LPL Executives McHale, Winters Depart for Rivals
Two senior LPL Financial leaders have left the firm for &Partners and AssetMark, as the company recently reshuffled its advisor recruiting leadership.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Financial Planning
James T. McHale, LPL Financial's executive vice president and chief compliance officer, has joined &Partners as chief risk and governance officer. Kate Winters, the firm's senior vice president of investment products and strategic partners, has been hired by AssetMark as head of investment platforms and solutions.
Why it matters
The departures remove senior compliance and investment-product leadership from LPL Financial, which oversees roughly 30,000 financial advisors. The moves come as the firm has also changed its advisor recruiting leadership, potentially affecting how it retains advisors and manages its product offerings.
The departures were disclosed through announcements by &Partners and AssetMark naming the executives to new roles. The extraction does not include reported performance, retention, or asset figures tied to either executive's work at LPL Financial.
The players
LPL Financial
LPL Financial is a large independent broker-dealer and registered investment advisor that supports thousands of independent financial advisors across the United States.
&Partners
&Partners is a wealth management firm that recently hired James T. McHale as its chief risk and governance officer.
AssetMark
AssetMark is an investment management technology and solutions provider that hired Kate Winters as head of investment platforms and solutions.
The details
McHale joined LPL Financial from Wells Fargo Advisors in 2023 and served as executive vice president and chief compliance officer before moving to &Partners. Winters joined LPL Financial from MassMutual in 2017 and was senior vice president of investment products and strategic partners before joining AssetMark. Separately, LPL named Ken Hullings head of recruiting last month, replacing Scott Posner, who left earlier this year.
Timeline
2017: Kate Winters joins LPL Financial from MassMutual.
2023: James T. McHale joins LPL Financial from Wells Fargo Advisors; &Partners launches.
Last month: LPL Financial names Ken Hullings head of recruiting.
This week (November 5, 2026): McHale and Winters departures are reported.
Market Dynamics
The moves follow a pattern of senior executives leaving large wirehouses such as Wells Fargo Advisors, where Kowach departed in 2019, for independent and newer firms. The shift reflects ongoing competition among custodians and platforms to attract experienced advisors and product leaders.
Clients of LPL Financial advisors may see changes in the investment products and compliance leadership at their firm over time. Investors who work with an advisor can ask about any changes to platform offerings or oversight that affect their accounts.
The takeaway
Executive turnover at large advisory firms can signal shifts in product strategy and oversight. Investors who want to understand how their advisor is supported may ask about leadership changes and compliance structure.
Further reading
For more on how advisory firms structure their leadership and recruiting, see Financial Planning.
