Raymond James continues to strengthen its employee advisor channel with the addition of a Maryland-based wealth management team overseeing approximately $1 billion in client assets.
The group, now operating as Thrift Private Wealth of Raymond James in Easton, Maryland, transitioned from Merrill and brings together four financial advisors along with two client service associates. The advisors serve a broad mix of clients, including families, retirees, business owners and family offices, and are known for their collaborative approach to long-term wealth planning.
The team is led by Garrett Thrift and includes advisors Kara Burt, Blake Saulsbury and Wade Oursler, supported by client service associates Chris Gostomski and Blair Goodrich. Together, they bring decades of combined experience and a practice built around deep client relationships.
Thrift said the move followed a careful evaluation of potential firms and alignment with Raymond James’ culture and leadership philosophy.
“After extensive due diligence, we found Raymond James to be our ideal fit – a place where advisors are empowered, respected and supported in building practices centered on authentic teamwork and long-term relationships. The firm’s leadership is truly invested in our success, and we feel that our voices matter here.”
Raymond James leadership noted that the firm’s advisor-centric model and emphasis on independence within the employee channel continue to resonate with experienced teams seeking greater flexibility and partnership. The addition of the Maryland group reflects the firm’s ongoing focus on attracting high-quality advisors who value autonomy, collaboration and long-term growth.
Recent data shows that Raymond James was a top recruiter of financial advisors in 2025, adding a net 313 to its headcount, second only to LPL Financial’s 601.
The firm has also improved its AI tech stack for advisors with the launch of a new proprietary digital operations agent called Rai, designed to give advisors and staff faster answers to day-to-day questions while keeping humans in the loop.
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