Cetera adds "rising star" advisor in Arkansas

Cetera Financial Group is extending its reach in the South as it helps an up-and-coming advisor achieve independence with his own firm.

On Tuesday, the broker-dealer giant with roughly 12,000 financial professionals, more than $521 billion in assets under administration and $224 billion in assets under management announced its addition of financial advisor Tom Wolf to its Cetera Advisors community.

Wolf, who brings $136 million in assets under administration and was previously with Arvest Wealth Management, has launched his own independent firm, Apex Wealth Management, as part of his move to Cetera.

Reflecting on his transition, he emphasized the "community structure of Cetera Advisors" as well as Cetera's "unmatched technology" as key motivating factors.

"I look forward to building out an independent practice under Cetera's unmatched network," Wolf, who's accumulated seven years of experience in the financial services industry, said in a statement.

Tom Halloran, head of advisor channel firms at Cetera, expressed confidence in Wolf's ability to thrive within the organization.

“Tom is a rising star in the financial services industry and I’m proud that he’s found a professional home at Cetera Advisors,” Halloran said. “We look forward to seeing what Cetera Advisors and Tom achieve together.”

Apex Wealth Management will also include financial associate Tori Dockery, who previously worked with Wolf at Arvest Wealth Management.

Cetera's latest addition in Arkansas comes shortly after it entered into a definitive agreement to snap up Concourse Financial Group Securities, a subsidiary of Protective Life Corporation. That deal is expected to close early next year, bringing roughly 350 financial professionals with $12 billion in AUA and $4 billion in AUM to Cetera's enterprise.

Previously in September, Cetera secured another foothold elsewhere in the South as it welcomed a husband-and-wife pair leading a seven-person planning team in Texas.