Cetera snags $2.4 billion team from MassMutual

Cetera snags $2.4 billion team from MassMutual
Called Totus Wealth Management, the group had been registered until the end of last month with MML Investors Services, the broker-dealer arm of MassMutual, the insurance company, according to BrokerCheck.
MAY 05, 2021

Cetera Financial Group said on Wednesday it had recruited a large team in Texas with $2.4 billion in wealth management assets.

Called Totus Wealth Management and led by its CEO James Starnes, the group had been registered until the end of last month with MML Investors Services, the broker-dealer arm of MassMutual, the insurance company.

According to BrokerCheck, Starnes is a 20-year veteran of the industry and was registered with MML from March 2017 through last month. He is now registered with Cetera Advisors.

2021 is turning into a red-hot recruiting year for the brokerage industry. More than 4,000 advisers and brokers switched firms in the first quarter of the year, putting 2021 on pace for record industry recruitment activity, according to InvestmentNews research.

Totus is Latin for "the whole or total" and inspires the firm’s approach to client service, Cetera said in a statement. 

Starnes will be joined by a team of six producing financial professionals and four support staff with plans for immediate growth. The firm is located in Houston and has offices in Woodlands, Texas, and plans to expand, the company said.

Last month, Cetera said it had recruited The Advisors, a hybrid team based in Murrysville, Pennsylvania that manages $340 million in assets, from LPL Financial.


Latest News

Advisor moves: Nebraska RIA crosses $1 billion after absorbing ex-RBC team
Advisor moves: Nebraska RIA crosses $1 billion after absorbing ex-RBC team

Meanwhile, Raymond James snags Edward Jones advisor in Arizona.

Workers want financial help from employers and they're ready to walk if they don't get it
Workers want financial help from employers and they're ready to walk if they don't get it

New Morgan Stanley research shows retirement planning is a key area where advice is required.

SEC kills 'gag rule' that silenced thousands of settling defendants for over 50 years
SEC kills 'gag rule' that silenced thousands of settling defendants for over 50 years

ASA reacts as regulator drops no-deny policy, freeing firms and individuals to publicly dispute allegations after reaching settlements.

Washington state regulators claim advisor was running Ponzi-like fund
Washington state regulators claim advisor was running Ponzi-like fund

Joel Frank allegedly sold more than $39 million worth of investments in the Equilus Funds to more than 90 investors,

Bipartisan bill aims to take down 401(k) charitable giving hurdle
Bipartisan bill aims to take down 401(k) charitable giving hurdle

The Charity Parity Act would eliminate a costly IRA rollover requirement that blocks direct charitable transfers from workplace retirement plans.

SPONSORED Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human

As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management

SPONSORED Durability over scale: What actually defines a great advisory firm

Growth may get the headlines, but in my experience, longevity is earned through structure, culture, and discipline