Two experienced advisory teams managing a combined $580 million in client assets have made significant moves this week, departing Wells Fargo to join Ameriprise Financial and Janney Montgomery Scott respectively.
Lee Winters III and Chris McClure, both financial advisors previously with Wells Fargo Clearing Services in Columbia, South Carolina, have joined Ameriprise Financial’s branch channel, having managed approximately $160 million in client assets at their old firm.
The duo cited Ameriprise's technology platform and advisory culture as key drivers of the move. Winters pointed specifically to the firm's integrated tools.
"Everything, from the CRM system to the client-facing capabilities, is designed to create a more seamless experience for both advisors and clients," he said. "There is a strong spirit of collaboration across the firm, and people genuinely care about helping advisors succeed and delivering meaningful value to clients."
The team also includes client service associate Darragh James. They will operate under branch manager Tor Bennstrom and regional vice president Michael Rearden.
In a separate move, Madura Private Wealth Group, a team previously at Wells Fargo that originally joined from Credit Suisse in 2016, has moved to Janney Montgomery Scott LLC.
The move establishes a new Janney office in Lake Forest, Illinois, and expanding the firm’s footprint in the Greater Chicago market.
The team manages nearly $420 million in client assets and is led by Daniel Madura, managing director and financial advisor, who brings more than 30 years of experience in wealth management.
His practice encompasses investment strategy, retirement planning, estate and legacy planning, philanthropic giving, risk management, and business succession planning.
Also joining Janney are Ethan Madura, vice president/wealth management and financial advisor; Denise Utes, vice president and senior registered private client associate, who began her career at Dean Witter Reynolds in 1982; and private client associate Claudia Austin, whose background spans municipal government and financial operations.
The new Lake Forest office is part of Janney's broader push to grow its presence in the Chicago metro area, where the Philadelphia-based firm has been actively recruiting advisors seeking an independent, advisor-first culture.
The two teams are the latest of several advisory practices to depart Wells Fargo in 2026.
Earlier this month, &Partners picked up a $1.8 billion team in Meridian, Mississippi, following a $864 million team that joined in July.
There were three other Wells Fargo departures in July: a $1.76 billion team in Hanover, New Hampshire, that moved to Carson Group; and two that moved to LPL Financial in Sun Valley, Idaho, and Sacramenta, California, with a combined $550 million in assets.
However, Wells Fargo has also been an active recruiter of advisor teams this year with several significant additions including teams managing $9.6 billion that joined in early May alone.
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