August advisor transitions spanned all five US regions, led by the Southeast with 16 moves representing approximately $6.5B in AUM. The Northeast followed with 15 moves ($3.1B), the Midwest with 12 ($4.8B), the West with 10 ($5.5B), and the Southwest with seven ($2.6B).
Building on its July lead, Raymond James kept the momentum going in August, adding 18 teams with a total of at least $5.8B in assets, while LPL Financial followed with seven teams managing a total of approximately $2B in client assets.
Alongside advisor moves, firms continued to reshape their leadership benches. Among some of the month's more notable moves, Aristotle hired Emily Bivona to lead its RIA-Bank Group distribution, True North Advisors named Jeff Welday as chief development officer for alternatives, Focus Financial elevated Travis Danysh to chief strategy officer, and Arthur M. Blank Family Office tapped Andrea DeMarco as CEO.
For a complete overview of August advisor moves and other people news, continue reading dakota's roundup.
Advisor Moves
Southeast
- Two former advisory teams from Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch joined forces to launch a $2B independent wealth management firm, Longleaf Capital Group, on the Arkadios Capital platform. Founding partners of the Dothan, AL-based firm include Todd Thornell Sr., former managing director and senior financial advisor with Merrill Lynch; Cory Singletary, former senior financial advisor with Merrill Lynch; C. Thomas Lee, former senior vice president and wealth advisor at Morgan Stanley; George Liddon, former senior vice president and wealth advisor at Morgan Stanley; Jonathan Lee, a former first vice president and senior portfolio manager with prior experience at Merrill Lynch; and Lee Forehand, a retirement plan consultant and former Morgan Stanley corporate retirement director. Source
- A Knoxville, TN-based advisory team from TrustFirst joined Osaic. The team, led by John Kennedy, brings $177M in assets under administration. It also includes Ted Shaver, Leslie Grossman, James Powers, and Daniel MacDonald. As senior partner, Kennedy is transitioning his team to Osaic, while his partner Don Taylor remains in place to wind down operations of the firm’s broker-dealer and RIA businesses. Source
- A Merrill Lynch duo in Naples, FL, joined Raymond James & Associates – Raymond James’ employee advisor channel. The team – operating as Betavest Wealth Management of Raymond James, and made up of Michael Davis and Manuel Benitez – previously managed $185M in assets at Merrill Lynch. Source
- Pinnacle Financial Partners appointed financial advisor Chris George to its Chattanooga, TN, team. George, who has a background in medical private banking, wealth management, and business banking, previously worked as a senior vice president and private client relationship manager at First Horizon Bank. Source
- Stifel added Knox Financial Group in Augusta, GA. The firm – which oversees $582M in client assets – is led by Charlie Knox and includes advisor Lee Knox. Source
- Baton Rouge, LA-based Feld Weinstein Group, managing $1.7B in client assets, has joined Wells Fargo Advisors from Morgan Stanley. The group is led by veteran advisors Ira Feld and David Weinstein, who will move alongside advisors Sergio Collette and Brandon Chagnard and three support staff and report to southern coast market leader Steve Meadows within Wells’ Central Division. Wells also hired Baton Rouge broker Nicole Fawley from Morgan Stanley, who managed $100M in assets. Source
- Financial advisors Tim Bembry and Edgar Acosta joined Raymond James Financial Services – Raymond James’ independent advisor channel – operating as Living Wells Financial Group in Hoover, AL. The duo comes from Wells Fargo, where they managed approximately $280M in client assets. Source
- BBVA Global Wealth Advisors appointed Augusto Tricotti as a financial advisor in Miami, where he will focus on serving clients from Uruguay and Colombia. He previously worked for BBVA in Uruguay as a private wealth manager. Source
- Wilmington, NC-based Shannon Chiarello’s Chiarello Wealth Management joined Raymond James’ independent advisor channel Raymond James Financial Services. Chiarello joins the firm from Edward Jones, where she managed $130M in client assets. Source
