Raymond James added a team of four advisors in Las Vegas who collectively managed more than $1.1 billion in client assets at RBC Capital Markets.
The Business Exit Planning Advisors of Raymond James joined the firm’s employee advisor channel – Raymond James & Associates (RJA) – and are operating as part of RJA’s Las Vegas branch, according to John Simmons, West Coast Regional Director at RJA.
Managing Directors Kerry Withrow and Ben Hamilton lead the team. It also includes Financial Advisors Ryan D’Souza – who serves as First Vice President, Investments – and Elliot Bloch, along with Practice Business Manager Terri Criswell.
“After extensive deliberation and due diligence, our team partnered with Raymond James for its advanced technology platforms, specifically designed to serve business owners and high-net-worth individuals and families,” Withrow said.
“The ability to access Raymond James Investment Banking was also a pivotal factor in our decision,” said Withrow. “The innovative tools and technology offered by the firm enable us to serve our clients more efficiently and we look forward to delivering even greater value to our clients.”
Withrow has more than 30 years of financial services experience. He started his career at Smith Barney, now Morgan Stanley, in 1993 and served as Managing Director at RBC, where he spent 25 years.
“What truly sets Raymond James apart is its personalized attention and unwavering commitment to a client-first culture,” Hamilton said. “This alignment with our core values ensures that we can continue to deliver the exceptional service our clients deserve.”
Hamilton has 46 years of industry experience and started his career in the sector at Legel, Braswell Securities. He went on to hold advisor positions at Prudential Securities and PaineWebber, now UBS. Most recently, he served as a Senior Vice President at RBC, where he worked for 26 years.
Welcoming the team to RJA’s Western division, Lance Horton, Complex Manager for the Mountain Desert Complex, Nevada and Utah, said, “This talented team is a promising addition to our Western division, and we look forward to continuing to attract impactful practices like theirs who mirror the culture and values found at the firm.”
RJA also recently added the three-advisor team of Bryan Burkhart, Gretchen Burkhart and Gabriele Burkhart to its Raymond James Advisor Select business, in Sullivan, Indiana, it said Oct. 8. That team joined from Edward Jones, where it managed more than $250 million in client assets. As Burkhart Wealth and Retirement of Raymond James, they serve healthcare professionals, business owners, pre-retirees and retirees as a part of RJA’s Evansville branch, led by Timothy Gunn, Branch Manager.
On Oct. 3, Raymond James said it added advisor Taylor Thompson to Raymond James Financial Services (RJFS), the firm’s independent advisor channel. At Thompson & Co. Wealth Management in Rapid City, South Dakota, Thompson provides wealth management strategies to clients who include business owners, families, pre-retirees and retirees, as well as endowments and foundations. He joined from LPL Financial, where he managed over $250 million in client assets.
Raymond James had about 8,800 advisors throughout the U.S., Canada and overseas managing total client assets of approximately $1.54 trillion as of Aug. 31, it said.
Jeff Berman, Contributing Editor and Reporter at Wealth Solutions Report, can be reached at jberman@wealthsolutionsreport.com.
