Benjamin Edwards Tops 100 Advisors

Benjamin Edwards has tapped a mother-daughter team from UBS to spearhead the opening of its 28th office.

The three-year-old firm, which has connections to the old A.G. Edwards name through its founder Benjamin F. Edwards IV, brought on Betsy Dickson and her daughter, Dawn Dickson, to help expand its operation in Florida with the addition of a second office in Melbourne.

An industry veteran with 27 years of experience, Betsy Dickson began her career at A.G. Edwards in 1986, according to public records with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. She had been at UBS since 2007 and joins as managing director.

Dawn Dickson started her career at A.G. Edwards in 1987, according to FINRA. She teamed up with her mother in 2003 and had also been at UBS for five years before joining Benjamin F. Edwards as associate vice president - investments.

They are joined by senior registered financial associate Jo-Ann LaPan and financial associate Michele Swope.

“These advisors bring many years of financial services experience and we are pleased to broaden our presence in the important Florida market,” Benjamin F. Edwards IV said in a statement.

The St. Louis-based firm also brought on four Wells Fargo advisors in three separate offices, bringing the total headcount above 100.

In Wheaton, Ill. Edward Meyer joins as associate vice president – investments. He began his career at A.G. Edwards in 1997, according to FINRA records.

Benjamin F. Edwards added industry veteran Lenny Mandel to its Red Bank, N.J. office. Mandel started at Gibralter securities in 1980 and spent time at Lehman Brothers, Smith Barney, A.G. Edwards and most recently, Wells Fargo, over the course of his three plus decades in financial services.

Two advisors, Jeremy Jacobs and Zachary Dockman, come on board as financial consultants in the Clayton, Mo., office. Jacobs began his career in 2010 at Berthel, Fisher & Co. and had been at Wells Fargo for two years. Dockman began at Wells Fargo in 2011, according to filings with FINRA.

“This is a big industry, and I’ve long held there’s room for everyone, but I believe that our special qualities will continue to serve us well as we attract new talent, open new offices and add talented advisors to our existing locations,” Edwards said in the statement. 

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