Wells Fargo's FiNet pulls from Ameriprise, Raymond James, UBS

Wells Fargo is building out its independent channel with two wealth management teams and a separate advisor managing a combined $1.3 billion in client assets at their previous firms.

The wealth managers joining Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, or FiNet — the firm's channel for advisors working as independent contractors — come from Ameriprise, Raymond James and UBS. Houser, Plessl & Staples Wealth Management Group, the larger of the two teams, joined FiNet on Jan. 26 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The group had managed $530 million at Ameriprise.

The team is led by the advisors Kevin Houser, Gary Plessl and Matthew Staples. All three joined Ameriprise in 2016 from LPL Financial after time at other firms.

The other team, led by Brandon Larson and Todd Hanneman, brought their practice, Lakeview Partners Wealth Management, to FiNet in Minnetonka, Minnesota. They had previously managed more than $400 million in client assets at UBS. Larson started his career at RBC in 1999 and moved to UBS in 2011. Hanneman started at Workman Securities in 1995 and came to UBS in 2022 after stints at various other firms.

Meanwhile, Paulo Thomson joined the existing FiNet practice Merritt Point Wealth Advisors, in Houston. Thomson had previously managed $400 million at Raymond James, where he started his career in 2001.

John Tyers, the president of FiNet, said in a statement that advisors who come to FiNet are looking for strong technology, freedom to run their businesses as they see fit, and access to services and products sought by wealthy clients.

"Advisors continue to choose FiNet because it gives them the rare combination of all three. We're thrilled to have this impressive group affiliate with us," Tyers said.