer segment is fund management companies distributing mutual funds, ETFs, interval funds, and tender offer funds, with a horizontal segmentation approach across the U.S. fund industry. The firm employs 51-100 people and operates without disclosed external funding or ownership transactions.
Northern Lights Distributors firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Northern Lights Distributors
- Legal name
- Northern Lights Distributors, LLC
- Website
- https://ultimusfunddistributors.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Northern Lights Distributors is a FINRA- and SIPC-member broker-dealer that distributes mutual funds, ETFs, interval funds, and tender offer funds to financial intermediaries. It serves fund management companies via a network of hundreds of selling agreements and an online agreement management platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Northern Lights Distributors industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Broker-Dealer Fund Distribution Services
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Distribution Support & Dealer Services (Commissions/Trails, Agreements, Data Feeds) (FSAAAMAJ)
Keywords
Where Northern Lights Distributors is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Omaha
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Northern Lights Distributors business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Fund Distribution Services: Broker-dealer revenue derived from facilitating distribution of mutual funds, exchange traded funds, interval funds, and tender offer funds to financial intermediaries. Acts as distribution partner for fund management companies.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Northern Lights Distributors product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Northern Lights Distributors, LLC is a broker-dealer that specializes in the distribution of mutual funds, exchange traded funds, interval funds, and tender offer funds on behalf of fund management companies. The firm facilitates fund distribution by managing intermediary selling agreements with wire houses, independent broker-dealers, regional broker-dealers, banks, and trust companies, and supports clients through dedicated Compliance Specialists who help navigate State, Federal, and FINRA regulations. Its proprietary uAGREEMENT online platform enables the management and execution of selling agreements between fund companies and financial intermediaries.
Product overview
Northern Lights Distributors is a broker-dealer specializing in mutual fund, exchange traded fund, interval fund, and tender offer fund distribution. The company offers a suite of services including an online agreement management platform (uAGREEMENT), selling agreement facilitation with financial intermediaries, and regulatory compliance support. Services are delivered through a network of hundreds of established selling agreements with wire houses, independent broker-dealers, regional broker-dealers, banks, and trust companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mutual Fund, ETF, Interval Fund, and Tender Offer Fund Distribution
- Selling Agreement Services
- uAGREEMENT Online Platform
- Compliance Support Services
- Industry Partnership Introductions
Companies that use Northern Lights Distributors
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Northern Lights Distributors technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Northern Lights Distributors partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Wire HousescoreEstablished selling agreements with major wire house firms that provide distribution channels for fund products to retail investors through their broker networks.
- Independent Broker-DealerscorePartnerships with independent broker-dealer firms to distribute mutual funds, ETFs, and other fund products through their independent advisor networks.
- Regional Broker-DealerscoreSelling agreements with regional broker-dealer firms to expand fund distribution reach in specific geographic markets.
- BankscoreDistribution partnerships with banking institutions enabling fund products to be offered through bank brokerage divisions and trust departments.
- Trust CompaniescoreSelling agreements with trust companies for distribution of fund products to trust accounts and wealth management clients.
- Ultimus Fund SolutionsflagshipUltimus Fund Distributors, LLC and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC are affiliated broker-dealers under the Ultimus Fund Solutions umbrella, collaborating on fund distribution services.
- Marketing and Media Industry ExpertsminorThrough network of industry affiliations, provides introductions to industry experts focused on marketing, public relations, web, and media to help maximize fund distribution efforts.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Northern Lights Distributors competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mutual Securities, Inc. Independent broker-dealer focused on mutual fund and ETF distribution support and selling-agreement administration for asset managers, comparable in scale and service model to NLD.
- tru Independence: Provides turnkey distribution and broker-dealer infrastructure for asset managers launching mutual funds and ETFs — overlapping service offering and target client profile.
- Capital Investment Group: Independent broker-dealer offering distribution, selling-agreement, and compliance services to investment advisers and fund managers — comparable niche and regulatory positioning.
- Ultimus Fund Distributors: Sister broker-dealer under the Ultimus Fund Solutions umbrella, jointly distributing mutual funds, ETFs, interval funds, and tender offer funds with the same intermediary relationships — the closest functional mirror to NLD.
- IFS Securities (Interfund Securities): Broker-dealer providing fund distribution, intermediary selling agreements, and compliance support to mutual fund and ETF sponsors — closely overlapping niche with NLD.
- Foreside Financial Group: Specialist broker-dealer focused on distribution, intermediary services, and compliance for investment managers, mutual funds, ETFs, and alternative funds — directly comparable business model and target client base.
Broad incumbents
- LPL Financial: Largest independent broker-dealer in the US; sits on the opposite side of NLD's intermediary relationships and competes indirectly for fund distribution wallet share.
- Cetera Financial Group: Large multi-channel broker-dealer network that itself places mutual funds and ETFs on its platforms — competing with NLD for shelf space while offering far broader wealth services.
- Cambridge Investment Research: Major independent broker-dealer that distributes third-party mutual funds and ETFs through its advisor network — a large incumbent in NLD's intermediary universe.
Others
- Apex Group: Global fund services provider offering fund administration, distribution support, and adjacent services — a potential adjacent competitor as fund services bundles expand downstream into distribution.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Northern Lights Distributors compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Northern Lights Distributors financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Northern Lights Distributors leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Northern Lights Distributors funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Northern Lights Distributors M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Northern Lights Distributors
What does Northern Lights Distributors do?
Northern Lights Distributors, LLC is a broker-dealer that specializes in the distribution of mutual funds, exchange traded funds, interval funds, and tender offer funds on behalf of fund management companies. The firm facilitates fund distribution by managing intermediary selling agreements with wire houses, independent broker-dealers, regional broker-dealers, banks, and trust companies, and supports clients through dedicated Compliance Specialists who help navigate State, Federal, and FINRA regulations. Its proprietary uAGREEMENT online platform enables the management and execution of selling agreements between fund companies and financial intermediaries.
Is Northern Lights Distributors a public or private company?
Northern Lights Distributors is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Northern Lights Distributors founded?
Northern Lights Distributors was founded in 2004. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Northern Lights Distributors based?
Northern Lights Distributors is headquartered in Omaha, United States, in the North America region.
How does Northern Lights Distributors make money?
One revenue line is on record: fund Distribution Services.
Who are Northern Lights Distributors's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mutual Securities, Inc., tru Independence, Capital Investment Group, Ultimus Fund Distributors, IFS Securities (Interfund Securities) and Foreside Financial Group. Broad incumbents are LPL Financial, Cetera Financial Group and Cambridge Investment Research. Apex Group is listed as an others.
Does Northern Lights Distributors have an API?
No public API is recorded for Northern Lights Distributors.
What industry is Northern Lights Distributors in?
Northern Lights Distributors's product category is Broker-Dealer Fund Distribution Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAAAMAJ, Distribution Support & Dealer Services (Commissions/Trails, Agreements, Data Feeds). Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.