August 3, 2020
By Erika Wheless
Raymond James snapped up five former Merrill Lynch advisors who managed a collective $515 million in client assets, according to the firm. All five cited Raymond James’ technology platform as motivation for making the career change.
Four of the advisors make up Evergreen Financial Partners and staff a new Raymond James office in Burlington, Massachusetts. Advisors Eric Hobin, Jiles Robinson, Antonio Sordillo, and Jason Whittier are joined by client service associates Eryn Whittier and Josh Franklin. The Evergreen group managed $375 million in client assets at Merrill Lynch.
The fifth advisor, Kristen Ragusin, started an independent practice with Raymond James. The Boston-based advisor has 27 years of experience. While at Merrill, she managed $140 million in client assets.
“I feel so supported with the plethora of resources Raymond James has to offer, especially right now in a pandemic world,” Ragusin said in a statement. “The interface technology makes me feel like I’m walking into a high-tech store. I can interact and engage with clients while simultaneously using the real-time advanced tools. Its functionality makes running your practice fun and effortless.”