Homrich Berg bolsters Florida footprint with new Tampa office

Atlanta-headquartered Homrich Berg is expanding its presence in Florida with a new location helmed by a returning veteran of the industry.

On Monday, the $18 billion RIA announced the opening of its new Tampa office as part of its expansion in Florida, marking the firm's second location in the state, following the establishment of an office in Palm Beach Gardens in 2021.

Leading the Tampa office is Larry Parkin, an industry veteran with 25 years of experience in wealth management, the bulk of which he spent at Truist Investment Services, according to his BrokerCheck record.

Parkin, who joins Homrich Berg as principal and Florida market leader, will oversee the firm's continued growth in the region. Previously serving as managing director for West Florida at Truist Private Wealth Management, he came out of a two-year retirement to take on this role, .

"I was excited to take on a leadership role for a leading independent wealth management firm with a fiduciary, fee-only approach to putting families and their financial goals at the forefront of their work," Parkin said in a statement. "Getting to know the leadership team’s vision of client-oriented culture showed me that I made the right decision to align with HB — it felt like home."

Supporting Parkin is a team of 11 wealth management professionals with significant experience in serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families. Among those joining as principals are Lex Smith, Ryan Best, Keith Johnson, Brad Glover, and John Willoughby. Steve Cass and Drew LaGrande will take on Managing Director roles, while others, including Benjamin DePalmo and Melissa Baron, will round out the team. This group, which forms the core of the 20-person team in Florida, collectively managed over $4 billion in assets prior to joining Homrich Berg.

Thomas Carroll, who took the helm as CEO of Homrich Berg earlier this year in a move previously announced in September 2023, emphasized the importance of this expansion for the firm’s growth strategy.

"We are thrilled to welcome Larry and this experienced elite team to HB as an important step in our strategic expansion in Florida. I have known this team for years, and I am confident in their ability to deliver the HB Difference to meet the complex needs of our HB Family Office clients," Carroll said.

Founded in 1989, Homrich Berg manages over $18 billion for more than 3,600 family relationships across the US, offering fee-only investment management and financial planning services. Last month, the firm positioned itself for a new growth phase with the appointment of a Merrill veteran as its new CMO, followed by a minority investment from PE firm TPG.