Paul Bagnato has joined the firm’s Mount Kisco, N.Y., office from Wells Fargo, where he oversaw $165 million in client assets and had $1.7 million in production. Bagnato served at Wells Fargo for almost 13 years, according to his registration records with FINRA, following several years with First Union. He reports to branch manager Mark Willis.

via Morgan Stanley Nabs Two Advisors With $300M In Assets | On Wall Street.

Benjamin F. Edwards snapped up nine advisors and opened two offices as it continues to build out its footprint.The St. Louis-based firm, which now has 30 offices, opened its third Florida location with an office in Destin and made inroads into Alabama with a new branch in Birmingham. It also added an advisor to its White Plains, N.Y., and Chattanooga, Tenn., location. The new Birmingham office will be led by branch manager and senior vice president Steven S. Phillips. He has over 20 years of experience, most recently at Wells Fargo. A legacy A.G. Edwards advisor, Phillips came to Wells Fargo in 2008 through a series of mergers. He is joined by Thomas Luttrell, who is a member of the Luttrell Financial Group. Luttrell, who has more than 25 years of experience, is also a legacy A.G. Edwards advisor and joins as vice president – investments. They will be assisted by financial associate Ashley Brook.The other two advisors on the Luttrell Financial Group join in the firm’s new Destin office. James Luttrell Jr., Thomas’ brother, has nearly three decades of industry experience and will be a vice president of the office. He is a legacy A.G. Edwards advisor moving from Wells Fargo.

via Benjamin Edwards Adds 9 Advisors, 2 Offices | On Wall Street.

Hilliard Lyons has bolstered its ranks in its headquarter city of Louisville, Ky., with the addition of two advisors with $200 million in assets.

The advisors previously managed $100 million each with Raymond James Financial Services, the franchisee advisor branch of the St. Petersburg, Fla.-based firm.

Both advisors, Steven J. Smith and Sean Miranda, have 17 years of financial services experience, according to Hilliard Lyons.

via Hilliard Lyons Nabs 2 from Raymond James | On Wall Street.

D.A. Davidson has agreed to merge with Los Angeles-based Crowell Weedon in a deal that will create one of the largest regional brokerage firms on the West Coast.The merger, which was announced to advisors at both firms Wednesday morning, will add some 147 advisors and 14 offices from Crowell Weedon to the existing 320 financial consultants at D.A. Davidson. Combined assets under management will total $43.5 billion. The firms, which are both privately held, did not disclose the price of the deal.“This transaction marks D.A. Davidson’s largest partnership to date, and is a great fit given the individual investor focus and complementary geographies and cultures of our businesses,” Bill Johnstone, chairman and CEO of Davidson Companies, said in a statement. “Aligning Davidson with such a well-respected firm allows us to build on the strengths and reputations of both companies and makes sense for clients, shareholders and employees.”

via Crowell Weedon to Merge with D.A. Davidson | On Wall Street.