$2.2B UBS advisors land at Rockefeller

In another big grab, Rockefeller Capital Management picked up two UBS advisors who oversaw $2.2 billion in combined assets as part of its efforts to build out its wealth management unit.

Rockefeller had previously hired a $1.2 billion team from HighTower Advisors in September.

Justin Ryan and Tom Epperson, Rockefeller’s newest hires, joined the firm in Atlanta.

“They exemplify the kind of integrity-driven, high-quality advisors that we want to attract in markets across the country,” Greg Fleming, CEO of Rockefeller Capital Management, said in a statement.

The UBS Group AG logo sits on the bank's skyscraper offices in Frankfurt, Germany, on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Frankfurt's efforts to attract bankers escaping Brexit are in danger of losing momentum. Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg
The UBS Group AG logo sits on the bank's skyscraper offices in Frankfurt, Germany, on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Frankfurt's efforts to attract bankers escaping Brexit are in danger of losing momentum. Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg
Alex Kraus/Bloomberg

Wirehouse advisors joining the independent firm may encounter some familiar faces. Rockefeller CEO Fleming, for example, is the former president of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and has past experience at Merrill Lynch. COO Chris Dupuy was also a longtime Merrill Lynch executive who last worked at Focus Financial, which specializes in helping wirehouse teams go independent.

Ryan had been with UBS since 2009, according to FINRA BrokerCheck records. He previously worked at Smith Barney. Epperson joined UBS from Lehman Brothers in 2008; he had worked at Lehman for a decade prior to the move.

Ryan managed $1.4 billion while at UBS; Epperson oversaw $800 million, according to Rockefeller. They made the career change Friday.

A spokesman for UBS was unavailable for immediate comment.

Rockefeller offers a global family office, asset management and strategic advisory services to ultrahigh-net-worth clients and institutions. As of Sept. 30, the firm had approximately $18.6 billion in assets under advisement, according to the company.

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