Ameriprise Broker Sues LPL Team Over Kindred Trademark

An Ameriprise Financial broker in Norman, Oklahoma, has accused an LPL Financial-affiliated wealth management practice of infringing his trademark rights in a complaint filed in federal court in Minnesota.

Mark E. Woody, who operates Kindred Wealth, claims that Sarah Houle-Johns and Kimberly A. Ritter, who lead Kindred Spirits Wealth Management in Bloomington, Minnesota, are continuing to use the “kindred” name in a manner likely to cause confusion among customers. Woody alleges the practices serve overlapping markets and that the infringement will cause irreparable harm.

Woody registered the “kindred” mark in 2015 and “kindred wealth” in September 2024. He seeks unspecified monetary damages, including profits from the alleged infringement, an order requiring destruction of promotional materials, and an injunction barring further use of the name.

The LPL practice was founded in 2015 and moved to LPL in August 2024. Woody’s practice manages significant assets across offices in Oklahoma and Tennessee.

The complaint was filed on August 4, 2026.

Sources: https://www.advisorhub.com/unkindred-spirits-ameriprise-broker-sues-lpl-team-over-trademark-infringement/ https://www.financialadvisoriq.com/c/5221384/746674