Stifel recruits $1B+ team from Raymond James: Advisor moves

Stifel has recruited an eight-person advisory group formerly managing $1.35 billion at Raymond James.

The Greer Financial Group, run by the brothers William "Hal" Greer III and George S. Greer, is joining Stifel's offices in Macon, Georgia. Making them move with them are P. Ryan Emory, Sheri H. Haugabook and Margaret "Maggie" Greer, Hal's daughter, as well as the client service associates Mai Kulkarni, Lois Renfroe and Mary Charles Dunn.

Hal Greer said in a statement: "As we explored our options, we found that Stifel's client-first culture, lack of bureaucracy, and breadth of resources were the best fit for our practice and our valued clients. We've received a great deal of support from everyone here, all the way up to the C-suite, and we can't wait to take advantage of all Stifel has to offer."

Stifel reported in January having slightly more than 2,300 advisors at the end of last year. Raymond James has ceased providing quarterly updates on its headcounts and last reported in October that it had just over 8,700 advisors.

Hal Greer started his career at GNA Securities in 1994 and eventually moved to Smith Barney in 2002 and then, in 2005, to Morgan Keegan, which was bought by Raymond James in 2012. George Greer has been at Raymond James since 2021. 

Emory started his career at A.G. Edwards in 2005, moved to Smith Barney in 2007 and then Raymond James in 2017. Haugabook began at the Robinson-Humphrey Company in 1995, joined Smith Barney in 2002 and then also went to Raymond James in 2017.

LPL Financial has brought over four advisors managing $475 million to its channel for breakaways seeking "supported independence."

James Larsen, formerly of Wells Fargo Advisors, and Lucas Decker, Kevin Lewis and Jackson "Seth" Miller, formerly of Edward Jones, have joined Carnegie Private Wealth, an existing practice at LPL. Carnegie, which has more than $1 billion in assets under management, is part of LPL Strategic Wealth, a channel for advisors who want to own their own businesses but still receive various types of support from a larger firm.

Carnegie Private Wealth, started in 2023, relies on LPL Strategic Wealth for business strategists, marketing resources and the services of a dedicated chief financial officer, according to an LPL statement. LPL works with nearly 29,000 financial advisors through all its channels.

Larsen started his career in 2002 at A.G. Edwards, which became part of Wells Fargo in 2008. The three advisors coming from Edward Jones all began their careers at the firm in the 2010s.

Raymond James has recruited a pair of advisors formerly managing nearly $200 million to its channel for direct employees.

Daniela Fricke and Kelly Ann Erickson join Raymond James & Associates from LPL Financial in Newport Beach, California. Coming with them is Melissa Phillips, a senior client service associate.

Fricke started her career in 2004 at Linsco/Private Ledger, two firms that had merged in 1989 to form what would eventually become LPL. Erickson started at Wamu Investments in 2009, moved to Chase Investments in 2009 and then LPL in 2012.