LPL Brings on $495M Reps: Recruiting Roundup

LPL Financial says it recently recruited advisors from rivals with nearly $500 million in total client assets.

Jim M. Freisen CFP, CPA, and Jordan Celkupa, CFP, joined from Sagepoint Financial, part of the Advisor Group network of broker-dealers. They work with $155 million in brokerage and advisory assets.

Freisen spent some 20 years on accounting work for mutual fund companies before jumping into the advice business with Celkupa and forming Triton Financial Planning Group, of Red Bank, New Jersey, about 10 years ago. (Their office also includes a tax specialist and an operations manager.)

Separately, Tarik Eldin and Mike Hastings with SCU Investment Services, part of Sacramento Credit Union, are now affiliated with LPL. They manage about $200 million and recently worked with Cetera Financial Services.

Eldin and Hastings are supported by registered sales assistant Deanna Mohorich.

Meanwhile, Ed Gormley, CFP, CPA, returned to LPL from Securities Service Network, where he managed about $140 million in assets.  

Gormley founded Susquehanna Financial Advisors in 1994 after starting his career in international accounting and specializing in executive financial planning and taxes. 

His team includes Melissa Puija, financial consultant, and Craig Foer, senior tax specialist, who are both working to become licensed advisors. The Mechanicsburg, Penn.-based team also includes Laurie Andrus, client relations specialist.

Raymond James’ News

Raymond James said John Malatino is now part of its employee channel in Viera, Florida; he was formerly with Wells Fargo Advisors and has worked with $180 million in client assets. 

Malatino’s team includes Senior Registered Client Service Associate Fiona Walker and Marketing Associate Jennifer Malatino. They now operate as Precision Wealth Management.

The advisor has been in the business for more than 26 years and began his career as a business analyst with Wachovia Bank before joining Wachovia Investments as an investment consultant.

Wells Fargo’s Hires

Wells Fargo Financial Network, its independent-advisor channel, has added Frank Scicchitano, formerly of UBS. Scicchitano is now part of Seventy2 Capital, of Bethesda, Maryland.

The advisor brings over 18 years of industry experience and works with $70 million in client assets.

Joseph (Tom) Binder, formerly of RBC Capital, is now part of Presidio Group Wealth Management, in Tucson, Arizona, an independent practice. Binder has been in the business for 22-plus years and manages over $45 million.