RBC bags Merrill Lynch exec to lead Southern California recruitment

The search is over for RBC Wealth Management as it taps a multi-decade veteran of the industry to lead its recruitment efforts in the West Coast.

The firm revealed Thursday that it has tapped Marcel TenBerge as the new director of its Southern California complex, a key wealth market that includes 11 branch offices and 215 employees.

With over 24 years of experience in wealth management, TenBerge has distinguished himself as a steadfast leader who creates a supportive and collaborative environment for both team members and clients.

“Marcel has earned a reputation as a highly successful regional manager,” Tom Sagissor, president of RBC Wealth Management, said in a statement Thursday. “I am confident that his outstanding leadership and recruiting skills will help us continue to attract the very best advisors in this important market.”

Prior to joining RBC, TenBerge served as the Pasadena Central Valley market executive for Merrill Lynch, where he spent nearly two decades of his career in the financial industry. He also oversaw the San Francisco, Phoenix, and Oklahoma markets.

Before that, he had a relatively brief three-year stint at Morgan Stanley, according to his BrokerCheck profile.

“Marcel has been a leader in the southern California market for over 20 years, with a strong track record of growth both organically and through recruiting top teams,” said Darryl Traweek, RBC Wealth Management’s west division director, to whom TenBerge will be reporting.

Before breaking into the financial advice industry, Tenberge spent five years as a professional basketball player who represented teams in Germany, Holland, and Belgium.

“As a former professional athlete, Marcel possesses a strong competitive spirit and is poised to take our SoCal complex to new levels,” Traweek said.

TenBerge said he was “thrilled” at his move to RBC Wealth Management, which he saw as an “opportunity to truly support and partner with financial advisors in the growth of their practices.

“The firm’s focus is on the right place – the clients and those who serve those clients,” he said. “I’m excited to lead the Southern California Complex knowing that I am fully supported in driving growth and delivering exceptional value to clients.”

In July, RBC Wealth Management announced it had also gained a significant addition in New Jersey with its recruitment of a $640 million Merrill Lynch team in Paramus.