Merrill Lynch loses $600 million team to Texas RIA

A three-person team managing $600 million at Merrill Lynch Private Banking and Investment Group in Dallas has joined Syntal Capital Partners, a registered investment advisory firm based in Midland, Texas. (More: SunTrust rep managing $260 million goes indie) The addition of the team expands the Texas footprint of Syntal, which was founded in 2012 and is a member of Dynasty Financial Partners. The team is led by Ben Gordon and includes Laura Blair and Collin Hart. Joining them as chief of staff is Risa Kiser, who comes from outside the industry. (More: See all the latest moves in the Advisers on the Move database) Ben Gordon joined Merrill Lynch in 1994 and spent his career there. Laura Blair began her securities career in 1994 at the Chicago Corp., spent short stints with other firms and joined Merrill Lynch in 1999. Colin Hart began his career at Neuberger Berman in 2008 and joined Merrill Lynch the following year.