TritonPoint Partners, an independent advisory firm based in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and supported by Dynasty Financial Partners, has added its second father-and-son advisory team. Carlos Sanchez and Matthew Sanchez, operating from Huntington Beach, California, and Indianapolis, Indiana, respectively, focus on business-owner wealth planning and divorce-related financial strategies. Their clientele includes individuals navigating business succession, liquidity events, and major life transitions.
Carlos Sanchez has spent 32 years in the financial services industry, while Matthew Sanchez began his career as an investment advisor registered with Schwab about a decade ago, according to SEC disclosure records. The elder Sanchez cited TritonPoint's flexibility, resources, and planning capabilities as key factors in supporting their growth while maintaining a client-centric approach. Matthew Sanchez emphasized the importance of providing clarity and structure for clients facing simultaneous family, business, and financial challenges.
This addition follows the recent move of Richard Sichel and Robert Sichel, another father-son team based in Princeton, New Jersey, who joined TritonPoint last month after managing approximately $350 million in client assets at their previous firm. TritonPoint Partners' latest Form ADV reports roughly $786 million in assets under management, while its affiliate, TritonPoint Wealth, oversees approximately $1.55 billion.
In a separate development, Merrill Lynch announced the addition of Steve Keller and Cole Keller to its Monterey/Carmel office in California. The father-son team brings $450 million in client assets from Morgan Stanley, where they reported $1.8 million in production. They are joined by wealth management associate Catherine Marino-Edwards. Steve Keller has over 30 years of industry experience, including a tenure at Morgan Stanley dating back to 2007, per his BrokerCheck profile.
Raymond James also expanded its independent advisor channel by welcoming Bernie Franko in Greensboro, North Carolina. Franko, who previously managed $200 million in client assets over a 12-year period at Edward Jones, brings 28 years of financial services experience to Raymond James Financial Services. He now operates as Franko Wealth Management, supported by client service managers Dwayne Guy and Jill Willard, serving individuals, families, and small businesses with personalized financial planning and wealth management guidance.
Franko noted that Raymond James' client-first culture, technology platform, and independent model align with his approach to serving clients. These moves reflect ongoing recruitment trends among wirehouses and independent firms, as seen in recent hires like DayMark Wealth Partners adding an $820M Morgan Stanley team and Wealth Enhancement and Steward Partners expanding in California and Florida.
The industry continues to see significant movement, with firms like Lido Advisors adding a $1B Tulsa RIA and Mariner, Savant, and Cerity Partners pursuing niche acquisitions. These developments underscore the competitive landscape for talent and assets in the wealth management sector.
