Raymond James Picks Up $2.9B Baird Team
Reston, Virginia-based Wise Investor Group joined Raymond James & Associates, the firm’s employee advisor channel.
Raymond James has picked up a team of eight financial advisors in Reston, Virginia, that previously managed $2.9 billion in client assets at Baird.
Operating as The Wise Investor Group of Raymond James, the advisor team, based in the Washington, D.C., area, has joined Raymond James & Associates, the firm’s employee advisor channel, Kelly Anderson, Northeast regional director for RJA, said Tuesday.
Wise’s advisor team includes Simon Hamilton, Gregory Smith, David Mount, Ann Summerson, Chase Hinderstein, Matthew Anderson, Chris Aime and Nicholas Sorden.
“After considerable thought, planning and months of due diligence, our team wholeheartedly felt Raymond James offers the best opportunity to enhance what we can accomplish together with our clients,” according to Hamilton, Wise’s managing director and portfolio manager.
Raymond James “has a long history of putting clients first and is equipped with a breadth of resources — from sophisticated wealth planning expertise to forward-looking technology,” Hamilton added. “As we look ahead, we’re certain this decision will allow our group to continue to evolve and thrive throughout this new chapter.”
The staff of 17 at Wise also includes portfolio analysts Edward Holton, Kevin Haddon and Vasilios Rajendra.
The group is being supported by RJA’s Chesapeake Complex, led by complex manager Warren Wright, and serves a client base that includes a mix of business owners, executives, retirees, families and individuals, Raymond James said.
“For this highly respected and experienced group to join Raymond James is a testament to our shared values and vision and their resounding confidence in the firm’s unique advisor offerings and client focused culture,” according to Tash Elwyn, RJA president and CEO.
“Raymond James’ value proposition of providing a world-class suite of services, products and integrated technology, alongside a culture of uncompromising independence, has continued to appeal to advisors across a wide spectrum of size and scope,” Elwyn added.
RJA parent Raymond James Financial now has about 8,600 advisors throughout the U.S., Canada and overseas. Total client assets were about $1.16 trillion as of Sept. 27, it said.
(Pictured: Raymond James’ headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida)