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Mr. Putnam has served as chair of the Board of Directors since March 2017, and he served as our lead director from June 2016 until March 2017. He was employed by LPL Financial from 1983 to 2005 and served as its managing director of national sales from 1987 to 2005. In that role, he was responsible for the recruitment, retention and management of LPL Financial advisors, as well as branch development, marketing and all product sales. Mr. Putnam also previously served as the chief executive officer of Global Portfolio Advisors (ā€œGPAā€), formerly a global brokerage clearing services provider that sold substantially all of its operations in 2014. GPA was under common ownership with LPL Financial until 2005, and Mr. Putnam served as chief executive officer of GPA from 2004 until 2014. He began his securities career as a retail representative with Dean Witter Reynolds in 1979. Mr. Putnam received a B.A. from Western Illinois University.

Mr. Putnamā€™s pertinent qualifications include his unique historical perspective and insights into our operations as our former managing director of national sales; operating, business and management experience as the chief executive officer at GPA; and expertise in the financial industry and deep familiarity with our advisors.