Hilltop Securities aims to expand its wealth management business, in part by relying on its public finance expertise and multi-channel approach to win over new recruits.
“We’re one of the top municipal advisors in the country. I think that’s an area where we can leverage our strength,” says Brad Winges, the firm’s new CEO, adding that the company sees a growth market for financial advice as baby boomers retire.
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Though the company has roots going back to 1946, the Hilltop brand is much younger, having been adopted after
Winges says the company — which currently fields approximately 125 employee brokers and 225 independent brokers — wants to recruit advisors across all channels.
“My attitude is the more flexibility you have in your structure as a firm or as an advisor, the better off you are,” he says, comparing it to client choice. “There are some clients who would prefer to pay commissions. Others would prefer to pay a fee one time a year [or a recurring fee]. You have to be able to do them all. You can’t pick and choose.”
The firm, which serves 250,000 wealth management clients, is also looking at potential acquisitions as it strives to expand beyond its base in the Southwest, Winges adds.
He took over as CEO from Hill A. Feinberg, who remains as chairman. Winges, who is now based at Hilltop’s headquarters in Dallas, was previously a senior executive managing director at Piper Jaffray in Minneapolis.
Winges is a past two-term chairman of the Bond Dealers of America board of directors and he met Feinberg during his time on the board.
He was also appointed to the SEC’s fixed income market structure advisory committee last year.
