Benjamin F. Edwards Recruits 10 Advisors From Wells Fargo

Benjamin F. Edwards picked up ten advisors from Wells Fargo, and opened three new offices.

The offices are located in South Carolina, Texas and Arkansas, according to a statement from the firm. St. Louis-based-Benjamin Edwards also released details on the new recruits, but declined to provide AUM and production figures.

The new advisors include Ernie and Margaret Wright, who are father and daughter. The Wrights opened Edwards' Clemson, S.C. office, which is the firm's first office in state. The elder Wright is a 33-year industry veteran, and worked at A.G. Edwards before the firm was acquired by Wachovia and later Wells Fargo, according to FINRA records. His daughter joined her father in 2010, forming Wright Wealth Management.  Also moving with the Wrights is Shelley Bond Holbrooks, a senior registered financial associate.

Benjamin Edwards pulled another former Wells Fargo team to open an office in Sherman, Texas, which is about 50 miles north of Dallas. The team, known as the Melton Financial Group, includes advisors Bruce Melton, his daughter Katiebeth Worrell, and senior registered financial associate Paula Judkins. Also joining the Sherman office is former Wells advisor Hunter Graham and senior financial associate Tamra Booth.

Melton started his career at A.G. Edwards in 1986 while Graham joined the firm in 2000. Both stayed through its mergers with Wachovia and Wells Fargo. Worrell joined Wells in 2009 after graduating from Texas A&M.

Another two former Wells advisors joined Benjamin Edwards in Harrison, Ark. Senior member John Weir has three decades of industry experience, having started his career at A.G. Edwards in 1984. Joshua Willard served in the United States Air Force and began his financial services career at Wachovia in 2007. Senior financial associate Cheryl Smith also moved with the two advisors to Edwards.

Also swept up in the recruiting spree are former Wells advisors John Weir and Joshua Willard, who opened Benjamin Edwards' office Harrison, Ark. Weir has three decades of industry experience, having started his career at A.G. Edwards in 1984. Willard served in the United States Air Force and began his financial services career at Wachovia in 2007. Senior financial associate Cheryl Smith also moved with the two advisors to Edwards.

Joining an existing Benjamin Edwards office in Denver are advisors Eric Bench and Jason Clouse, boosting the number of advisors there to eight. Bench started his career in 2006, while Clouse began in 2010.

Rounding out the recruits is Samuel Annitto, also previously with Wells Fargo. Annitto joined Edwards' office in Red Bank, N.J., which is about 40 miles south of New York City. The office now has eight advisors.

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