Cetera Financial Group announced that financial advisors Les Benzak, John Gallagher, and Lynn Craig of Tupelo Wealth Partners have joined the firm’s Summit Financial Networks community, bringing approximately $490 million in assets under administration (AUA). Based in Harleysville, Pennsylvania, the advisors have more than 75 years of combined industry experience and have worked together for over two decades.
Tupelo Wealth Partners provides comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services, focusing on retirement planning, college savings, tax planning, asset protection, legacy planning, and pension optimization. The firm is also pursuing growth initiatives, including the addition of advisor Sage Bleakney and plans for further expansion.
The transition followed a significant change in the advisors’ professional landscape. After spending decades with Lincoln Investment, the team intentionally joined Commonwealth Financial Network because of its advisor-centric culture, personalized service model, and leadership approach. However, after Commonwealth was acquired by LPL Financial, the advisors reassessed their long-term affiliation options.
Following a review of the independent broker-dealer market, the team determined that Summit Financial Networks, part of Cetera, most closely aligned with the qualities they valued at Commonwealth. According to Benzak, the decision was driven by a combination of culture, leadership accessibility, specialized advisor support, technology capabilities, and advanced planning resources.
Cetera highlighted that its Summit Financial Networks community is designed to support experienced advisors seeking a high-touch environment while maintaining access to broader enterprise resources. The firm noted that the addition of Tupelo Wealth Partners further strengthens its advisor network and reflects continued momentum following industry consolidation activity.
Cetera Financial Group describes itself as a wealth management platform serving approximately 12,000 financial professionals and institutions. As of March 31, 2026, the company reported approximately $630 billion in assets under administration and $296 billion in assets under management.
KEY QUOTES:
“We didn’t go looking for something close to Commonwealth, we wanted the same thing – experienced advisors, accessible leadership, specialized service, and a firm that actually knows who you are. When we met (community leader) Marshall Leeds and the Summit team, we pretty much knew that was the place.
All the companies we talked with were solid options. The difference at Summit was in the details and the people. The specialized service within Summit really appealed to us. And if you can’t do right by your clients, everything else is noise. We’re confident we’re in the right place to keep doing that.”
Les Benzak, CFP®, Partner at Tupelo Wealth Partners
“When the Tupelo advisors went to Commonwealth, they did it deliberately to build their business for the long term. Following the Commonwealth acquisition, they evaluated their options and determined that Summit best aligned with the qualities that initially attracted them to Commonwealth, something we worked hard to demonstrate and earn. Les, John and Lynn are the definition of advisors Summit was built for – experienced, selective, and uncompromising advisors committed to their clients. We’re proud to be the right answer for Tupelo Wealth Partners.”
Tom Halloran, Cetera Advisor Channel Leader
