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December 08, 2016 at 01:51 AM
A team of three advisors left Wells Fargo Advisors to join the recently acquired Alex. Brown division of Raymond James Financial, while one moved to its employee channel with about $350 million in client assets and $2 million in yearly fees and commissions.
Tara Orendorff, William “Bill” Weldon and George D. “Bo” Bragaw formed the new advisory group WBO Partners of Alex. Brown and set up offices on in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, where Alex. Brown first went into business in 1800; it is now based in New York.
“We’re thrilled to have such a high-quality group of professionals join Alex. Brown,” said Marcus Aiello, Alex. Brown regional executive director in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area, in a statement. “The team’s values and approach to client service are a great fit with our corporate culture, and we look forward to their contributions as they help us make the brand even more successful in the future.”
Bragaw and Weldon previously held branch management roles with Wells Fargo and its predecessor firms. Bragaw managed the Washington, D.C., branch and was a Baltimore complex manager, while Weldon served as a Bethesda branch manager for Wheat First, which became Wachovia Securities.
“To us, it feels like going home,” explained Bragaw, in a statement. “All of our partners began their financial services careers working with highly respected boutique firms. The emphasis on tailored investment solutions has been largely diluted through mergers in our industry. Here, advising the client on wealth management remains the sole focus, as it has for 200 years.”
Orendorff began her career 18 years ago at Alex. Brown; she maintains the title of vice president and client advisor. She held roles of complex administrative manager, branch operations manager and client associate while at Wells Fargo (formerly Wachovia Securities).
“This is an organization that has a tight-knit regional firm feel, while offering the capabilities of much larger firms,” said Weldon, in a statement. “We were very impressed with the engagement of senior management as we looked for a firm with a long history through difficult markets. In the final analysis, we asked ourselves which organization is the best fit for our clients, and we believe we found the answer in the combination of Alex. Brown and Raymond James.”
Alex. Brown has 193 advisors with roughly $40 billion in client assets. On average, these advisors have about $1.5 million in yearly fees and commissions
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Meanwhile, financial advisor Jarrod Biebel has opened the Denver-Cherry Creek office of Raymond James & Associates (RJA). His business will operate as First Avenue Wealth Partners.
“We are delighted to welcome Jarrod and Angelica to our new Cherry Creek office,” said complex manager Dennis Kaboth. Kaboth, in a statement. “Their conservative values align closely with those of Raymond James, making them a great duo to represent us in the Denver market.
