Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. this week announced it has added 13 new financial advisors representing $784 million in assets under management.

Based in St. Louis, the independent broker-dealer was founded in 2008 by Benjamin F. (Tad) Edwards IV, the great-great-grandson of the founder of A.G. Edwards, the venerable Midwestern company that was one of the country's largest brokerages before it was bought by Wachovia in 2007, which in turn was bought by Wells Fargo.

Named in honor of Benjamin F. Edwards III, the longtime head of the former A.G. Edwards, the company now has 53 branch offices in 25 states and more than 400 employees after the recent additions.

These additions include the opening of its first two offices in Mississippi—Gulfport and Hattiesburg.

The office in Gulfport is staffed by Bridget Weatherly, branch manager and senior vice president of investments with nearly 20 years of experience in the financial services industry; Tom McCormick, vice president of investments who began his financial services career in 1977; P. Michael Pela, vice president of investments who focuses on advisory portfolios, education and retirement planning strategies; Hal Kaigler, associate vice president of investments; and Angela Wolfe, associate vice president of investments.

All but Wolfe, who previously worked at Edward Jones, are transferring from Wells Fargo Advisors.

In addition, the firm announced the hiring of Kimberly Sylvia, senior financial associate, and Jessica Hammons, financial associate, who will both assist the advisors with their office management and client service responsibilities.

The Hattiesburg office is staffed by Howell Taylor, branch manager and senior vice president of investments. Taylor has 40 years in the financial services business and focuses on investment strategies and retirement planning. He transferred from Wells Fargo Advisors.

He’s joined by Betty Hagg, who is a senior financial associate and will assist with client service responsibilities.

Elsewhere, the company announced that four advisors joined its existing office in Wheaton, Ill., one advisor came aboard in Baltimore, Md., and two advisors joined its Clayton, Mo. office.

The Wheaton office includes three-members from The Schulte Wealth Management Group that joined from Morgan Stanley. Mary Schulte, senior vice president of investments, is a 30-year veteran of the financial services industry. She formed The Schulte Wealth Management Group when her son, T.J. Cleland, and son-in-law, J. Randolph Sidio, joined her practice.

Cleland is associate vice president of investments and focuses on portfolio management. Sidio is a financial consultant charged with business development for The Schulte Wealth Management Group.

The fourth member of the Wheaton office, Maurice Mathy, is vice president investments with a focus on business owner services and retirement planning.

The group is working temporarily from the Benjamin F. Edwards’ Wheaton location until construction on their Naperville, Ill., office is completed. 

In Baltimore, Rick Faby joined the officer there from Ameriprise Financial Services. He’s the sixth member of the team there, and serves as branch manager and senior vice president of investments. The Baltimore office now employs a total of six, including four financial advisors.

The two advisors who joined the Clayton, Mo., office both transferred from Oppenheimer. C. Kevin Coulter is associate vice president of investments and concentrates on fixed income strategies and portfolio management.

Bill Ferry, associate vice president of investments, began his financial services career in 1986, and concentrates on developing investing strategies for women and wealth management. The Clayton office has 10 employees, including eight financial advisors.