Raymond James welcomes veteran financial advisor managing more than $230 million in client assets to employee advisor channel
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Raymond James welcomed veteran financial advisor Lauren Rudd and his team to Raymond James & Associates (RJA) – the firm’s employee advisor channel – according to Bert White, Florida regional director for RJA. Rudd is joining RJA’s Sarasota, Florida, office within the Florida Suncoast complex, managed by Chris Fils, CFP®, AAMS®.
Rudd manages more than $230 million in client assets and joins RJA’s employee select advisor model from his own previously independent RIA firm, Rudd International, Inc., which cleared through Charles Schwab. Joining him at Raymond James are team members Patricia A. Weeks, business operations specialist; Jose M. Joia, associate vice president, Investments; and Myree Simon, client service associate.
“There were many key reasons that led to our decision to move to Raymond James: succession planning, enhanced resources, and access to management and home office experts… all with true freedom to run our practice,” said Rudd, managing director, founder and president of Rudd International Wealth Advisory Group of Raymond James.
“Having been in the industry for over 50 years, one of the primary questions I get is related to succession planning for our practice. It was important to me to make that one last move, not only to be sure my team is set up well for the future, but also to ensure my clients would continue to be well taken care of. I felt that aligning with Raymond James would be the best for us and our clients in that aspect. As the industry continues to change and become more complex, and after experience running my independent RIA, I wanted to align with a firm that offers a great deal of high-net-worth services, like estate planning and services for multigenerational clients, so we can continue to grow. In addition to the services, the access and proximity I have to subject matter experts at the home office and management is excellent.”
Rudd is a 50-year financial services industry veteran, whose experience includes portfolio management, investment research and analysis, investor relations and communications. He is a nationally recognized public speaker, provides expertise via radio and television commentary and is the publisher of The Rudd Report. In addition, Rudd teaches Investment Analysis for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, part of the Ringling School of Continuing Education, 24 weeks of the year.
Weeks has over 17 years of experience in financial services, cultivating her broad knowledge of the market during her time working for several securities firms on the trading floors of both The Chicago Stock Exchange and The Chicago Board Options Exchange.
Joia joined Rudd’s team in 2017 after obtaining his bachelor’s degree in Business Finance from the University of Central Florida and a Master’s also from the University of Central Florida Rosen College of Hospitality Management with a focus on financial and feasibility studies.
Simon became a part of Rudd’s team in 2016. Prior to joining Rudd International, Simon worked for nearly two decades as an estate planning paralegal.
About Raymond James & Associates
Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC, which has built a national reputation for more than 58 years as a leader in financial planning for individuals, corporations and municipalities, is a wholly owned subsidiary 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 $923 billion. Additional information is available at raymondjames.com.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.