Stifel enticed away seven financial advisors from three rivals — five from Merrill Lynch alone — continuing the regional brokerage’s recruiting push.
The St. Louis-based company stepped up hiring efforts last year, boosting headcount to 2,301 advisors at the end of 2018 from 2,244 advisors for the same period a year ago, according to Stfiel. The firm is pursuing the same strategy in 2019,
Among the firm’s newest recruits are advisors Bill Linas and Mike Flood, who left Merrill Lynch to join Stifel in Irvine, California. They were previously responsible for $184 million and $91 million in client assets, according to Stifel.
Linas started his career at Merrill Lynch in 2004, according to FINRA BrokerCheck records. Flood, an advisor with 24 years experience, joined the wirehouse from HD Vest in 1999.
In Dublin, Ohio, Stifel picked up advisors Beth Radcliff and Richard Cochran. The duo previously worked at Merrill Lynch where they oversaw $169 million in client assets, according to Stifel.
Fewer than 3% of U.S. advisory firms report registrations with foreign regulators, and the meager ranks reflect the difficulty of breaking into international markets.
In an opinion sought by Morgan Stanley, the Department of Labor finds the firm's deferred compensation "appears to be a bonus program" used to reward loyalty and good behavior and not a retirement benefit.
Radcliff joined Merrill Lynch in 2007, having previously worked at A.G. Edwards, according to BrokerCheck. Cochran joined the firm in 2009 after 21 years with UBS. He has half a century of industry experience, according BrokerCheck.
Former Baird advisor George Charter Harrison IV joined Stifel in Bellevue, Washington. He previously managed $78 million, Stifel says. Harrison, an advisor of 24 years, has past experience at Wells Fargo and McAdams Wright Ragen, a small regional brokerage that
James DiBlasi joined Stifel from Merrill Lynch in Dewitt, New York. An advisor of 22 years, DiBlasi managed $52 million, according to Stifel.
And in neighboring New Jersey, advisor Larry Lerhman left Ameriprise to join Stifel. He oversaw $50 million in client assets and is based in Shrewsbury. Lerhman is an advisor with nearly three decades experience, having worked at Morgan Stanley, Smith Barney and Merrill Lynch.
Spokeswomen for Merrill Lynch and Baird could not be reached for immediate comment. An Ameriprise spokeswoman declined to comment.
