diff --git a/tests/test_llm_routing.py b/tests/test_llm_routing.py
index ca4903cd..c503041a 100644
--- a/tests/test_llm_routing.py
+++ b/tests/test_llm_routing.py
@@ -137,6 +137,47 @@ def test_role_specific_llm_config_overrides_actual_graph_wiring(monkeypatch):
     assert "News Analyst" not in recorded_llms
 
 
+def test_role_specific_route_inherits_default_provider_and_base_url(monkeypatch):
+    recorded_llms = {}
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "tradingagents.graph.trading_graph.create_llm_client",
+        lambda provider, model, base_url=None, **kwargs: DummyClient(
+            provider, model, base_url, **kwargs
+        ),
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "tradingagents.graph.trading_graph.FinancialSituationMemory",
+        lambda *args, **kwargs: object(),
+    )
+    _patch_graph_setup_wiring(monkeypatch, recorded_llms)
+
+    TradingAgentsGraph(
+        selected_analysts=["market"],
+        config={
+            "llm_provider": "openai",
+            "backend_url": "https://legacy.example/v1",
+            "llm_routing": {
+                "default": {
+                    "provider": "anthropic",
+                    "base_url": "https://anthropic.example/v1",
+                },
+                "roles": {
+                    "portfolio_manager": {
+                        "model": "claude-opus-4-6",
+                    }
+                },
+            },
+        },
+    )
+
+    assert recorded_llms["Market Analyst"]["provider"] == "anthropic"
+    assert recorded_llms["Market Analyst"]["base_url"] == "https://anthropic.example/v1"
+    assert recorded_llms["Portfolio Manager"]["provider"] == "anthropic"
+    assert recorded_llms["Portfolio Manager"]["base_url"] == "https://anthropic.example/v1"
+    assert recorded_llms["Portfolio Manager"]["model"] == "claude-opus-4-6"
+
+
 def test_unused_role_routes_do_not_instantiate_clients(monkeypatch):
     created_clients = []
 
diff --git a/tradingagents/graph/trading_graph.py b/tradingagents/graph/trading_graph.py
index ff19604b..5a789e3d 100644
--- a/tradingagents/graph/trading_graph.py
+++ b/tradingagents/graph/trading_graph.py
@@ -179,12 +179,20 @@ class TradingAgentsGraph:
 
     def _create_role_llms(self, selected_analysts: List[str]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         role_llms = {}
+        llm_cache = {}
         for role in self._get_required_roles(selected_analysts):
             thinker_depth = "deep" if role in self.DEEP_THINKING_ROLES else "quick"
             llm_config = self._resolve_llm_config(role, thinker_depth)
             if self._uses_legacy_llm(llm_config, thinker_depth):
                 continue
-            role_llms[role] = self._create_llm_from_config(llm_config)
+            cache_key = (
+                llm_config["provider"],
+                llm_config["model"],
+                llm_config.get("base_url"),
+            )
+            if cache_key not in llm_cache:
+                llm_cache[cache_key] = self._create_llm_from_config(llm_config)
+            role_llms[role] = llm_cache[cache_key]
         return role_llms
 
     def _get_required_roles(self, selected_analysts: List[str]) -> set[str]:
@@ -218,7 +226,9 @@ class TradingAgentsGraph:
     ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         routing = self.config.get("llm_routing") or {}
         role_routes = routing.get("roles") or {}
-        route = role_routes.get(role) or routing.get("default") or {}
+        default_route = routing.get("default") or {}
+        role_route = role_routes.get(role) or {}
+        route = self._deep_merge_dicts(default_route, role_route)
 
         model_key = "deep_think_llm" if thinker_depth == "deep" else "quick_think_llm"
         provider = self._normalize_provider(