Raymond James Bags Merrill Team With Almost $200M AUM

Raymond James has done it again. The Tampa Bay-based wealth manager has stolen away a Merrill Lynch advisor-team with almost $200 million in assets under management, marking its sixth major recruitment win in the past two weeks.

The former Merrill team, known as Astle Investment Managers, will join Raymond James’ new San Diego office, according to branch manager, Kevin Monaco. The Astle team is a family affair, comprising Joanne Astle, her son Nick and husband Mike, and also Sarah Wilfbank, the team’s senior registered sales assistant.

“Our focus on building a strong presence in San Diego is definitely coming to life with a team like Astle Investment Managers,” said Monaco, in a statement. “We look forward to their continued growth and platform utilization.”

Joanne Astle, the Astle team’s managing director and senior vice president, has worked in the financial services industry since 1978. She is a graduate of the Marshall School of Business at USC, a certified special needs advisor and a frequent financial commentator on the CBS television affiliate in Los Angeles.

Her partner Mike Astle has three decades of experience in the financial services industry and is a graduate of the University of Vermont. Their son Nick Astle, began his career in 2007 at Merrill Lynch. Nick is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University.

 

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