A former Merrill Lynch duo has launched a new registered investment advisory firm and selected LPL Financial as its custodian, according to an LPL announcement today.
Financial advisors Frank Granizo and Jennifer Kirby, who operated as the Granizo Kirby Group at Merrill Lynch and managed $150 million in advisory assets, have created Talisman Wealth Advisors in Mountainside, N.J.
Granizo, who began his career at Merrill Lynch in 1995, according to his BrokerCheck profile, teamed with Kirby in 2018. Kirby entered the financial services industry in 2013 and began working at Merrill Lynch after more than a decade in fund-raising and public relations, the release noted.
The advisors were attracted to LPL for its robust platform. “The LPL platform provides us access to back-office support, industry-leading resources, economies of scale and best practices from a group of subject experts in the full range of disciplines related to wealth management who share our passion for serving our clients,” Granizo said in a statement. “LPL is very forward-thinking and has the technology, platform of support and services, reputation and stability to support us well into the future as the industry continues to evolve.”
Kirby said relationships have become the brand in financial advice. “You either trust your advisor to have the tools, table stakes in our opinion, or you don’t,” she said. “We have evolved our practice over time to improve the depth and breadth of how we can help clients. Our launch to complete independence allows us to focus entirely on our clients’ best interest,” she added.
Scott Posner, LPL’s executive vice president of business development, said LPL is honored that Granizo and Kirby chose to partner with the firm. “As a leading custodian and partner to advisors, we are staunchly committed to delivering the best set of solutions and experiences designed to help advisors like Jennifer and Frank be successful in serving the needs of their clients. We look forward to supporting Talisman Wealth Advisors for years to come,” he said.