Raymond James continues westward expansion, welcomes experienced Utah team managing $300 million in client assets
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Continuing the firm’s expansion in the West, Raymond James recently welcomed experienced financial advisors Chris Williams, CFP®, Robb Farr, Brad Wittusen, CFA®, Jeffrey Smith, Roger Thornton and Kelly Holtman in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. (RJFS) – the firm’s independent advisor channel – according to Bill Counsman, West regional director for RJFS.
The advisors, along with Jana Berry, office manager and RJFS registered client services associate, and Kristin Craddock, client service associate, operate as Uinta Wealth Management (UWM). The team joins Raymond James from Wells Fargo Financial Network, where the advisors managed approximately $300 million in client assets.
“We’re thrilled to continue expanding Raymond James in the West, with new partnerships with high-caliber teams like Uinta Wealth Management,” said Counsman. “The advisors and professionals at UWM are such a talented group, with diverse client niches and a legacy of trusted client relationships. We’re excited to welcome them to Raymond James and to be their partner in providing support as they work with clients and elevate their business to the next level.”
Together, the team serves a variety of clients, from retirees and high-net-worth clients to small business owners, foundations and next-generation clients. They strive to make the complicated simple and are focused on delivering generational planning services to clients of all ages.
“It’s refreshing to start this next chapter of our business with Raymond James as our partner,” said Williams, UWM co-founder and RJFS financial advisor. “Raymond James has a culture of doing what’s right for clients and ensuring advisors have the freedom to run their practice. Everything they offer – from powerful technology tools like their Advisor Mobile platform, to the large in-house marketing department, to comprehensive financial planning resources – is so focused on supporting advisors so we can spend valuable time building relationships with our clients. We’re very excited for this new venture.”
A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Williams has been in the financial services industry for more than 20 years. Before joining Raymond James and rebranding the practice as Uinta Wealth Management, he was co-founder and managing partner of WFH Wealth Management, part of the Wells Fargo Financial Advisors Network.
Earlier in his career, he was a financial advisor at Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley. Williams earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah.
Farr, co-founder of UWM and RJFS financial advisor, started his career in 1999 as a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley. Prior to Raymond James, Farr was affiliated with Wells Fargo FiNet, where he and Williams co-founded WHF Wealth Management in 2011. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah.
Wittusen, senior vice president of UWM, RJFS financial advisor and a Chartered Financial Analyst®, has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to Raymond James, he served as a managing partner of WHF Wealth Management (Wells Fargo FiNet), a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch and an associate on Wall Street with Lehman Brothers and Goldman Sachs. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University.
Smith, senior vice president of UWM and RJFS financial advisor, has been in financial services for more than 35 years. Over his long career, Smith has served as a consultant for several Utah major market 401(k) plan providers, an advisor for a large hospital foundation, and as a financial advisor for many high-net-worth families and foundations. Before joining Raymond James, he was a senior vice president and financial advisor at WHF Wealth Management (Wells Fargo FiNet). Prior to that, he was a vice president of investments at RBC Wealth Management and UBS Financial Services, and a first vice president at Morgan Stanley. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah.
Thornton, senior vice president of UWM and RJFS financial advisor, has been in the industry for over 40 years, with past experience at firms including Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and, most recently, Wells Fargo FiNet.
Holtman, RJFS financial advisor, has over 12 years of experience in financial services. Prior to Raymond James, she was a registered client associate at WHF Wealth Management (Wells Fargo FiNet) and a financial advisor at Soltis Investment Advisors and Presidio Wealth Management. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Westminster College of Salt Lake City.
About Raymond James Financial Services
Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., is a financial services firm supporting independent financial advisors nationwide. Since 1974, Raymond James Financial Services Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, has provided a wide range of investment and wealth planning related services through its affiliate, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. Both broker/dealers are wholly owned subsidiaries of Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE-RJF), a leading diversified financial services company with approximately 8,200 financial advisors throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. Total client assets are approximately $877 billion.
Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Uinta Wealth Management is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP Logo Flame Design and CFP Logo Plaque Design in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.