- Charlottesville, VA-based Wilkinson Wealth Management joined Cetera’s advisor channel Summit Financial Networks. Led by veteran Susan Wilkinson, the 12-member team has $380M in assets under administration. It was previously affiliated with LPL Financial's Private Advisor Group. Source
- Virginia Beach, VA-based West Hoffman Wealth Management joined Raymond James’ employee advisor channel Raymond James & Associates. The firm was co-founded by Todd West and Jason Hoffman, who were previously affiliated with Wells Fargo, where they managed $276M in client assets. Source
- Ocean Springs, MS-based Coastal Wealth Management Group joined Financial Resources Group Investment Services, an existing firm supporting LPL Financial-affiliated advisors. The team, which reported serving $175M in advisory, brokerage, and retirement plan assets, includes Lloyd Baxter, George Cumbest, Darryl Meadows, and Timothy Taranto. Coastal Wealth joins LPL from Osaic. Source
- Two former J.P. Morgan private bankers, Jerry Garcia and Chris Gatsch, launched Miami-based Alta Vera Global Capital Advisors, a wealth firm managing $400M in client assets. The firm has affiliated with OneSeven to use its marketing, compliance, and operational platform. It also signed a partnership with Sextant Capital Solutions to offer capital raising and strategic advisory services to fund managers, entrepreneurs, and operating businesses. Other team members include Juan Castaneda, Dennis Davitt and Mike McCarty, according to the company’s website. Sources 1, 2
- Fort Myers, FL-based Private Wealth Consultants joined Raymond James’ independent advisor channel Raymond James Financial Services. The team, represented by financial advisors Leo Boisvert and Erik Heben, comes from Commonwealth Financial Network, where they managed $210M in client assets. Source
- Statesville, NC-based Payne Financial Consultants, through its relationship Alpha Omega Wealth Partners, entered into an affiliation with Osaic. Led by managing representative David Payne, the firm joins from LPL Financial, bringing $102M AUM. The team also includes investment specialist Zach Payne. Source
- Statesville, NC-based Bowman Financial Solutions joined Osaic’s advisor network, partnering with Alpha Omega Wealth Partners. The $73M firm, led by CEO Brent Bowman, was previously affiliated with LPL Financial. Source
Northeast
- Reading, MA-based Lumen Wealth Management joined Raymond James’ independent advisor channel, Raymond James Financial Services. The single-advisor team, led by Gino Molettieri, was previously affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network, where it managed $174M in client assets. Source
- Veteran Merrill Lynch wealth management advisor Scott Rosenblum reportedly joined Rockefeller Global Family Office in New York City. His practice – WR Group – managed $400M in assets at Merrill. Source
- Devon, PA-based financial advisor Paul Milnes joined Raymond James’ employee advisor channel Raymond James & Associates. Milnes, who will operate under the name Milnes Wealth Management of Raymond James, joins RayJay from Wells Fargo, where he managed $260M in client assets. Source
- Tinton Falls, NJ-based financial advisor John Caracappa’s team joined Raymond James’ employee advisor channel Raymond James & Associates. The team – which will operate as Cogent Wealth Management of Raymond James – joins from Morgan Stanley, where it managed $176M in assets serving endowments and foundations, families, individuals, non-profits, family offices, and sudden wealth clients. Source
- An Amesbury, MA-based team of three financial advisors operating as Linden Financial Group joined Raymond James’ independent advisor channel Raymond James Financial Services. The team, consisting of Charlene Dolan, Danielle Holmes, and John MacDonald, was previously affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network, where it managed $120M in assets. Source
- Whitehouse Station, NJ-based Schaible Russo Financial joined Osaic’s W-2 model, transitioning from its previous 1099 affiliation. The firm is led by Tom Schaible and Al Russo and oversees approximately $450M in client assets. Source
