Raymond James nabs $470M Merrill team

Raymond James has bolstered its presence in the Midwest as a team of wirehouse advisors make a strategic switch.

The firm announced Thursday its employee advisor channel, Raymond James & Associates, has welcomed an advisory team that managed $479 million in assets in Idaho.

The Idaho Falls-based team led by advisor trio Larry Stucki, Brandon Peebles, and Jake Waddoups earned a spot among Forbes' best-in-state wealth management teams as the PSW Group.

They're embarking on a new journey under the banner of Riverview Wealth Advisors of Raymond James, joined by senior registered client service associates Carla Greenough and Shauna Misseldine.

Riverview Wealth Advisors will operate as part of Raymond James’ Boise branch, which is overseen by complex manager Todd Lovell. The team serves a diverse client base that includes families, individuals, retirees, and business owners.

In a statement, Michael O’Meara, Midwest regional director for RJA, praised the "seasoned team," highlighting how their "focus on client-first service and building long-term relationships" aligns with Raymond James's culture.

“This transition marks an important step in aligning our team’s values with a firm that prioritizes both client service and independence,” said Peebles, who brings two decades of experience at Merrill to his new firm.

Stucki, who's leveraging 27 years of industry experience to his new role as senior vice president of investments, highlighted those shared values as "key to both our team’s success and clients’ continued satisfaction."

Waddoups, whose decade-long career began with Vanguard, echoed the importance of the Raymond James culture as well as its platform of supported independence.

“The firm’s innovative resources and service-oriented culture empower our team to continue delivering the high-quality, personalized service our clients expect,” he said.

Apart from the Riverview Wealth Advisors team, RJA's October recruitment record in October includes a $1.1 billion team that switched allegiances from RBC Capital Markets and an experienced California team that previously managed $600 million at Merrill.