In an effort to boost its independent offerings, a regional brokerage has tapped the former president of an LPL Financial hybrid RIA.
Robert Limmer made the move from Gladstone Wealth Group to Wedbush Securities on June 28. He will serve as head of the firm’s independent franchise owner network and be based in New York. The newly created position will address the growth of the firm’s independent financial advisors, as well as the efforts in expanding the overall wealth management business, according to Wedbush.
Limmer leaves Gladstone, which has a headcount of more than 80 advisors, for the slightly larger Wedbush which firm that manages has 120 independent financial advisors on its platform.
Limmer is latest hire following the March appointment of Chris Mone as head of wealth management.
CEO Ron Kruszewski received praise for leading the firm's wealth management unit to a record for revenue, despite costly legal setbacks.
As Vice President, Underwriting Research and Development, Jackie Waas is involved in investigating and developing underwriting innovations, with an emphasis on concept development, research, presenting new ideas, and participating in concept validation activities.
She started her career with RGA in 2018 as Director of Underwriting Services, where she supported direct-to-consumer accelerated offerings, including assisting with the auditing of the e-underwriting program and helping develop digital health scores while supporting the Digital Health Data team.
Prior to joining RGA, Jackie was an Underwriting Business Consultant and automated underwriting systems subject matter expert with Legal & General America for four years after working in an underwriting capacity with the company for nine years. She also had five years of underwriting experience with AXA Equitable and formerly worked as a marketing manager for Steele Rubber Products.
Jackie received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in communications and a minor in psychology from Lenoir-Rhyne University in North Carolina. She is a Certified Fellow of the Academy of Life Underwriting, a Fellow of the Life Management Institute, and a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute. She is also an Associate, Reinsurance Administration; Associate, Insurance Agency Administration; and an Associate, Insurance Regulatory Compliance. Jackie also holds the Professional, Customer Service Institute designation, and she is a member of the Association of Home Office Underwriters.
Guizhou Hu is Vice President, VP, Head of Risk Analytics at RGA, where he supports global RGA underwriting initiatives and produces internal and external thought leadership pieces based on RGA's in-depth risk analytics. Before joining RGA in 2018, Guizhou served as Vice President, Chief Decision Analytics, for Gen Re and as a Senior Vice President for BioSignia Inc. Guizhou holds a medical degree from Beijing Medical University and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Cornell University.
“Bob’s insight and diverse industry experience will be invaluable as we continue to invest in growing our independent advisory business,” Mone said in a statement regarding Limmer’s appointment. Mone was previously an executive with Wilmington Trust.
Limmer has 32 years of experience in the industry, starting with a short stint at Denton & Company and including longer tenures at Prudential Securities and UBS, according to FINRA BrokerCheck records.
A spokesman for Gladstone Wealth Group did not respond to a request for comment.