- Three former Commonwealth Financial advisors in Wallingford, CT, have joined Raymond James Financial Services – Raymond James’ independent advisor channel. The team – operating as Lobo & Pascale Wealth Management and made up of Jeremy Lobo, Chris Pascale, and Michael “Mike” Mendillo – managed over $300M of assets at Commonwealth. Source
- Westbury, NY-based Zarra Wealth Management joined LPL Financial’s broker-dealer, RIA platform. The team, which consists of Christopher Zarra, James Kelly, and Michele Welch, comes from Ameriprise, where it served $270M in advisory, brokerage, and retirement plan assets. Source
- Framingham, MA-based financial advisor Joelle Spear launched her independent firm Spear Wealth Management on Osaic, joining IFG. Formerly a partner and financial advisor at Canby Financial Advisors, an affiliate of Commonwealth Financial Network, Spear Wealth oversees $170M in assets under administration. Source
- Syracuse, NY-based financial advisor Jeremy Caza launched his new wealth management practice Carta Wealth Planning on LPL Financial’s corporate RIA channel Stratos Wealth Partners. Most recently, Caza served clients through a bank wealth management program in the Syracuse area. He began his career at Lincoln Financial Advisors before joining Invest Financial, which later became part of LPL. Source
- Depew, NY-based Buffalo Financial joined Raymond James’ independent advisor channel Raymond James Financial Services. The team, which consists of advisors Jeremy Beck, Matthew Pitrola, Jacob Wood, Tyler Sacco and Matt Wojick, was previously affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network, where it managed $207M in client assets. Source
- Fitchburg, MA-based Croteau Financial joined Raymond James’ independent advisor channel Raymond James Financial Services. The team, led by father-son duo Raymond Croteau and Joseph Croteau, comes from Commonwealth Financial Network, where it managed $180M in client assets. Source
- Marlton, NJ-based $113M CPW Advisors joined Cetera’s Cetera Advisors community. The advisory firm, led by financial advisor Christopher Crosby, was previously affiliated with United Planners Financial Services of America. Source
- New Jersey-based $350M RIA Roanoke Asset Management joined First Manhattan. Roanoke’s Edwin Vroom and Adele Weisman will serve as senior managing directors and portfolio managers at First Manhattan, a $34B independently owned and operated investment advisory firm. Source
- Merrill Lynch veteran Branden Sacks launched Collaborative Wealth Advisory in Malvern, PA, which provides investment advisory services through RIA Main Street Financial Solutions. Collaborative Wealth delivers personalized financial planning and investment strategies, along with specialized expertise in supporting families with members who have physical or intellectual disabilities. Collaborative Wealth’s team also includes Rebecca Stokes as director of family outreach and advocacy and Erik Kalfus as investment advisor representative and head of client relations. Source
Midwest
- Cincinnati, OH-based Concentric Wealth Management joined LPL Financial’s broker-dealer, RIA platform. The team, led by Patrick Burke and Matt Tarka, was previously affiliated with Avantax by Cetera, where it managed $715M in advisory, brokerage, and retirement plan assets. Source
- Troy, MI-based Hinkson Wealth Management joined Raymond James’ independent advisor channel Raymond James Financial Services. The team, which consists of Gregory Hinkson, Adam Miller, and Thomas Boogren, was previously affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network, where it managed $450M in client assets. Source
- Westerville, OH-based advisory team FlahertyColvin joined Raymond James’ independent advisor channel Raymond James Financial Services. The team, consisting of Stew Flaherty and Tami Colvin, was previously affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network, where it managed $305M in client assets. Source
- Dundee, MI-based Village Wealth Management joined Raymond James’ independent advisor channel, Raymond James Financial Services. The team, which includes advisors Mark Kerr, David DeVantier, Brandon Proctor, Isaiah Bross and Ross Terrasi, comes from Commonwealth Financial Network, where it managed $125M in client assets. Source
