St. Louis-based Stifel Financial said Wednesday that it recruited two advisor teams from Merrill’s Private Wealth Management division in Dallas who collectively managed almost $3 billion in client assets.
Melissa Transier and Chris Green had $1.5 billion in assets under management (AUM) at Merrill, while Ryan Bell managed $1.4 billion in client assets out of the same Dallas office, according to Stifel.
The three joined Stifel’s Dallas Private Client Group office on Wednesday, each with the title of Managing Director/Investments, and they have “officially cleared with Stifel,” the firm said.
Transier and Green are supported by Laura Martin-Bernard, Senior Registered Client Service Associate, and Stacey Jacobson, Senior Client Service Associate, while Bell is supported by Deborah Griffith, Senior Registered Client Service Associate, Stifel said.
“We are excited to announce our move to Stifel, a firm whose client-first culture and streamlined structure will enhance our ability to serve our high-net-worth clients,” Transier said.
“Stifel offers world-class resources and has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to supporting our team and our clients – from senior leadership to local management. We’re confident this move positions us for long-term success and continued growth,” she added.
Welcoming the three advisors to Stifel, Jeff Markham, Managing Director for the Southwest Region at Stifel Financial, said: “As former members of Merrill Private Wealth Management, these highly respected advisors deeply understand the needs of ultra-high-net-worth clients. At Stifel, they can deliver the white-glove service their clients expect, along with an array of sophisticated investment product and service offerings that we believe is the best in our industry.”
Other advisor teams recently recruited by Stifel included Bowling Green, Kentucky-based Gasper Investment Consulting Group from Baird in August.
Early this month, Stifel announced the completion of its acquisition of 36 B. Riley employee advisors, with about $4 billion in AUM.
In 2024, Stifel’s Global Wealth Management business held more than $500 billion in client assets and posted record annual revenue of $3.3 billion, it said April 7.
Jeff Berman, Contributing Editor and Reporter at Wealth Solutions Report, can be reached at jeff.berman@wealthsolutionsreport.com.
