Advisor moves: Sanctuary Wealth gains $1.2B breakaways, Raymond James scores a double

Advisor moves: Sanctuary Wealth gains $1.2B breakaways, Raymond James scores a double
Wells Fargo, Commonwealth, UBS are the firms losing advisor teams.
AUG 19, 2025

Advisor teams managing almost $2 billion in client assets have taken the leap into independence, boosting the AUM of Sanctuary Wealth and Raymond James.

In Orange County, California, Dial Square Private Wealth joins Sanctuary Wealth from UBS with $1.2 billion in client assets. Founders Jim Chiate and Tony Guinane, CFP, CRPC, had been with UBS since 2013 and first worked together at Merrill Lynch 10 years before that.

"Going independent was not a quick decision," says Chiate. "While we could have easily moved to another traditional wirehouse or private bank, once we understood the evolution of the independent space over the last decade, we couldn't ignore the value independence would provide to our clients.”

The founders have chosen Charles Schwab and Goldman Sachs as custodians and will be joined in their firm by Owen Galasso, who will serve as vice president, registered operations manager, and Nazgol Nekoomaram, serving as a vice president, wealth associate.

Over the past 12 months, Sanctuary has welcomed 16 new partner firms representing more than $10 billion in client assets and its network now includes more than 125 partner firms in 32 states, with over $55 billion in assets on and in transition to platform.

Meanwhile, Raymond James has welcomed two teams to its independent advisor channel, Raymond James Financial Services.

In Wallingford, Connecticut, Jeremy Lobo, Chris Pascale and Michael “Mike” Mendillo join as Lobo & Pascale Wealth Management, LLC, having managed more than $300 billion in client assets with Commonwealth Financial Network.

Last week, RJFS welcomed two advisor teams previously with Commonwealth with a total of around $387 million AUM.

Their practice was founded by Lobo and Pascale in 2001 and have been affiliated with Commonwealth throughout. They are joined by director of business operations Jordan True and client relationship specialist Laura Sicignano.

RJFS has also attracted a $280 million team in Hoover, Alabama as financial advisors Tim Bembry, CFP, and Edgar Acosta, CRPC, jump ship from Wells Fargo, joined by office manager Haley Edwards.

Bembry was with Wells Fargo for 30 years with Acosta racking up 17 years at the wirehouse.

“At this phase of my career, what matters most to me is having the independence and freedom to serve clients with common-sense advice that is timely, practical and truly in their best interest, and Raymond James provides just that,” says Bembry. 

Latest News

Americans back sharing AI wealth as debate over industry’s economic benefits grows
Americans back sharing AI wealth as debate over industry’s economic benefits grows

Public support grows for policies that spread AI’s financial gains beyond tech companies.

JPMorgan's record Q2 profit rides trading and dealmaking surge
JPMorgan's record Q2 profit rides trading and dealmaking surge

Investment banking fees rose 30% on a wave of IPOs and megadeals, led by the largest public listing on record.

Feathery raises $30 million to power AI-driven RIA operations
Feathery raises $30 million to power AI-driven RIA operations

Series A funding from Portage, Bain Capital, and other investors will fuel data tools designed to speed advisor transitions and cut onboarding delays across wealth firms.

Wealth Enhancement deepens East Coast presence with Wealthshield deal
Wealth Enhancement deepens East Coast presence with Wealthshield deal

The Minneapolis-based RIA aggregator is adding two North Carolina practices managing nearly $1 billion, pushing its total client assets past $158.2 billion.

The real reason I expanded my RIA to Hong Kong (it wasn't for the AUM)
The real reason I expanded my RIA to Hong Kong (it wasn't for the AUM)

As markets disintegrate, the value of on-the-ground, first-hand research through "intimate knowledge acquisition" is skyrocketing.

SPONSORED Direct indexing webinar targets tax-loss harvesting amid market swings

Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains

SPONSORED Who builds the income when the pension disappears?

Dan Biagini of American Equity says the steady decline of pensions, longer lifespans and a reset in interest rates are rewriting how advisors build retirement income