Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network is bringing in new leadership focused on advisor growth, while Ellevest has promoted from within to fill its top investment role.
Andrew Harpp starts at FiNet on July 13 as Head of Advisor Engagement & Growth, a position that will see him reporting to firm president John Tyers.
"We're excited to welcome Andrew Harpp to Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network (FiNet) as our new Head of Advisor Engagement & Growth,” Tyers told InvestmentNews. “Andrew brings extensive experience helping advisors grow their businesses and successfully leading recruiting efforts, making him well-positioned to enhance the value advisors receive from their affiliation with FiNet.”
Harpp joins FiNet from LPL Financial where he spent more than six years, most recently as senior vice president and national sales manager, including several years in business development roles. Previously he spent seven years with UBS as sales manager in the Charlotte metro area.
“Elevating the advisor experience across FiNet is at the center of everything we do, and we look forward to the leadership and perspective he'll bring as we continue investing in the long-term success of our independent advisors and their teams,” added Tyers.
Last week FiNet announced its latest recruits, picking up a $1 billion AUM team from Truist to establish its first foothold in Florida.
Separately, Ellevest has elevated Ankur Patel to Chief Investment Officer.
Patel joined the firm in 2019 and has played a central role in building out its portfolio management and trading operations while supporting its focus on narrowing the wealth gap between men and women. He was most recently VP of PWM Investments.
Prior to his Ellevest roles he was with Lennox Wealth Advisors, Credit Suisse Private Banking, BlackRock, Ashbridge Investment Management, and Penn Mutual where he started his financial services career in 2003.
In his new post, Patel will lead the firm's Investment Committee and take responsibility for the investment side of the business on behalf of clients and advisors, covering asset allocation, manager selection, private markets research and market commentary aimed at clients. Ellevest chief executive Dr Sylvia Kwan will stay on the Investment Committee in an advisory capacity.
"I joined this firm more than six years ago because I wanted to build something that mattered — for clients, for the industry, and frankly, for my daughter. Stepping into this role is an opportunity to deepen that work, and I don't take it lightly. Closing the gender wealth gap isn't a tagline here; it's the reason every investment decision we make has meaning," Patel said.
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