UBS bolsters Miami downtown office with Citi, Wells Fargo, and Truist hires

UBS is strengthening its presence in South Florida's wealth market as a number of advisors from rival banking firms Wells Fargo, Citi, and Truist converge to join its downtown Miami office.

On Monday, the firm announced financial advisor Jose Garcia as the newest member of UBS Wealth Management. He joins part of VPHN Wealth Partners, a team led by private wealth advisors Melissa Van Putten-Henderson and Doris Neyra, who departed Wells Fargo Private Bank in 2021 to make a fresh start at UBS.

Garcia also joins UBS from Wells Fargo Private Bank, where he managed over $500 million in assets as he focused on investment portfolio design and wealth management strategies for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients. Prior to that, he also held a role at BNY Mellon, where he gained experience in providing customized client solutions and wealth management services.

“Jose brings a deep understanding of clients’ complex needs and a strong commitment to helping them achieve their financial goals,” Brad Rosenberg, greater Miami market director at UBS Private Wealth Management said in a statement Monday. 

Also joining the Miami office were AMD Wealth Partners, which includes Ary Velasco, Michael von Borsig, and David Cardenas. Previously managing over $1.4 billion in client assets collectively at their former firms, the three bring nearly 80 years of combined industry experience as the newest team at UBS Private Wealth Management.

Velasco has worked in wealth management for nearly four decades, focusing on creating integrated financial plans that incorporate investments, lending, insurance, and trust services. With a career that includes roles at Truist, Northern Trust, Lydian, Sabadell, and Citi, his approach aims to protect and grow client wealth through changing economic and geopolitical conditions. 

Meanwhile, von Borsig brings nearly 20 years of wealth management experience across roles at Citi Private Bank, Barclays, Stifel, and Union Bancaire Privée in Geneva, Switzerland.  For his part, Cardenas has amassed nearly a decade of experience providing wealth management advice to business owners, real estate developers, and investors. Most recently, he was a private banker at Citi, where he specialized in investment, banking, and lending services for affluent clients.

“On behalf of the entire Florida leadership team, I am thrilled to welcome Ary, Michael, and David to UBS,” Rosenberg said in a separate announcement. “They bring a shared commitment for delivering personalized best-in-class service and solutions for their clients.”