- A Chicago-based advisory team joined RIA NewEdge Wealth, marking the firm’s first location in the city. The team is led by veteran wealth manager David Chase, who was previously working with Wells Fargo Advisors as a managing director of investments and private wealth financial advisor. The team reportedly managed $613M in clients assets. Source
- Lincoln, NE-based financial advisors Jenna Vitosh and Natalia Paige launched Chloey Wealth with LPL Financial’s broker-dealer and RIA platform. The duo, who report overseeing $140M in client assets, join from Edward Jones and New York Life, respectively. Source
- Cleveland-based financial advisor Michael Zawatsky’s Oasis Asset Management Group joined Cetera’s advisor channel Summit Financial Networks. The team, which comes from B. Riley Wealth Advisors, is made up of five advisors and has about $600M in assets under administration. Source
- Kelley Thompson joined Oxford Harriman & Co.’s private wealth management practice as a senior managing director and partner. Thompson, who will operate from the firm’s Chagrin Falls, OH, office, has around two decades of experience in the financial services industry and was affiliated with Wells Fargo Advisors. She is now registered with Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, which Oxford Harriman is a part of. Source
- Woodbury, MN-based Lumitas Wealth Strategies, which is led by Dana Schwinck and Justin Mishacoff and reportedly managed $520M in assets, left Commonwealth Financial for &Partners. The duo was previously affiliated with Wells Fargo. Source
- Minnesota-headquartered $840M Blaze Credit Union joined Osaic’s institutions channel. The credit union, which has 28 branch locations, also offers retirement and investment services through a team of eight advisors. Source
- Troy, MI-based Sentia Wealth joined Cetera’s Summit Financial Networks. The team, led by Matthew Flynn, comes from Ameriprise Financial Services and has $228M in assets under administration. The firm provides management for corporate retirement plans, which includes working to ensure regulatory compliance, fiduciary oversight, and employee financial wellness. It also offers personalized wealth management solutions for individuals and families. Source
- Antigo, WI-based Pinnacle Wealth Management joined Raymond James’ independent advisor channel Raymond James Financial Services. The team includes managing partners Travis Rose, Jeff Breit, and Scott Greening, along with financial consultant Quincy Johnson. Pinnacle Wealth was previously affiliated with Thrivent Financial, where it managed $240M in client assets. Source
West
- Costa Mesa, CA-based financial advisor Brent Rupnow’s Via Luce Capital joined Financial Advocates by LPL Financial. Rupnow has previously been associated with Ameriprise Financial Services. Source
- An Orange County, CA-based, $1.2B advisor team led by Jim Chiate and Tony Guinane joined Sanctuary Wealth from UBS. The duo’s new firm, Dial Square Private Wealth, will utilize Charles Schwab and Goldman Sachs as custodians. Source
- Three BNY Wealth advisors – Steve Starzec, Scott Ulaszek, and Sarah Williamson – joined Fifth Third Wealth Advisors in Denver. The trio reportedly managed $1B in assets at BNY. Source
- Greeley, CO-based Strategic Financial Management joined Undefined Gridlines, an office of supervisory jurisdiction under Osaic. Led by Randee Cook, the firm, which oversees $133M in assets under administration, has been affiliated with LPL Financial for the past 35 years. Source
- A Wells Fargo Advisors-affiliated duo joined Bozeman, MT-based, $3B RIA Shore to Summit Wealth Management, adding $700M to the firm’s AUM. Jon Lindenberg and Mark Jutkowitz, formerly of Lindenberg Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo, will work as managing partners from the firm’s new flagship office in Bethesda, MD. Source
- Southern California-based $275M Providence Wealth Planning joined Osaic. Founded in 2016 by father and son duo Mark Massey and Ian Massey, the firm was previously affiliated with LPL Financial. Other team members include Paul Leone, Aldo Santana and Tyler Brashears. Source
- Denver-based RIA Crusonia Wealth Advisors added Collin Schmidt as a partner and senior wealth advisor. Schmidt was previously affiliated with Private Capital Management. Source
