Janney adds $710M with advisor hires, unveils new Chicago branch office

Janney adds $710M with advisor hires, unveils new Chicago branch office
From left: Bob Stiles, financial advisor and senior vice president of wealth management, and Ned Kennedy, senior vice president and complex director in Chicago.
The firm has welcomed additions from UBS, Baird, and other firms while establishing a new base for its Midwestern expansion.
NOV 22, 2024

Janney Montgomery Scott's has quietly continued its growth efforts over the past few weeks.

The most recent small steps in November have definitely added up, including the addition of several advisors managing over $710 million in combined client assets, as well as the opening of a new branch office in Chicago.

Advisors join in key markets

In recent weeks, Janney has welcomed multiple experienced advisor teams across the country, reflecting its ongoing commitment to attracting top talent.

Among the most notable additions, Paul Butler and Elizabeth Ferraro, operating as Butler Private Wealth Group in Bedminster, New Jersey, joined from UBS. The team manages over $180 million in client assets. Butler, who has over four decades of industry experience, specializes in working with high-net-worth individuals, pension funds, and 401(k) plans, while Ferraro brings expertise in financial planning across estate, insurance, investment, retirement, and tax strategies.

Elsewhere, Bob Stiles, previously with Baird, joined Janney in Charlotte, North Carolina, with $300 million in assets under management. Stiles, a senior wealth management professional with nearly 45 years in the industry, is accompanied by Deidre Caldwell, a senior registered private client associate.

“Our advisor-centric culture provides the autonomy and resources he needs to grow his practice while delivering exceptional service,” said Tim Jones, Charlotte complex director, said in a November 19 announcement.

Other advisor hires include:

  • Joseph Pardi in Charlotte, North Carolina, overseeing nearly $100 million in assets, joined on November 7 from Wells Fargo.
  • John Uyeki in New Haven, Connecticut, managing $80 million in assets, joined on November 19 from Osaic.
  • James Elliot in Mystic, Connecticut, managing more than $50 million in assets, joined on November 19, also from Osaic.

Prior to those moves, Janney added $1.1 billion in assets as it welcomed advisor teams from Kestra, LPL, and Raymond James from across the Eastern US. 

Continuing Midwest expansion

Janney has also opened a new branch office in Chicago, marking its continued push into the Midwest market. Ned Kennedy, an industry veteran with over 30 years of experience, will lead the new office as senior vice president and complex director. Kennedy previously held leadership roles at Wells Fargo Advisors, JPMorgan Private Bank, and Salomon Brothers.

“We’re excited to welcome Ned to Janney as we expand our Private Client Group in the Midwest,” Tom Galvin, Midwest regional director said in an announcement Wednesday. “Ned brings extensive experience in recruiting top talent and a strong network in the Chicago area, making him well-positioned to lead our growth efforts in this region.”

Kennedy expressed enthusiasm about the move, stating, “Janney’s boutique culture and client-centric approach create an ideal environment for advisors to best meet client needs. I’m looking forward to recruiting experienced advisors to the office and supporting the growth and success of our team in this dynamic market.”

Janney’s recent growth in Chicago builds on the success of its Capital Markets Group, which has added several public finance professionals over the past year.

Earlier in July, it was revealed that private fund giant KKR will be acquiring Janney under a definitive agreement with the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. That deal, which would include KKR establishing a broad-based equity ownership program for Janney’s 2,300 employees, is set to be completed in the fourth quarter this year.

Latest News

Altruist VP was cited in Vanguard’s 2025 Just Invest lawsuit
Altruist VP was cited in Vanguard’s 2025 Just Invest lawsuit

A recently settled lawsuit over Vanguard’s first-ever acquisition named a current sales executive at Altruist, the RIA custodian that Vanguard just bought for $4.6 billion.

Pooled employer plans: advisors are pitching them the wrong way
Pooled employer plans: advisors are pitching them the wrong way

Advisors who lead with cost savings when pitching pooled employer 401(k) plans may be underselling — and misrepresenting — the fiduciary value.

Wealth Enhancement comes to Alaska in latest tuck-in acquisition
Wealth Enhancement comes to Alaska in latest tuck-in acquisition

The Minneapolis-based consolidator's addition of a $345 million Anchorage RIA comes as small sellers navigate a volatile 2026 deal market.

Investor says pre-IPO fund hid markups on SpaceX, Stripe stakes
Investor says pre-IPO fund hid markups on SpaceX, Stripe stakes

He says the account portal went dark just as he tried to check what he owned.

ADMA stockholder suit alleges channel-stuffing and a hidden distributor deal
ADMA stockholder suit alleges channel-stuffing and a hidden distributor deal

Six insiders sold more than $30 million in stock before shares fell about 45%.

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