Kestra Financial

We're proud to share that Kestra Financial has been named a finalist in the Public Relations Campaigns category for the 2026 ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Awards! Alongside Bluespring Wealth Partners , we're recognized for our G1/G2 succession research study and campaign, which explored how the next generation of financial advisors is thinking about leadership, ownership and the future of the profession. This recognition reflects the strength of research-led storytelling in tackling one of the industry's most pressing challenges: preparing for the wealth transfer ahead and the advisors who will lead it. Congratulations to our colleagues across Kestra and Bluespring, and to all of this year's Luminaries finalists! You can check out the survey here: https://lnkd.in/gCabuRz3

Our Client Experience Officer, Angela Xavier, was recently featured in Financial Planning's 2026 IBD Elite study, breaking down one of the more opaque parts of our industry: clearing and custody. Angela shares how Kestra's relationship with Fidelity's NFS helps advisors maintain the independence of running their own practice while benefiting from the scale, technology, and stability of a leading custodian. She also discusses how that model allows Kestra to remain focused on the areas advisors value most, including service, practice management, and advisor support. Read the feature: https://lnkd.in/gdMdKmqA

A big thank you to everyone who attended our 2026 Retirement Plan Summit Connect in Austin last week. Over two days, retirement plan advisors came together to dig into what's shaping the industry, from integrating private market assets into defined contribution plans, to where target date funds and managed accounts fit into the modern lineup. We kicked things off with a keynote from Kelsey Mayo, Chief of Retirement Policy & Regulatory Affairs at the American Retirement Association, on what a new Congress means for the road ahead. Sessions throughout the two days covered everything from sales strategy to NQDC plan design, with plenty of peer-to-peer discussion built in along the way. Thank you to our presenters, moderators and partners for sharing their expertise, and to everyone who joined us in Austin.

We had a great time hosting our Retirement Plan Advisor Council in Austin last week. Bringing together leaders from across our retirement plan community provides an opportunity to hear candid feedback, discuss what's ahead for the industry, and ensure advisors' perspectives help inform where we focus next. After a full day of discussion, we traded the conference room for Lady Bird Lake, taking in Austin from the water and spending time together beyond the day's agenda. Thank you to these council members for their continued leadership and engagement. Pamela Vanone, CPFA, AAMS Carolyn Mora, ChFC®, NSSA®, AIF®, CPFA® Jason Colin Patrick Ryan Evans,CFP® William J. Cronin Sean Menickella , AIF®

Please join us in welcoming Kelly Apple to Kestra as EVP, Head of Wealth Management! Kelly joins us from BlackRock, bringing decades of experience serving financial advisors and helping wealth management firms grow and evolve. We're excited for the expertise and advisor-first perspective Kelly will bring to Kestra as we continue building capabilities that help advisors serve their clients as complete wealth managers. We look forward to the impact her leadership will have on our advisors, employees, and broader Kestra community. Read the full announcement: https://lnkd.in/eRnhWtR3

In a recent episode of #FailTheeWell, Michelle Bender sits down with James Collins to reflect on the entrepreneurial mindset that shaped her career. Michelle looks back on a point when she was managing roughly $20 million in assets and building her business from home. While she was still figuring out what the next chapter of her career would look like, she was saying yes to opportunities, staying scrappy and laying the groundwork for growth. Today, she is President of Potomac Financial Consultants, LLC, a practice managing more than $330 million. Michelle shares what she learned along the way about grit, hustle and intentional growth: from earning referrals and winning new clients to building a business with staying power. Watch the full episode: https://lnkd.in/gkbM4PT9

Meet the team: Austen Karr Austen recently joined the Kestra Financial team as a Business Development Consultant, covering recruiting in the Western U.S. states of Southern California, Colorado, Nevada, and Hawaii. He brings more than 15 years of experience in financial services across business development, recruiting, and distribution roles. We’re grateful to have his wisdom and experience on the team. Read the full announcement here: https://lnkd.in/gJs9pS_Z

One conversation changed everything. In our latest episode of Fail Thee Well, Michelle Bender sits down with James Collins to discuss the years she spent preparing to take over a firm through a succession plan, only to be unexpectedly let go when it became clear things weren't moving forward. Most people would have seen it as a devastating setback. Michelle took a week to regroup, then started her own firm. Today, she leads a thriving practice, proving that sometimes the moments that feel like failure are actually setting the stage for your greatest success. Check out the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gkbM4PT9

We are thrilled to announce two strategic additions to Kestra Financial's operating group under the leadership of our Client Experience Officer Angela Xavier: Kristan Garner joins us as Head of Client Service, and John Milligan as Head of Operations. Kristan brings deep operational and leadership expertise to the role and will oversee our Client Service, Concierge, Technology Solutions, and Account Services teams to continuously elevate the experience for our clients and staff. John will leverage his deep expertise in scale, post-trade services, and broker-dealer operations to drive regulatory integrity and platform excellence. Read more about today's announcement: https://lnkd.in/gBV6ykk9

What an incredible time last week in New York City! We're still feeling inspired after wrapping up our Connect event hosted by our partners at BlackRock where we gathered with our advisor community for a forward-looking day full of collaboration. The event was packed with actionable insights to empower our advisors and their clients, including an update from John V. Amore on the latest developments surrounding the Kestra Investor Solution, our largest technology investment to date. Thank you to all of the advisors, speakers, and partners who joined us to share their vision and elevate connections across our community.