In its first hiring for September, Raymond James has expanded its independent employee division in the east as a former LPL advisory team switches affiliations in Mississippi.
Financial advisors Chas Gualano and Andrew Comans, along with client service associate Nicole Schuh, have joined the Raymond James Advisor Select division within Raymond James & Associates, the broker-dealer giant announced Thursday.
The team, which previously managed over $360 million in assets, now operating as Gualano Comans Wealth Advisors of Raymond James with a focus on serving business owners and family offices. Bill Geary, complex manager for the Brandon, Mississipi branch, oversees the team.
In a statement, Gualano highlighted several reasons for their move to Raymond James, including the firm's "customer-first mentality" and "the flexibility to manage client portfolios with a wide range of offerings.
“This was important to our team as we prioritize service, client experience and being part of the community we serve,” he said.
Gualano brings more than 25 years of experience in financial services, having started his career at Trustmark Financial Services in 1997. He spent the last 13 years with LPL Financial before transitioning to Raymond James.
Comans, who joins as senior vice president of wealth management, highlighted "the technology incorporated into the planning process,” which he says "has given us the freedom to serve our clients in a niche, rural market in Mississippi, that was not previously available.”
According to Raymond James, its Advisor Select affiliation model was launched in 2004 as a turnkey platform that offers many of the benefits of independence – including the ability to select their office location, as well as significant ownership and control over their branch's P&L – without as many of the administrative burdens of being fully independent.
In July, the firm extended its Advisor Select division's presence in Arkansas with a 20-year veteran who previously managed over $100 million in assets at Arvest Wealth Management.
Plus, a $400 million Commonwealth team departs to launch an independent family-run RIA in the East Bay area.
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The collaboration will focus initially on strategies within collective investment trusts in DC plans, with plans to expand to other retirement-focused private investment solutions.
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