NewEdge Wealth widens Florida footprint with HNW Merrill Lynch team

NewEdge Wealth widens Florida footprint with HNW Merrill Lynch team
The RIA’s latest expansion in is led by two veteran advisors with more than half a century of collective experience.
AUG 16, 2024

NewEdge Wealth has planted another stake in the Sunshine State as it welcomes a breakaway team of advisors from Merrill Lynch.

On Friday, the firm announced it has bolstered its presence in Florida by recruiting an eight-member team from Merrill Lynch.

The team, whose members includes professionals with decades of experience in wealth management, will help establish a new office in Boca Raton.

This expansion marks the third Florida location for the registered investment adviser, adding to its existing branches in Miami and Coral Gables.

The new office will be led by Blaine Minton and Kirsten Tuzzo, who each bring decades of wealth advisory experience to their roles as the firm’s newest partners.

The new Florida team also includes Scott Graver as principal of wealth strategy, Sebin Skaria as vice president of investment solutions, Maria Maloney and Diane McClung as client service associates, and analysts Kelsey Navickas and Austin Tuzzo.

In a release, Rob Sechan, CEO of NewEdge Wealth highlighted the team’s reputation “for their caliber of expertise in serving high net worth individuals and corporations.”

“As the demand for sophisticated wealth management services continues to rise for today’s affluent investors, our firm is well equipped to meet their needs.”

Minton brings over two and a half decades of experience in financial planning, asset management, and estate planning coordination, which includes past senior roles at Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley.

Tuzzo, with over 30 years of experience, has worked with major institutions like the Rockefeller Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, and Bank of America. Most recently, she served as a managing director at Merrill Lynch.

“Kirsten and I are thrilled to bring our team to NewEdge Wealth,” Minton said regarding the move. “NewEdge has a reputation of leading and delivering sophisticated wealth management services, and we are eager to provide our expertise and insight to the firm.”

Launched in December 2020, NewEdge Wealth, based in Stamford, Connecticut, now operates 13 offices nationwide, including locations in Miami, Atlanta, Nashville, and San Francisco.

The firm’s move in Florida builds on its solid growth momentum for 2024, which in the first six months of this year brought $5.5 billion in expected assets recruited.

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