Raymond James lands $5.4B advisor team from Comerica

Raymond James has added pulled in another nine-figure advisor team, welcoming a trio of advisors managing $5.4 billion in assets from Comerica to its employee channel.

In a move that could be one of the St. Petersburg, Florida-based firm's largest recruiting wins this year, West Coast Regional Director announced that Cory Matsumoto, Rey Carandang and Genae Affrunti have joined Raymond James & Associates, RayJay's employee advisor channel.

The team, operating as Capital Reserve Group of Raymond James in Newport Beach, California, brings financial planning, investment management and institutional consulting services to families, business owners, corporate executives, endowments and foundations. Two client relationship associates, Julia Bica and Brian Toyama, made the jump with them.

Matsumoto, a senior vice president of wealth management who began his career in 1995, cited the firm's fixed income capabilities and technology investment as decisive factors that won the team over.

On the AI front, Raymond James has logged several milestones this year including the launch of a proprietary AI operations agent in January, establishing an AI Academy to train advisors across the organization in May, and last month's hiring of Seth Ford, a veteran executive from Vanguard to lead its AI agenda as senior vice president and chief architect.

Raymond James "distinguished itself through its institutional capabilities, nationally recognized fixed income platform, financial strength and long-term commitment to advisor independence," according to Matsumoto.

Carandang, who holds 25 years of industry experience, and Affrunti, who joins with 24 years in the business, round out the leadership group at Capital Reserve Group.

The hire adds to a run of billion-dollar-plus teams that have come through Raymond James' recruiting pipeline so far in 2026. Earlier this month, Raymond James Financial Services, the firm's independent contractor channel, picked up KWM Wealth Advisory, a four-advisor Pasadena team managing more than $1 billion in assets that had been affiliated with Stifel.

Two months earlier in May, RJFS welcomed Financial Strategies Retirement Partners, a 24-person, Bedford, New Hampshire-based team overseeing $2.8 billion in client assets that had spent decades with Commonwealth Financial Network.

“Cory, Rey and Genae bring a sophisticated practice to Raymond James, and they make an impactful addition to our Western presence,” Simmons said.

The supersized West Coast addition comes on the heels of another significant move this week at RJFS. Laetitia Boyle, a seasoned leader with more than 20 years of experience supporting financial advisors and firm leaders, was named director of the Central Division within RJFS' independent contractor division (ICD).

During her tenure at Raymond James, she has held leadership roles at different areas within the organization including private wealth, Raymond James Bank, and most recently, the investment banking division.

Kirk Bell, who was promoted to president of ICD in March, commended Boyle's record of "[building] strong, authentic relationships across Raymond James.

"She brings a deep understanding of advisors in addition to strategic perspective, energy and accessibility that will serve the division well," Bell said.