Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management Review

Find an Advisor

Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management (LTAM) touts on its website that its advisors collectively offer more than 100 years of investment management experience. It's a financial advisor firm headquartered in New York City that manages billion of dollars in assets from more than 8,000 clients. This client base is comprised of mostly non-high-net-worth individuals, but it also works with a number of institutional clients, like retirement plans and businesses. Ladenburg Thalmann has been providing wealth and investment management services for almost 40 years.

A fee-based firm, members of LTAM's advisory staff can earn commissions from the sale of specfic securities, in addition to standard advisory fees. That's different from a fee-only firm, which avoids conflicts of interest by only earning compensation from client fees.

Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management Background

Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management was founded in 1982. It’s owned by Advisor Group Holdings, Inc. (AGHI), and it provides investment banking, equity research and asset management services through various subsidiaries. AGHI and LTAM fall under the umbrella of the Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. group of companies, which has been in business since 1876.

Ladenburg Thalmann's staff includes certifications like chartered financial analyst (CFA).

Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management Client Types and Minimum Account Sizes

Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management has built up a client base that’s more than 8,000 members strong. The overwhelming majority of this client base is comprised of individuals below the high-net-worth threshold. In addition, the firm serves high-net-worth individuals, families, banks, investment companies, investment funds, retirement plan sponsors and participants, charitable organizations, corporations and other investment advisors.

The minimum account size requirements at LTAM vary depending on which program you're subscribed to. Each of the stated minimums below are subject to change under certain circumstances.

• Ladenburg Asset Management Program (LAMP)
  • Managed Mutual Fund Strategies: $10,000
  • Ladenburg American Funds Core Strategies: $10,000
  • Managed ETF Strategies: $50,000
  • Ladenburg Franklin Templeton Strategies: $10,000
  • Socially Responsible Strategies: $50,000
  • Tax Sensitive Strategies: $50,000
  • Specialty Strategies: $100,000
  • Managed Annuity Program: No set minimum
• Private Investment Management Services (PIM): $50,000
• Architect Wrap Fee Program: $50,000
• Investment Consultant Services (ICS)
  • For equity managers: $100,000
  • For fixed-income managers: $250,000
• Retirement plan sponsor and participant services: No set minimum
• Symbil: $500 per fund

Services Offered by Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management

Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management provides its clients with consulting services, as well as investment management via several different wrap fee programs. These include:

• Ladenburg Asset Management Program (LAMP)
  • Consists of seven strategic portfolio allocation models that use exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds
  • Tax implications are taken into account
  • For clients with more assets under management (AUM), specialty models are available
    • Can be customized for higher income levels, more incorporation of international securities and more
• Private Investment Management Services (PIM)
  • Professional discretionary asset management for individuals and institutions
  • Variety of investments are available, like equities, bonds, government securities, ETFs, mutual funds and options
• Architect Program
  • Offers personalized investment recommendations based on risk tolerance, time horizon, financial goals and more
  • Non-discretionary service, so clients must implement trades individually
• Investment Consultant Services (ICS)
  • Provides customized investment management services to high-net-worth individuals and institutions
  • Clients work with investment managers that are partnered with LTAM
• Retirement plan sponsor and participant services
  • Provides investment management services to 401(k) plans, profit-sharing plans, defined benefit plans, 403(b) plans, 457 SEP-IRA plans and SIMPLE IRA plans
• Symbil
  • Online tool that allows investors to invest in the mutual funds that LTAM manages

LTAM also serves as the investment manager to a fund called The Alternative Strategies Fund and a group of five funds called the Ladenburg Funds.

Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management Investment Philosophy

When advising client accounts, advisors at Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management will rely on one of several investment strategies that vary in terms of risk tolerance. Within each strategy are model portfolios that boast asset allocations designed to maximize expected returns for a given level of risk and volatility. These models may include many different types of securities, including the likes of mutual funds, ETFs, exchange-traded notes (ETNs) and equities.

The methodology behind LTAM's investment philosophy is based on a desire to see reliable returns over the long term. Firmly rooted in this style of investing is widespread portfolio diversification and disciplined risk management principles. Once an appropriate investment plan is implemented, the firm will begin overseeing the portfolio's performance. Based on these insights, the firm may decide to rebalance the portfolio's asset allocation.

Fees Under Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management

Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management’s fees vary on a program-to-program basis. The firm typically provides maximum fee rates for each program, meaning your specific fee will be negotiated individually. In some cases, LTAM may decide to charge one-time fixed or hourly fees instead of abiding by the usual AUM-based system. All fees can be negotiated at the sole discretion of the firm. 

What to Watch Out For

Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management has two disclosures listed on its Form ADV. One is directly attributed to the firm, while the other is attributed to an advisory affiliate. The former involves an incident in 2016, when the SEC issued a cease-and-desist order to LTAM for incorporating inaccurate performance data from a third-party provider into certain advertisements for one of the firm's wrap fee programs. In addition to the cease and desist order, the firm was fined $200,000 by the SEC.

Certain financial advisors at Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management are registered representatives of Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., a broker-dealer firm. Because of this affiliation, these advisors have the ability to receive additional compensation from the sale of particular securities to clients of LTAM. Although this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm and its advisors are bound by fiduciary duty to act in clients' best interests at all times.

Opening an Account With Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management

If you’d like to get in touch with someone at LTAM to find out more about its services, you can either call (800) 995-5267 or send an email to Lamp@ladenburg.com.

All information is accurate as of the writing of this article.

How to Choose a Financial Advisor

• Finding the right financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
• Every financial advisor charges their own set of fees, so it's important to do your research before making a final decision on which advisor you want to work with. Before you delve too far into the world of financial advisor fee schedules, take a look at our guide to advisory fees.