Raymond James today announced that eight financial advisors in Kansas have left Waddell & Reed to become part of Raymond James Financial Services, the firm’s independent advisor channel.
The eight advisors, who managed roughly $300 million in client assets, become part of Beyond Wealth Advisors, a RJFS-aligned practice in Manhattan, Kan., and the Kansas City suburb of Lee’s Summit, Mo.
The advisors are Ross McDonald, Anthony Gorman, Ryan Hayden, Diane Freeby, Mathew Bishop, Devin Schwartz, Dillon Kohman and Kurt Haberer. They are joined by client service associates Gwenda Bishop, Lisa Dziedzic and Lorie Grogg.
“Joining Raymond James and BWA allows us to continue to run our practices independently, with enhanced technology, marketing, and service support,” McDonald said in a statement.
McDonald began building his practice at Waddell & Reed shortly after college when he was 24 years old. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kansas State University.
Hayden served as a Waddell & Reed financial advisor for eight years at the Manhattan, Kan., office, where he was also the branch manager for two years. Prior to his financial services career, he was a pastoral minister for 20 years. He graduated from Milligan College and received his master’s degree from Cincinnati Christian Seminary.
Gorman is a certified financial planner and was a financial advisor for seven years at Waddell & Reed prior to joining Raymond James and BWA.
Haberer served as a Waddell & Reed financial advisor for 20 years. Previously, Haberer was a banking loan officer and branch manager. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and his M.B.A. from Baker University.
Freeby served as a financial advisor for 25 years at Waddell & Reed before joining Raymond James and BWA. Previously, she was a teacher in Herington for five years. She has a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University in education and an associate’s degree from Brown Mackie College in business management.
Bishop was a financial advisor with Waddell & Reed for 16 years. Prior to that, he was a network technician with Price Waterhouse Coopers for two years and a computer technician during college.
Schwartz was a financial advisor for 11 years at Waddell & Reed. He holds a bachelor of science degree in economics with a minor in business from Kansas State University.
Kohman was a financial advisor with Waddell & Reed for the past 11 years.
Parent company Raymond James Financial Inc. employs about 8,300 financial advisors who manage client assets of $1.15 trillion.