- US Bank Private Wealth Management hired Tyler Youngberg as a portfolio manager. Based in Reno, NV, Youngberg was previously a portfolio manager at Whittier Trust Company. Source
- Las Vegas, NV-based Toll Wealth Management joined Raymond James’ independent advisor channel Raymond James Financial Services. The team includes financial advisors Daniel Toll and Tahirih Toll. The advisors join from RBC Capital Markets, where they managed $347M in client assets. Source
- A team of 16 financial advisors managing $1.8B in assets joined Raymond James’ independent advisor channel Raymond James Financial Services. Greenberg & Rapp and its Eagle Rock Wealth Management subsidiary join the firm from Portland, OR-based Financial Group. The firm is led by founders and principals Thomas Rapp and Ronald Greenberg, and managing partner Patrick Maguire. They are joined by financial advisors JP Bartolomeo, Bill Conroy, Jordan Crowley, Cole Koeniger, and Brian Rapp; and wealth advisors T. Keith Brown, Jonathan Crozier, Jack Grondin, Dennis Mojares, Ryan Pergola, Michael Pfenninger, and Dante Zicarelli. Wealth manager Jake Greenberg and investment strategist Ryan Miscik have also joined Raymond James. Source
Southwest
- Veteran financial advisor Casper Terpinski joined Steward Partners’ Dallas, TX-based Park Cities Group team. Managing $230M in assets, Terpinski serves retirees, small institutions, and multi-generational families. Source
- Houston-based Skyward Financial joined LPL Financial’s broker-dealer, RIA platform. The team of six advisors, which is led by Matthew Houston, Lynn Houston and Ross Stripling, was previously affiliated with Wedbush Securities and reported serving $700M in advisory, brokerage, and retirement plan assets. Source
- San Antonio, TX-based Marksman Wealth Management joined Sanctuary Wealth’s network of partner firms. Founded by senior wealth advisor Joseph Schuetze, Marksman Wealth was previously affiliated with PAX Financial Group, a firm Schuetze co-founded. Source
- Scottsdale, AZ-based newly formed advisory firm AVIA Wealth Advisors joined Stonebridge Financial Group’s 1099 platform. The firm is led by Dan Barker, who before launching AVIA worked at Infosys as a retirement plan specialist. Source
- Fort Worth, TX-based, $400M wealth manager Fossil Rock Private Wealth joined Sanctuary Wealth through partner firm mFORCE Capital. Fossil Rock was founded by former Merrill Lynch wealth advisor Larry Milton, who was most recently affiliated with Truist Investment Services. Fossil Rock will work in partnership with mFORCE Capital, where Milton will be recognized as co-founder. Senior wealth advisor Robert Brown will also join Sanctuary Wealth. Source
- Two UBS teams, managing a combined $1.3B, reportedly joined J.P. Morgan Chase wealth management unit J.P. Morgan Advisors in Austin, TX. The Neff Group, which oversaw $1B in client assets at UBS, is led by John Neff along with Brad Neff and Greg Neff. The Buchanan Group, managing $279M, is led by Bob Buchanan and Mark Buchanan. Source
- Houston, TX-based Grabau Wealth Management joined Financial Gravity Companies, with founder Loren James Grabau appointed as family office director at the firm. With the move, Grabau's clients will have access to Financial Gravity’s suite of financial services offerings. Source
People Moves
- Aristotle Capital Management appointed Emily Bivona as vice president, regional director for its RIA-Bank Group. Bivona comes from J.P. Morgan Asset Management, bringing experience in both relationship management and strategic growth. Source
- True North Advisors appointed Jeff Welday as chief development officer for alternative investments, a newly created role. Welday will lead the firm’s alternative and private markets platform – Western Alternative Strategies. Originally built to serve the firm’s multi-family office clients, the platform now supports a broader network of RIAs, high-net-worth individuals, and other private market capital allocators. He was previously MD global head of originations and distribution at The Beneficient Co. Source
