IPG Founded in 1984, San Diego-based Investment Placement Group ( IPG ) began as a company specializing in private banking. In 1990, the company grew to include institutional banking, and in 2010, investment banking was added to the organization's mix of financial services offerings. Today, IPG is an independent, full-service broker/dealer and registered investment advisor, registered with the SEC and a member of FINRA ( www.finra.org ) offering: