RayJay amplifies Las Vegas presence with wirehouse superteam

RayJay amplifies Las Vegas presence with wirehouse superteam
The ensemble joins the broker-dealer giant’s employee advisor channel after managing more than $1B at Morgan Stanley.
JUL 01, 2024

Raymond James has announced the addition of a new team of financial advisors, collectively managing over $1 billion in assets, to its employee advisor channel.

The independent giant recently welcomed the team as the newest members of Raymond James Associates in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The team, formerly with Morgan Stanley, comprises financial advisors Nick Takahashi, James Zapotocky, Joshua Yocam, Luka Vasiljevic, Michael Ortega, Stephen Ellingsen, and Sean Tsaconas. They are joined by senior client service associate Yalda Momeni.

Together, they managed approximately $1.3 billion in client assets and will now be part of RJA’s Las Vegas branch, serving a diverse clientele that includes corporate executives, families, individuals, pre-retirees, and retirees.

 “When we look to the future of Takahashi Retirement Group, the client and advisor centric ethos combined with vast resources and support at Raymond James offers us the best opportunity for growth and stability for our clients,” Nick Takahashi, managing director, said in a statement.

Takahashi, who brings over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, began his career with Wachovia Securities and spent 11 years at Morgan Stanley.

“The opportunity to grow with an industry leader that gets to know you on a personal level makes Raymond James the perfect long-term partner for our team,” added James Zapotocky, senior vice president of wealth management.

Zapotocky started his career in financial services in 2010 at Wells Fargo and served as an advisor at Morgan Stanley for over a decade.

In April, Raymond James scored another powerhouse team in Arizona with the addition of a $1.1 billion practice from RBC Wealth Management to its employee advisor division.

On Monday, the firm started off its July recruitment schedule by adding financial advisor Billy Focia, who most recently managed $105 million in client assets at Merit Financial, to RJA in Brimingham, Alabama.

Focia’s 24 years of industry experience includes turns at ETrade, the recently acquired Lincoln Financial Advisors, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo, and LPL.

He is accompanied by senior client service associate Dedie McCraw at F3 Financial of Raymond James. Together, they work with families and individuals, pre-retirees and retirees, business owners and corporate retirement plans under the leadership of Michael Turnbough, complex manager.

Latest News

SEC charges Chicago-based investment adviser with overbilling clients more than $2.5M in fees
SEC charges Chicago-based investment adviser with overbilling clients more than $2.5M in fees

Eliseo Prisno, a former Merrill advisor, allegedly collected unapproved fees from Filipino clients by secretly accessing their accounts at two separate brokerages.

Apella Wealth comes to Washington with Independence Wealth Advisors
Apella Wealth comes to Washington with Independence Wealth Advisors

The Harford, Connecticut-based RIA is expanding into a new market in the mid-Atlantic region while crossing another billion-dollar milestone.

Citi's Sieg sees rich clients pivoting from US to UK
Citi's Sieg sees rich clients pivoting from US to UK

The Wall Street giant's global wealth head says affluent clients are shifting away from America amid growing fallout from President Donald Trump's hardline politics.

US employment report reactions: Overall better than expected, but concerns with underlying data
US employment report reactions: Overall better than expected, but concerns with underlying data

Chief economists, advisors, and chief investment officers share their reactions to the June US employment report.

Creative Planning's Peter Mallouk slams 'offensive' congressional stock trading
Creative Planning's Peter Mallouk slams 'offensive' congressional stock trading

"This shouldn’t be hard to ban, but neither party will do it. So offensive to the people they serve," RIA titan Peter Mallouk said in a post that referenced Nancy Pelosi's reported stock gains.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.