Upin, who has nearly thirty years of industry experience, was formerly a managing director at Wells Fargo where he oversaw $110 million and produced $1.5 million.
He began his career with Bear, Stearns & Co. in 1984 and has also spent time at Dain Rauscher, Morgan Stanley and Stifel Nicolaus, according to public records with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
Kevin Ketelsleger, the director of the three offices under RBC’s Minneapolis complex, said that he believes Upin was looking for a smaller firm and enjoyed being at the home office and close by the executive management (who work in the same building).
“They come down and say hello once in a while, and it just feels smaller,” Ketelsleger said.
At RBC, Upin will continue to work primarily with higher net worth individuals, an area that George Lewis, head of the global wealth management division, has said the firm has been enhancing its focus on. According to Ketelsleger, “more than a handful” of Upin’s clients have over $5 million in assets.
The firm also recently brought on The Nierling Group, another wirehouse team in Morgan Stanley, in Dallas, Texas, and Ketelsleger said he also hired another Wells Fargo advisor earlier this year to join his complex.
Also joining with Upin is Denise Meysembourg, investment associate, the second and only other member of the Upin Group.
