Argent Trust Company, based in Ruston, La., is opening a new office in New Orleans, the firm’s 29th office, all of which are located in the Southern United States.
Kevin Reed, market president, will lead the office and will work with Richard Fox, portfolio manager; Elizabeth Laufer, relationship manager, and Mark Milton, senior vice president of institutional services.
Reed, who joined Argent in 2017, has more than 30 years experience and will focus on expanding Argent in the New Orleans region.
Fox and Laufer are new to Argent. Fox has 40 years of experience in the investment industry. He has managed hedge accounts for major grain exporters; served as the director of research, chief investment strategist and senior portfolio manager for a number of institutions, and provided portfolio and asset management for high-net-worth individuals, families, charitable entities, governmental bodies and corporations.
Laufer previously worked in the trust divisions of First Commerce Corporation and Whitney National Bank. She has 30 years of financial services experience, including commercial and private banking, human resources and office administration, while most recently managing the office at Lusher Charter School.
Milton has more than 30 years of experience in various roles in the financial services industry, including business development, operations, risk management and compliance.
Argent Trust Company is a division of Argent Financial Group, an independent wealth management firm with $19 billion in client assets