The war for advisor talent is continuing across the independent broker-dealer and wirehouse spaces, with LPL Financial, Raymond James, and Wells Fargo each adding experienced financial advisors to their ranks.
On Wednesday, LPL announced the addition of West Texas Investments, a woman-led advisory team based in Lubbock, Texas.
Previously reporting approximately $170 million in advisory, brokerage and retirement plan assets, the team – comprising Stephanie Stewart, Debra Hedgcoth and Madison Wentland – joined LPL from B. Riley Wealth Advisors.
Founded in 2012 by Stewart and her late partner David Barber, the practice expanded with Hedgcoth’s arrival in 2018 following her 25-year tenure with the Internal Revenue Service. Wentland, a certified public accountant, joined the team in 2019.
Together, the group brings over 40 years of industry experience and follows a team-based approach to holistic financial planning.
“We understand that finances are a deeply personal topic, and we use a 'Discover, Design and Deliver' approach to help our clients pursue their financial goals,” Hedgcoth said in a statement Wednesday.
Before the West Texas Investments team, LPL bolstered its network with a 10-advisor ensemble from Osaic and a Texas-based defector from Raymond James.
For its part, Raymond James recently welcomed a father-son advisor team from Wells Fargo to its independent advisor channel in Conway, Arkansas.
Advisors Scotty Campbell and Jim Campbell have joined Raymond James Financial Services, where they now operate as Campbell Wealth Management. They previously oversaw $285 million in client assets at Wells Fargo.
Scotty Campbell has 17 years of financial planning and investment management experience. Jim Campbell, who began his career at A.G. Edwards prior to its acquisition by Wells Fargo, has more than 24 years in the industry. Their support team includes client service associate Lacy Bailey and administrative assistant Shirley Clary.
Most recently, Raymond James expanded its profile in the East Coast, onboarding an Edward Jones alum in North Carolina and a New York-based pair from Ameriprise.
The moves at LPL and RayJay come on the heels of other moves at Wells Fargo, which last week expanded its advisor base with hires in both the Northeast and West Coast regions.
In New York City, Linda Liu joined the bank-based channel from Cetera Investment Services. She manages $126 million in assets and reported $1.1 million in production. In Syracuse, New York, Wells Fargo brought on a two-advisor team from Merrill Lynch, David Towers and Jason Capron, who have approximately $204 million in client assets and $1.6 million in annual production.
On the West Coast, Tyler Farrell transitioned to the bank-based channel in Westlake Village, California office from JPMorgan Securities. He manages $113 million in assets and is a $1 million producer.
Advisors can dodge looming fee compression by offering family office services like property and casualty insurance, explains Elevation Point's Jim Dickson as his firm brings on investment from the Milstein-family backed Emigrant Partners.
As Berkshire Hathaway remains a top-performing financial stock, ETFs that offer a similar value style could appeal to investors, according to CFRA.
Buyouts, layoffs, early retirements, and hiring freezes have added up to the steepest cuts in decades at the SEC and other federal agencies.
More than three-quarters of planners believe AI will enhance client service, but call for more training and guidance.
The leadership changes are happening just as the firm forges a strategic partnership with AI notetaking leader Jump.
From direct lending to asset-based finance to commercial real estate debt.
RIAs face rising regulatory pressure in 2025. Forward-looking firms are responding with embedded technology, not more paperwork.