UBS expands in Southern California with Irvine office and LA hires

UBS is making a concerted push into Southern California, opening a new wealth management hub in Irvine while simultaneously adding four financial advisors to its Los Angeles operation.

The firm opened its new Irvine office at 200 Spectrum Center Drive this week, consolidating multiple advisory teams onto the 18th floor of a building in the Irvine Spectrum area. The space features technology-enabled meeting rooms, a café, fitness center, EV charging, and panoramic views of Orange County.

Ten teams relocated to the new address, including Carver & Gee Wealth Management, the Nassau Group, Roth Wealth Management Group, Sequoia Partners, The Callan Group, The Price Group, and the Katzaroff, Kottmeier, Thompson Group, among others.

Justin Frame, Pacific Desert Market Managing Director, framed the investment as a longer-term play on the region's growth. "By investing in amenity-rich spaces, we position UBS to serve Orange County's dynamic community," he said.

A notable hire in Century City

UBS started the week by announcing the addition of Lumina Wealth Partners, a four-advisor team that had previously been at Bernstein Private Wealth Management.

Joining UBS’s Private Wealth Management office at 2000 Avenue of the Stars in Century City, Los Angeles, Lumina is led by Pasha Azad and Dayne Crist, both Managing Directors and Private Wealth Advisors.

Azad brings more than 15 years of industry experience, while Crist, a former starting quarterback at the University of Notre Dame, adds a profile that reflects the team's focus on athletes and entertainers.

Rounding out the team are Steven Summerhays, a financial advisor and former professional athlete with more than a decade in the industry, and Koby Dardashti, a financial advisor who earned his finance degree from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.

The team specializes in serving entrepreneurs, founders, corporate executives, artists, entertainers, professional athletes, and multigenerational families.

Kate Daniels, Senior Market Director for Los Angeles Private Wealth Management at UBS, said the incoming group had established a strong reputation in the market. "They have built a highly respected practice grounded in deep client relationships, thoughtful advice and an entrepreneurial approach," she said.

The Los Angeles office now hosts more than 225 employees across its Private Wealth Management, Wealth Management, and Investment Bank divisions, making it one of the firm's larger West Coast outposts.

The addition of Lumina Wealth Partners, supported by a team of four associates including Senior Wealth Strategy Associates Ryan Siroky and Lexie Kamran, brings further depth to that operation.

Growing presence on the West Coast

The dual announcements come as UBS, which manages $6.1 trillion in invested assets as of the fourth quarter of 2024 and operates in more than 50 markets globally, works to reassert itself in markets where it has faced pressure.

The firm has seen notable advisor movement in recent months, with rivals picking off teams in California and Texas. The California investments, both in physical infrastructure and talent, suggest UBS is responding with a longer-term commitment to the region.

UBS has adjusted its advisor compensation structure in the past year in an effort to retain and attract talent. Whether those changes are gaining traction in the market will be watched closely, particularly as the wirehouse continues to post strong financial results including an 80% jump in profit driven by wealth inflows and client activity.

Joseph Katzaroff, Managing Director at the Katzaroff, Kottmeier, Thompson Group in the newly opened Irvine office, said the new space changes how his team operates day to day. "What excites me most is how it brings our team and clients together in one space," he said.