Wells Fargo Advisors has added a 17-person advisory team from Morgan Stanley, the Taylor Group, which managed approximately $5.94 billion in client assets. The team officially transitioned on May 1 and operates from Wells Fargo's branch at the GM Building in midtown Manhattan. This recruitment is among the largest for the firm in New York City in recent years.
The group is led by James Taylor, who ranked fourth on the 2025 Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors national list and first on the Forbes Best-In-State Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors list for New York City. The team includes private wealth financial advisors Shane Drumm, Michaella Irvine, Marcus Briscoe, Cameron Irvine, Jamison Embury, Roger McGlynn, Hunter Embury, and Kyle Drumm, along with nine support staff. Five team members have appeared on Forbes rankings, and the group has also been recognized on Barron's national and best-in-state lists.
The Taylor Group brings a range of professional credentials, including four certified financial planners, a chartered financial analyst, a certified investment management analyst, and a chartered retirement planning counselor. The team's composition is notable for its family ties, including three sisters and two sets of brothers, one of which is a pair of twins.
Patrick Baumann, New York City market leader for Wells Fargo Advisors, stated that the team is "keen to take advantage of Wells Fargo's full balance sheet, which gives them a clear runway to serve their clients holistically." This hire continues a busy recruiting period for Wells Fargo Advisors, which in February brought in the Weikes Slattery Group, a $3.1 billion team from JPMorgan, also based in Manhattan.
In early January, Wells Fargo Advisors also recruited a $1.2 billion ultra-high-net-worth team from Citigroup in Dallas. These moves underscore the firm's strategy to expand its presence in key markets by attracting top talent from competitors.
The Taylor Group's addition is part of a broader trend of advisor movement among wirehouses. For context, LPL-affiliated Genesis Wealth recently hired a JPMorgan veteran with $725M, while UBS added $2B in the Southeast and Osaic lured a $300M team from Wells Fargo.
Wells Fargo Advisors has been actively recruiting to bolster its advisor force, leveraging its balance sheet and resources to attract high-producing teams. The Taylor Group's move highlights the competitive dynamics in the wealth management industry, particularly in the New York City market.
