Kestra adds $2.4B in Q1 recruitment assets

Kestra adds $2.4B in Q1 recruitment assets
After onboarding 26 new advisors in the first three months of 2025, the independent wealth platform is looking forward to continued momentum in Q2.
APR 24, 2025

Kestra Financial brought in $2.4 billion in client assets during the first quarter of 2025 through the recruitment of 26 financial professionals, marking a strong start to the year for the Austin-based wealth management firm.

The company onboarded 16 advisory firms in total, with new professionals joining either Kestra Financial directly or through its affiliate, Kestra Private Wealth Services. The latter offers a full-service platform tailored to those transitioning from wirehouses or W-2 environments, with support that includes real estate setup, compliance, and technology integration.

“We’re proud to welcome advisors who share our core values: entrepreneurial spirit, collaboration, and a client-first mindset,” John Amore, president of Kestra Financial, said in a Thursday statement announcing the results.

Amore took over the president role at Kestra this month as part of a leadership succession plan previously announced in January. Stephen Langlois, who previously held the role, has stepped back into a senior advisory role to ensure a smooth transition, and will retire at the end of the year.

Among the advisors joining Kestra Financial’s core platform in the first quarter were:

  • Brian Menickella of Beacon Financial Services;
  • Nickolas Ellis and Jeff Lewis of EAG Private Wealth Management;
  • Dennis Fesser of Fesser Financial;
  • Scott Fanatico of the Financial Services Center;
  • Amy Dunham of Inspired Wealth Planning;
  • Tara Carlson of Magnolia Wealth Partners;
  • Hugo Marrero of Marrero Wealth;
  • Shaun Kimball of Momentum Strategic Wealth;
  • Philip Olstein of Olstein Financial Group;
  • Rebecca Jones of RLJ Wealth Management;
  • Todd Summers of Seasons Wealth;
  • Mike McMeans of Silverling Financial; and
  • Al Varano and Steve Spong of the Varano Spong Financial Group.

Those who affiliated with Kestra Private Wealth Services included Karl Schwartz of OWL Private Wealth Advisors, Stewart Werner of PlanWell Private Wealth Services, John and Shea Marmion of Turas Wealth Partners – whose shift from UBS was announced earlier this week –  and John Pettis of Undivided Wealth Management.

“As we continue through the year, we look forward to expanding our community of like-minded entrepreneurs who want a partner that’s invested in their success,” Amore said.

Kestra Financial, a division of Kestra Holdings, oversees $142 billion in assets under advisement and works with more than 1,300 financial professionals across the US. Founded in 1997, the firm supports both traditional and hybrid RIAs, aiming to offer scalable infrastructure and a community-based model for growth.

The company said momentum from the first quarter has positioned it well for continued expansion in the second quarter.

In 2023, Kestra Financial welcomed 110 new financial advisors, bringing in approximately $9.5 billion in new assets under management, with notable additions including Symonds Wealth Management, a Texas-based team overseeing $1.7 billion in AUM.

Among last year's recruitment highlights, the firm welcomed a $1.4 billion team from B. Riley Financial as the latter grappled with the fallout of a regulatory investigation into its relationship with Brian Kahn, the former CEO of Franchise Group.

Kestra is among the numerous broker-dealers now scrambling to recruit advisors from Commonwealth after the late March revelation that LPL will be acquiring Commonwealth in a $2.7 billion all-cash deal.

Latest News

Investing for accountability: How to frame a values-driven conversation with clients
Investing for accountability: How to frame a values-driven conversation with clients

By listening for what truly matters and where clients want to make a difference, advisors can avoid politics and help build more personal strategies.

Advisor moves: Raymond James ends week with $1B Commonwealth recruitment streak
Advisor moves: Raymond James ends week with $1B Commonwealth recruitment streak

JPMorgan and RBC have also welcomed ex-UBS advisors in Texas, while Steward Partners and SpirePoint make new additions in the Sun Belt.

Cook Lawyer says fraud claims are Trump’s ‘weapon of choice’
Cook Lawyer says fraud claims are Trump’s ‘weapon of choice’

Counsel representing Lisa Cook argued the president's pattern of publicly blasting the Fed calls the foundation for her firing into question.

SEC orders Vanguard, Empower to pay more than $25M over failures linked to advisor compensation
SEC orders Vanguard, Empower to pay more than $25M over failures linked to advisor compensation

The two firms violated the Advisers Act and Reg BI by making misleading statements and failing to disclose conflicts to retail and retirement plan investors, according to the regulator.

RIA moves: Wells Fargo pair joins &Partners in Virginia
RIA moves: Wells Fargo pair joins &Partners in Virginia

Elsewhere, two breakaway teams from Morgan Stanley and Merrill unite to form a $2 billion RIA, while a Texas-based independent merges with a Bay Area advisory practice.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.