Edward Jones advisors depart for Equitable, Avantax

Edward Jones, which has embarked on an ambitious reimagination of its organization this year, is still seeing losses in its talent pool two rivals welcome former advisors from the firm to their own networks.

In separate announcements this week, Avantax and Equitable Advisors revealed they added experienced financial advisors from Edward Jones to their benches.

Avantax welcomed Andrew Erickson, founder of ClearGuide Wealth, who managed approximately $143 million in client assets during his eight-year tenure with Edward Jones.

Erickson, who operates in the Chicagoland area with a special focus on exit planning for business owners, cited Avantax’s focus on tax-centric financial planning and its relationships with CPAs as key factors in his decision to make the switch.

“Having more tools and flexibility and being able to give my clients a better experience compared to where I was before, that was my main reason," Erickson said in a statement on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Equitable Advisors announced that Christopher Comer, who previously managed $125 million in client assets at Edward Jones has joined its wealth management business in Texas.

Based in Hallsville, Comer brings over a decade of experience to his practice, Sentry Wealth Group, which serves a diverse clientele of individuals, families, and small businesses.

“Equitable Advisors stood out from other firms I was considering because the leaders took the time to understand what matters most to my clients,” Comer said in a statement Monday.

Equitable also welcomed another experienced advisor, Andrew Minker, who previously managed nearly $100 million in client assets at Ameriprise. Based in Campbell, California, he leverages more than 25 years of industry experience to serve clients at his practice.

"After decades of working as a solo financial advisor, I am now focused on building a team for continuity,” he said, pointing to Equitable's "dedication to recruiting and developing early career advisors" as a way to "deliver the care and expertise my clients have come to expect, both now and in the future."