Advisers managing $550 million leave Merrill Lynch to create RIA in Florida

Advisers managing $550 million of assets have left Bank of America Merrill Lynch to create independent advisory firm MAXIMAI Investment Partners in Florida. Lisa van Walleghem and Thomas "Jim" Butler broke away from the wirehouse to create a registered investment advisory firm focused on ultra-high-net worth entrepreneurs and families internationally, according to a statement on Tuesday from Dynasty Financial Partners, which offers RIA services. (More: See all the latest moves in the InvestmentNews Advisers on the Move database) The Coral Gables, Fla.-based wealth-management firm provides investment-management, estate and trust services, as well as access to investment bankers, attorneys and tax professionals to guide clients through the “the intricacies” of working globally, according to the statement. MAXIMAI will use a portion of Dynasty's investment platform and Fidelity Institutional Wealth Services to custody its advisory assets. “Lisa, Jim and their team have a strong track record working with institutions and families in Latin America, Europe and around the world on a broad array of complex financial issues,” Shirl Penney, president and chief executive officer of Dynasty, said in the statement. The co-founders of MAXIMAI are joined by Alejandro Behrens, Daniella Viete and Ana Bueso, who all worked at Merrill Lynch's Latin America complex in Miami, according to the statement. Susan Atran, a spokeswoman for Merrill Lynch, didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment on the advisers' departure.