Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network has recruited an 11-person practice from Ameriprise that oversees roughly $580 million in assets, leading a round of advisor moves in which LPL Financial and Raymond James also picked up independent advisors from Osaic and Edward Jones.
Orchard Financial Group, a Los Angeles practice led by Anthony Perez, has affiliated with FiNet, the independent contractor channel of Wells Fargo Advisors.
Perez, whose BrokerCheck track record goes back 23 years, is bringing a deep bench of professionals with him. Senior financial advisors Audrey Schmedes, Eric Smutko and Michael Kawase are also making the jump, along with financial advisors Devin Marshall, Kristie Liuag and Chase Johnson.
Aprile Poag is also joining as the team's registered wealth planning director, while Brenda Mahar, Claudine Rajah and Sheree Wesley make up the support staff.
"We're excited to welcome Orchard Financial Group to FiNet," said John Tyers, president of Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network. "Their commitment to serving clients and ambition to grow in the Los Angeles area makes them a strong addition, and we're proud they chose FiNet for their next chapter."
The move is the latest step in a Wells Fargo effort that has been deepening a recruiting push across its employee and independent channels after years of net advisor losses. According to the Diamond Consultants Financial Advisor Transition Report for 2025, the Private Client Group, Wells Fargo's W-2 advisor channel, posted a net gain of 85 experienced advisors last year after losing a net 248 in 2024.
LPL announced it has signed Brad Jerome of Legacy Financial Group, who moved his practice to the firm's broker-dealer and registered investment advisor platforms from Osaic. Jerome reported serving approximately $175 million in advisory, brokerage and retirement plan assets.
Based in Burton, Mich., outside Flint, the practice works with clients ranging from first-time investors to retirees in their 90s, often serving several generations of a single family alongside estate attorneys and accountants.
Ben McKinney, Keaton Washburn, Brooke Lince, Autumn Blackford, Lisa Blackburn and Delanie Carpenter support the team.
Jerome said technology and the investment platform drove the decision. "We were looking for a firm that was professional, operationally strong and capable of supporting our firm's continued growth," he said.
Marc Cohen, chief growth officer at LPL Financial, emphasized the team's success in fostering multigenerational client relationships.
"As they look to the future, we're excited to provide the scale, capabilities, and strategic support to help them continue growing on their terms," Cohen said.
LPL's addition in Michigan comes right on the heels of another move in Georgia that saw a $1.1 billion cross over from Wells Fargo.
In Arizona, Aaron Martin has joined Raymond James' independent advisor channel after 14 years at Edward Jones, where he managed more than $170 million in client assets.
Theresa Schnetz, Western division director for Raymond James Financial Services, announced the hire.
Martin is president of Martin Wealth Strategies in Phoenix, where he advises retirees, pre-retirees, business owners, families and clients dealing with sudden wealth. He is joined at RJFS by administrative associate Evelyn Garcia.
"Raymond James provides me with the independence and support to build Martin Wealth Strategies around the needs of the clients and families we serve," Martin said.
Raymond James also extended its independent advisor channel's footprint across the country this week as it welcomed a Maine-based team from LPL.
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