Cynthia Hewitt, one of Merrill Lynch’s top advisors who retired in 2018 after more than 40 years, has joined Snowden Lane Partners as a senior partner and managing director, according to a news release.
Hewitt, the release noted, was one of just a few female financial advisors when she began her career at Merrill Lynch in 1976 and went on to became one of the firm’s top advisors. Hewitt and her previous team of four professionals and three support managed $1.4 billion in assets, generating more than $7.5 million in revenue, and receiving many awards and accolades throughout her career until her retirement in 2018, the release said.
“There are not many advisors with Cynthia’s level of experience and insight,” Greg Franks, president and COO of Snowden Lane, said in a statement. “She helped create the template of what an effective financial advisor should be, and her influence in the industry can’t be overstated. We’re a stronger firm with her on board and are excited to welcome her.”
Hewitt said when she realized that she still wanted to work with clients, she knew that the independent model was the right one, and Snowden Lane was immediately on her radar. “I’ve known Snowden Lane’s leadership team for decades and it’s been wonderful to see the firm grow into one of the leading independent advisory boutiques in the industry. I’m excited to join this values-driven, client-focused partnership,” she said.
Rob Mooney, CEO of Snowden Lane, said Hewitt is a legend in the advisor community. “Her list of accomplishments is literally too long to recite, and we look forward to the many great things we know she’ll achieve for her clients in the years to come,” he said.
Hewitt’s accolades include being named in 2004 as one of the Top 20 female financial advisors in the nation by Research Magazine; chosen as one of “America’s best financial advisors” by R.J. Shook in his book, "The Winner’s Circle"; listed in 2009 as one of the Barron’s Top 1000 Advisors in the U.S., and also to the “Top 100 Wirehouse Advisors in America” list by Registered Rep. magazine, according to the release.
She also was recognized in 2016 by Barron’s as one of only a few women on the Top 100 Women Advisors list for 10 consecutive years. Additionally, Barron’s included her in their annual Top 1,200 Advisors in the Country from 2010 to 2015 and named her the top advisor in Delaware.
New York City-based Snowden Lane Partners, a hybrid registered investment advisor and broker-dealer, has offices in Pasadena and San Diego, Calif.; New Haven, Conn.; Coral Gables, Fla. Chicago.; Pittsburgh; Baltimore, Salisbury and Bethesda, Md.; San Antonio, Texas; and Buffalo, N.Y.