Securities America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE American: LTS, LTS PrA), announced today that Jim Norwood is taking the helm of its financial institutions division.

“This position reflects our commitment to the bank and credit union space,” said Gregg Johnson, executive vice president of branch office development and acquisitions at Securities America. “There’s no one better for the position than Jim Norwood. He’s well known and highly respected. He brings nearly three decades of effective leadership in the financial services industry.”

Norwood has spent the bulk of his 30-year career working with banks and credit unions in an executive leadership capacity and played a critical role in building a significant financial institutions division at one of the nation’s largest independent brokerage firms. Most recently, he held the president’s chair at Priority Financial Group (PFG), which joined Securities America’s independent brokerage and advisory platform in October.

“Our team is extremely happy to see Jim join Securities America,” said Mike Prior, PFG’s chief executive officer. “He has a stellar reputation in the bank and credit union space and truly cares about his clients. Securities America just made a strong financial institutions division even better.”

Norwood said he is thrilled to be part of an organization with such a highly engaged executive leadership team.

“Their vision and mine are the same – to continue our development as the nation’s premier financial institutions division,” he said.

The financial institution space is a highly competitive segment of the industry, said Johnson, and Securities America is committed to delivering all the tools and resources its current 139 financial institutions need to excel.

“We’re also looking forward to continued growth,” he said. “Jim will add to the momentum that Securities America has achieved. His experience and knowledge will help expand our value proposition and enhance the overall client experience at both the institution and advisor levels.”

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About Securities America
Securities America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE American: LTS, LTS PrA), is one of the nation’s largest independent advisory and brokerage firm with more than 2,200 independent advisors and nearly $72 billion in client assets.

Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through PFG Advisors. PFG Advisors and Priority Financial Group are separate entities from Securities America.