Raymond James nabs Wells Fargo advisor

The financial industry veteran from South Carolina joins the brokerage giant after previously managing around $250M in client assets.

Raymond James has made another addition to the talent pool in its employee advisor arm. The firm announced Laura Blanton, a financial advisor formerly with Wells Fargo Advisors, has joined Raymond James and Associates.

Blanton, who previously managed around $252 million in client assets at Wells Fargo, is joining the Raymond James Associates team in Greenville, South Carolina, where she will lead Blanton Wealth Management.

Blanton’s career in financial services traces back to 2002, when she started at A.G. Edwards, a firm that was later absorbed by Wells Fargo Advisors. She has been registered as a financial advisor since 2014, according to her BrokerCheck profile.

Under the leadership of Mid-Atlantic regional director for Raymond James Associates, Courtland Williams, and within the Greenville complex managed by Brian Flemmer, Blanton brings a wealth of experience to her new role.

Together with Bethany Hermelin, a client service associate, she aims to deliver personalized wealth management services to a diverse clientele that includes corporate executives, families, and individuals, both living in retirement and those in the planning stages.

“Through Raymond James, I’m able to offer access to the resources and sophisticated products of a global financial firm while never compromising my ability to provide objective advice that puts my clients’ best interest first,” Blanton said in a statement.

Last week, Raymond James Associates added $350 million in client business as it recruited two New Hampshire advisors from Morgan Stanley.

Before that, it had added another $300-plus million team from South Florida, the Behar-Negal Group, also previously from Morgan Stanley.