Raymond James Financial : hires two veteran managers to expand the firm’s Northeast presence

March 24, 2014

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Raymond James recently hired two veteran managers to establish and expand the firm's employee branches in the Boston and Washington, D.C., environs, according to Tash Elwyn, president of Raymond James & Associates (RJA), Private Client Group, the traditional employee broker/dealer of Raymond James.

Peter Alberding has been appointed branch manager of what will be the first RJA retail office in Boston's downtown financial district, opening in April. He comes to RJA from UBS, where he spent the majority of his career.

Alberding began as a financial advisor in 1997 with PaineWebber, later becoming a sales manager in their downtown Boston branch. During the course of his tenure with UBS, he gained experience as not only a financial advisor, but also a branch and complex manager, spent three years working in UBS' domestic wealth management business based in Switzerland, and was also, for a period of time, COO of their western U.S. division based in Chicago, where he was responsible for more than 4,000 advisors.

"I am excited to be placing the RJA flag in the heart of Boston, said Alberding. "I cannot wait to talk to a number of experienced financial advisors who are seeking a firm like Raymond James: a firm that values the advisor, provides the resources and support of a Wall Street firm, but has the culture and values of a family-run business; a firm that respects the advisor-client relationship and that puts clients' interests above all else.

Warren Wright has been appointed Mid-Atlantic complex manager based in RJA's Pennsylvania Avenue branch in Washington, D.C. Prior to this appointment, Wright held a number of leadership roles with Morgan Stanley and its predecessor firm, Smith Barney, including branch manager and complex business development manager. Prior to joining Smith Barney in 2008, Wright spent 10 years at Merrill Lynch's flagship Washington, D.C., office, where he built a thriving advisory practice and was also a sales manager.

"We have a great group of seasoned advisors in the D.C., Maryland and northern Virginia area, said Wright, "and I very much look forward to building upon that base. The great appeal of Raymond James is how much the firm values the advisor-client relationship. I know there is a hunger on the part of advisors who seek to affiliate with a firm where senior management really understands what advisors need and lets them put the interests of their clients first, while still providing the kind of support and resources they have come to expect. I am eager to tell that story.

"As Raymond James looks to deliver on our objective of establishing a number of new RJA offices in the northeast part of the country, added Elwyn, "we are delighted to have partnered with such proven talent as Peter and Warren. Their experience in building and developing teams of advisors is just what we are looking for as we build out these two markets. They, like our recent management appointees in San Diego and Seattle, will lead a focused expansion in these regions that are a key part of our growth strategy for the firm.