Merrill Nabs 2 Advisors, Wells Adds 5

The Sivertson-Hughes Team, comprised of advisors Mitch Sivertson and Debbie Hughes, joined Wells Fargo Advisor’s Scottsdale-Gainey branch in Arizona and now report to branch manager Robert Burghart. The team moved from UBS, where they managed more than $152 million in client assets.

Sivertson cut his teeth at Merrill Lynch for 1985 to 1998, moved to Citigroup Global Markets (C) from 1998 to 2005, when he joined UBS. Hughes first worked in the industry for Kidder Peabody, starting in 1983. She moved to UBS in 1995.

The team of Stephanie Bass and Darin Mock joined Wells Fargo in Raleigh, N.C., where they report to regional brokerage manager Stephen McKenzie. They had been with Merrill Lynch and managed more than $170 million in client assets.

Bass began work in financial services at Raymond James‘ (RJF) independent channel in 1998. She also was with Invest Financial, Centaura Securities, BB&T Investment Services, Bank of America Investment Services (2003) and then Merrill Lynch (2009).

Mock started his career at Edward Jones in 1993, then worked for BB&T and Wachovia before joining Bank of America in 2003.

Also joining Wells is Brian Vallow in Orland Park, Ill., where he reports to Senior Vice President John L. Yagla, complex manager for Greater Illiana. Most recently, Vallow was a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley, where he managed more than $93 million in client assets. He moved to Morgan Stanley in 2005 and previously was with Drehler & Associates (1993-1999), Olde Discount Corp. (1994-1997) and Broker Dealer Financial Services (2000-2005).