- Focus Financial Partners appointed Travis Danysh as chief strategy officer, effective immediately. Danysh will oversee the development of the firm’s long-term strategic plan. He will also continue to lead Focus’ corporate development function, including M&A and portfolio consolidation efforts. He was previously the firm’s chief corporate development officer. Source
- Wayne Akins, Synovus Financial’s chief community banking and wealth services officer, will oversee Pinnacle Financial Partners' wealth management business – including trust and investment solutions, mortgage, and third-party payments – following the planned merger between the two financial services companies, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026. Source
- Financial industry veteran Jeff Pierce joined Johnson Wealth, a division of Johnson Financial Group, as president. Most recently, Pierce was president and COO of Annex Wealth Management. Source
- Technology-centric wealth management firm Farther Institutional promoted Sutanto Widjaja to CIO. Widjaja was previously senior vice president at the firm, managing endowment style portfolios for high net worth families and institutions. Source
- Simon Quick Advisors named Benjamin Renzo as managing director and head of the family office. Renzo previously served as founder and managing partner of Premier Family Office. Source
- Atlanta, GA-based Arthur M. Blank Family Office appointed Andrea DeMarco as its CEO. DeMarco was previously president at Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Source
- St. Louis, MO-based $43B Moneta Group Investment Advisors’ senior managing director of M&A, Shawn Paulk, has reportedly left the firm to join fixed-income boutique SPFG as its chief growth officer. Source
- UBS appointed Ryan Rozniakowski as senior market director for Northern New Jersey within the Greater New York metro market. Working from the firm’s Paramus office, Rozniakowski will drive strategic growth and lead a team of more than 130 employees. Prior to this role, he served as market executive of the UBS Pacific Northwest Market, overseeing 13 offices. Source
- Citi Private Bank appointed Clinton Warren as central market executive for North America. Prior to the appointment, Warren served as regional head of investments and advice for the south region at JP Morgan Private Bank. Source
- Inverness, IL-based wealth management firm VestGen Wealth Partners appointed industry veteran Robert Hostetter as its first CIO. Before joining VestGen, Hostetter was the managing partner of Institutional Client Solutions. His previous roles include global head of solutions at Russell Investments and global head of product strategy at AllianceBernstein. Source
- Jupiter, FL-based boutique investment advisory firm SlateStone Wealth appointed Erin Gibbs as chief equity strategist. In the new role, she will lead the development of the firm’s quantitative equity platform, beginning with the design and implementation of a new small- and mid-cap strategy. Most recently, Gibbs worked at Main Street Asset Management as CIO. Source
- Hybrid RIA Independent Advisor Alliance appointed Dale Riley as its new chief growth officer. Most recently, Riley worked at LPL Financial as vice president of advisory consulting. Source
- BlackRock and J.P. Morgan veteran Benjamin Elbaz joined $95B multi-family office Iconiq Capital as president of investment management. Elbaz was most recently a managing director at BlackRock. Source
- UBS Global Wealth Management US appointed DeAnne Steele and George Towers III as market directors in the San Diego, CA, region. Steele – who will lead the Carmel Valley and Rancho Bernardo offices – previously led financial advisors across multiple offices for Merrill Lynch in Texas and California, while Towers – who will lead the La Jolla and Downtown San Diego offices – was associate market executive for the Pacific Desert market at UBS. Source
- St. Louis, MO-based $7.2B RIA Plancorp Wealth Management appointed Jeffrey Smith as COO. Smith previously worked as chief technology officer at Sylvan Road Capital. Source
- $6.3B RIA Douglass Winthrop Advisors hired Northern Trust senior managing director Keith Ardizzone as senior managing director on its wealth management team. Ardizzone is based in New York. Source
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