Raymond James Adds Advisers

Raymond James Financial Inc. continued to attract financial advisers to its private-client group at the end of last year and into January.

Over the past four months the St. Petersburg, Fla., company has added two advisers in Oklahoma City, two in Charleston, S.C., two in St. Louis, two in Houston, one in a new office in Ogden, Utah, and one in San Diego.

"Recruiting for both traditional employees and independent contractors has certainly slowed from the record levels of early 2009," Chet Helck, Raymond James' chief operating officer and head of its private-client group, said Tuesday. "But we are still attracting top-tier advisers who recognize that Raymond James is a stable firm where they can put their clients' interests first, own their own book of business and access superior resources and research, all while receiving the highest levels of client service."

Earlier this month a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority arbitration panel found Raymond James & Associates liable for raiding four AG Edwards branches just after it was acquired by Wachovia Securities in October 2007 and ordered Raymond James to pay $12.1 million.

Raymond James has more than 5,300 financial advisers serving 1.9 million accounts in 2,300 locations in the U.S., Canada and overseas. It had $232 billion of assets under management on Dec. 31.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
Wealth management
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER