Mariner Holdings on hiring spree

One of the nation's largest registered investment advisers is looking to hire more talent to keep up with its growth. Mariner Holdings wants to expand its staff by 60 employees immediately. Job openings are located throughout the United States and include a wide range of positions at Mariner Holdings, Mariner Wealth Advisors, Montage Investments and other affiliates. The firm hopes to hire another 100 employees, including advisers and business development specialists, over over the next six months. The hiring spree comes on heels of the firm's surge in assets under management. In 2014, AUM has climbed from $26 billion to more than $35 billion. “We've reached a point in our growth where we have the opportunity to expand our services and provide a greater level of support to our clients,” said Martin C. Bicknell, chief executive of Mariner Holdings. Mr. Bicknell, along with three other brokers and four support staff members, left A.G. Edwards & Co. in May 2006 to create Mariner Wealth Advisors. Acquisitions of smaller advisory firms have been a key driver behind vigorous growth in assets. The firm recently acquired two advisory firms in the New York metropolitan area — RR Advisory Group and Housen Financial Group. Company executives say its expansion strategy is aligned with a series of initiatives that the firm will undertake to continue meeting diverse client needs. First Point Financial and Mariner Consulting are among the initiatives that will launch to provide personalized financial advice to clients with no minimum asset requirements and comprehensive tax advisory services.