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Ameriprise Broker Sues LPL-Affiliated Practice Over Use of "Kindred" Name

Posted on August 25th, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Ameriprise Broker Sues LPL-Affiliated Practice Over Use of

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

AdvisorHub reports that an Ameriprise Financial broker in Oklahoma has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against an LPL Financial-affiliated practice over its use of the word "kindred" in its name.

Mark E. Woody, who operates a practice known as Kindred Wealth, filed the complaint Monday in a Minnesota district court against Sarah Houle-Johns and Kimberly A. Ritter. The two LPL-affiliated brokers operate Kindred Spirits Wealth Management.

According to AdvisorHub, Woody alleges that Houle-Johns and Ritter violated his trademark rights by continuing to use the "kindred" name. He claims that the two practices serve similar clients and operate in overlapping markets, creating a likelihood that consumers may mistakenly believe the businesses have a relationship.

Woody began operating Kindred Wealth in 2010 and registered a trademark for "kindred" five years later, according to the complaint. He later registered "kindred wealth" as a trademark in September 2024.

According to AdvisorHub, the lawsuit alleges that Kindred Spirits Wealth Management's continued use of the name will cause irreparable harm to Woody and his practice. Woody also claims that Kindred Wealth has developed significant goodwill associated with its trademarked names and that the term "kindred" reflects the practice's culture and its connection to family, spirit, and shared values.

AdvisorHub reports that Woody seeks unspecified monetary damages, including any profits Houle-Johns and Ritter earned through the alleged infringement. He also asks the court to prohibit further infringement and order the destruction of promotional materials bearing the Kindred Spirits Wealth Management name.

Houle-Johns and Ritter operate Kindred Spirits Wealth Management in Bloomington, Minnesota, with five support staff. According to their firm website, the women-led practice began in 2015 at Foresters Financial Services. The advisors later joined Cetera Investment Advisors and moved to LPL in August 2024, according to their LinkedIn profiles.

Kindred Wealth operates offices in Norman, Oklahoma, as well as Murfreesboro and Nashville, Tennessee. According to its website, the practice includes seven other advisors, four associate advisors, and 10 support staff. A Forbes ranking reported that the team managed $799 million in assets as of June 2025.

Members of the Kindred Wealth team and an Ameriprise spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment, according to AdvisorHub. Houle-Johns and Ritter also did not respond to requests for comment.

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, trademark infringement, securities litigation, ameriprise financial, lpl financial, financial advisor lawsuit

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