Two major wealth management firms have announced significant advisor team additions in Texas and Florida, underscoring the continued battle for experienced talent in America's fastest-growing wealth markets.
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC opened a new office in Houston on October 16, 2026, adding four financial advisors collectively overseeing nearly $3.5 billion in client assets. The arrivals, who came from Raymond James, mark Janney's second major foothold in Texas following its Dallas entry in 2025.
The Houston team is anchored by the Edwards Fitzpatrick Group, led by Sean Fitzpatrick and James "Jim" Edwards, both managing directors and both previously recognized by Forbes as Best-in-State Wealth Advisors and by Barron's among its Top 1,200 Financial Advisors.
The group also includes financial advisor Lance Murphy, a senior vice president with deep roots in the Houston market, and Christin Simon, vice president of investments, who has worked with the Edwards Fitzpatrick Group since 2013.
"After carefully evaluating the platforms, cultures, and capabilities available to us, Janney stood out for the combination of personal attention and sophisticated resources," Fitzpatrick said. "Leadership is accessible, people took the time to understand our business, and that level of partnership was important to us as we considered what would be best for our team and our clients over the long term."
Kevin Reed, president of Janney's Private Client Group, said the hires reflect the firm's appeal to advisors seeking greater autonomy. "Their decisions to join Janney demonstrate why experienced advisors are choosing our firm: greater flexibility, personalized support, and the capabilities they need to serve complex clients and continue growing," he said.
The Philadelphia-based firm has been on an aggressive expansion trajectory. In the first quarter of 2026, Janney posted its strongest recruiting results in over a decade, adding 13 financial advisors managing more than $3.5 billion in assets. That followed a record 2025 when 33 advisors joined, bringing more than $6.5 billion in new client assets.
Frank Amigo, Janney's Gulf regional director, said Houston was a natural next step. "Opening an office in Houston with this group of experienced advisors gives us an outstanding foundation in the market," he said. "We see significant opportunity to build on this presence and continue attracting experienced advisors across Texas."
Meanwhile, Rockefeller Global Family Office, the wealth management division of Rockefeller Capital Management, has deepened its presence in Naples, Florida, with the addition of The Kellam Group, a team of wealth management professionals joining from Truist.
Led by Gordon Kellam, a private advisor and managing director with more than 25 years of experience, the group advises high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and multigenerational families.
The team also includes Matt Caras and Owen Wilson as managing directors, along with senior wealth strategist Brad Cherkin, and several client-facing associates and analysts.
Rockefeller first established its Naples office earlier in 2026, making The Kellam Group addition a significant acceleration of its Gulf Coast strategy.
Michael Outlaw, president of Rockefeller Global Family Office, said the latest hire builds on meaningful momentum. "Welcoming The Kellam Group will help continue to drive meaningful growth," he said, adding that the firm is focused on delivering its full platform to clients in "strategic private wealth markets."
The team reports to Kristen Sario, Southeast regional president of Rockefeller Global Family Office. "The Kellam Group has decades of experience helping families navigate the complexities of wealth," Sario said. "They take a personalized, relationship-driven approach."
As of August 31, 2026, Rockefeller Capital Management reported $237 billion in client assets across its three business lines, reflecting the firm's rapid growth since its 2018 relaunch as an independent advisory firm.
The two announcements reflect wealth management firms’ growing interest in the Sun Belt - particularly Texas and Florida - where population growth, business migration, and concentrations of high-net-worth clients make advisor recruitment a strategic imperative. The competition for experienced advisor teams has intensified markedly in 2026, with established practices increasingly wielding leverage as they evaluate moves that offer better platform fit, cultural alignment, and long-term growth infrastructure.
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