Independent broker-dealer Cetera has hired two executives for its registered investment advisor channel from competitors, underscoring the intensifying battle for experienced leadership in the wealth management sector. Torrance Chaplin, formerly of Primerica, will serve as community leader of Cetera Investors, while Sean Marrin, formerly of Raymond James, takes the helm as community leader of Cetera's RIA Network. Both appointments are designed to strengthen advisor engagement, drive community growth, and advocate for financial professionals across their respective channels.
According to San Diego-based Cetera, Chaplin and Marrin will focus on recruiting, retention, advisor productivity, and sustainable business growth. Chaplin was most recently a regional vice president with Primerica, where he led a multi-state business supporting senior leaders, more than 250 financial advisors, and independent business owners. His background in scaling advisor networks positions him to address the operational challenges facing Cetera's independent channel as the firm expands its footprint.
Marrin has concentrated on independent advisors throughout his career, most recently serving as division director for RIA & Custody Services at Raymond James. His expertise in custody and advisory infrastructure will be critical as Cetera refines its RIA offerings. In June, Cetera launched a dedicated RIA & Branches Channel under the direction of Jennifer Hanau, who now serves as president of the segment. The channel includes a supported RIA option, a W-2 RIA business line, and supported independent branches.
"Torrance and Sean are proven leaders who have dedicated their careers to helping financial professionals and businesses thrive," said Jennifer Hanau, president of the Cetera RIA & Branches channel. The appointments come as independent broker-dealers and RIA platforms compete aggressively for talent capable of navigating the dual pressures of regulatory complexity and evolving client expectations, particularly among high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth households.
Elsewhere in the talent market, Valeon Partners, a Dallas-based merchant bank serving founders, family offices, and private equity stakeholders in partnership with Leon Capital Group, has hired Lawson Smith as managing director responsible for overseeing the firm's market strategies. Smith brings 25 years of experience in capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, and post-close office-of-the-CFO advisory work. He was most recently a managing director at investment bank and consultancy Houlihan Lokey.
"Lawson brings an exceptional combination of technical expertise, strategic insight, and a collaborative approach that resonates with both clients and colleagues," Valeon CEO C. Travis Pittman said in a statement. While at Houlihan Lokey, Smith founded the firm's Accounting and Financial Reporting practice group and subsequently served in an advisory markets leadership role. Previously, he spent 15 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers, including as managing director in the firm's Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory practice.
Verdence Capital Advisors, a Hunt Valley, Maryland-based private wealth advisory and multi-family office with approximately $4.9 billion in assets under management, hired Bryan Dalesandro as executive director of financial planning. Dalesandro will oversee the firm's financial planning division, working with advisory teams and clients to build and refine planning strategies for ultra-high-net-worth families. He joins Verdence from RiversEdge Advisors, where he served as director of financial planning, a role he also held previously at Concentus Wealth Advisors.
"Bryan's arrival reflects exactly where we are headed as a firm," Leo Kelly, founder, CEO and partner with Verdence, said in a statement. "We built Verdence around sophisticated planning for ultra-high-net-worth clients and their families, and that only works if the team leading it has real depth." Dalesandro specializes in estate planning strategies, retirement and cash flow planning, investment management, and risk management for ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families.
In a separate move, Credent Wealth Management, an Auburn, Indiana-based registered investment advisor with over $4.5 billion in assets under management, has named Michael Kim, president and CEO of AssetMark, as an independent board member. Kim has spent over 15 years at AssetMark, a $180 billion wealth management platform serving advisors. "We are excited to have Michael Kim joining our board of directors," David Hefty, CEO of Credent, said in a statement. "We're confident that the insights and expertise he brings to the table will help us elevate our client experience, propagate our mission, and remain innovative and adaptable." Kim joins current board members David Hefty, Stacy Hefty, Dennis Kehoe, and the firm's strategic investor, Crestline Management, which took a minority stake in Credent in December.