LPL Financial continues its aggressive recruitment push, announcing Thursday that Emerald Wealth Management, a Seattle-based practice previously affiliated with Northwestern Mutual, has joined its broker-dealer and registered investment advisor platform. The team brings approximately $815 million in advisory, brokerage, insurance, and retirement plan assets.
The advisor team is led by Darren Trautmann, founder and private wealth advisor, and Brendan Foor, private wealth advisor. They are supported by Carson Hill, Ben Pawlak, and Ben Chen. The practice focuses on technology-sector professionals, as well as individuals and families nearing or in retirement. Emerald Wealth describes its service model as acting as a "household CFO," coordinating with estate planning attorneys and CPAs on executive compensation, equity management, and long-term wealth strategy.
"Our goal has always been to serve as a trusted partner across all areas of our clients' financial lives," Trautmann said in a statement. "By taking a holistic approach and coordinating every piece of the puzzle, we can help clients make more informed decisions and stay focused on what matters most – achieving their long-term goals." Trautmann cited LPL's technology and back-office capabilities as key draws. The team is supported at LPL by Blake Edwards, Evan Anderson, Sienna Landry, Daniel Hickenbottom, and Clarice Lamb. Emerald Wealth has also partnered with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, raising over $250,000 for cancer research, a mission tied to the legacy of co-founder Eric Shutt.
Separately, Raymond James & Associates welcomed Daniel Berger to its employee advisor channel. Berger, a senior vice president of wealth management, previously managed approximately $480 million in client assets at UBS Financial Services in St. Louis. He focuses on business owners, corporate executives, families, and retirees. With over 40 years of experience, Berger is joined by his son, Chase Berger, who serves as an investment portfolio associate. "My transition to Raymond James is rooted in the desire to serve my clients with greater flexibility and expanded resources," Berger said. "I'm especially proud to welcome my son Chase into the business." Raymond James has also recently added a Kansas-based advisor to its financial institutions division and two defectors from Edward Jones in Missouri and Arizona.
TritonPoint Partners, an independent wealth management firm powered by Dynasty Financial Partners, announced that Richard and Robert Sichel have joined the practice in the Philadelphia area. Richard previously managed approximately $350 million in assets at The Philadelphia Trust Company, where he served as executive vice president and senior investment strategist. Robert joins as a wealth advisor after serving as a partner and head of the fiduciary practice at law firm K&L Gates, bringing expertise in tax and legal aspects of wealth management. "I wanted a platform that enables me to focus on what matters most – serving my long-term clients," Richard said. Robert added that the move allows him to work alongside his father serving clients directly.
These moves underscore the ongoing competition among broker-dealers and RIAs for experienced advisors and their books of business. LPL's recruitment momentum has been notable, with recent additions including a $1 billion Ameriprise team. Raymond James has also been active, as seen in its recent $785 million combined recruiting push. The trend of multi-generational teams, such as the father-son duos at Raymond James and TritonPoint, highlights the importance of succession planning in the wealth management industry.
