Stifel snaps up advisors with $252M from two rivals

Stifel recruited three financial advisors who managed a combined $252 million in client assets, according to a spokesman.

Stifel, which has been on an aggressive hiring push, picked up advisors Mark Graham and Brian Bissell from Wells Fargo. Graham will operate from a new Stifel office in Spokane, Washington. Bissel is based in Pasadena, California. John Lee, Stifel's managing director for the company's Western region, expects further growth in the area.

"Our ability to provide an environment where advisors have the freedom and flexibility to serve their clients was a big draw for these gentlemen," Lee said in a statement.

Graham and Bissell had worked at Wells Fargo since 2009, according to FINRA BrokerCheck records. They were previously registered with UBS. Graham is the more senior of the two, having started his career in 1983 at regional brokerage firm Crowell Wheedon, according to BrokerCheck records. Bissell got his start in the business in 2000.

Also joining Stifel is Craig Braun, a former Ameriprise advisor who oversaw $82 million in client assets. This is Braun's first career move. He's been with Ameriprise since 1992, according to BrokerCheck records.

Braun will operate from Stifel's office in Flint, Michigan. He's the third ex-Ameriprise advisor to join that office this year. In January, Stifel hired Tom Hankins and Jay Lauzon, advisors who oversaw $197 million.

A spokeswoman for Ameriprise was unavailable for immediate comment. A Wells Fargo spokeswoman declined to comment.

This week, Stifel shuffled its leadership. The St. Louis-based firm appointed David Sliney as chief operating officer and Jim Marischen as chief financial officer. Marischen takes over from James Zemlyak, who will focus solely on wealth management, a business he has overseen since 2011.

Zemlyak also remains co-president of Stifel Financial alongside Victor Nesi, who leads the company's institutional group.