Raymond James welcomes ex-Wells Fargo advisor in New Mexico

The wealth giant’s newest breakaway addition in the Sun Belt state reportedly managed $115M at the wirehouse.

Raymond James is continuing to build on its recruitment tear in June, this time with a breakaway advisor joining in a Southwestern US portion of the Sun Belt.

The wealth giant announced the addition of financial advisor Devona Benavidez to its independent advisor channel, Raymond James Financial Services. Most recently, Benavidez was affiliated with Wells Fargo, where she managed over $115 million in client assets.

Benavidez, who holds designations as both a certified financial planner and a certified divorce financial analyst, joins ZeroThreeSixty Wealth Partners in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Stepping in as co-branch manager, she brings 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, including previous employment engagements with Morgan Stanley and Citi.

Accompanied by branch associates Mackenzie Merony and Jacqueline Martinez, Benavidez specializes in investment planning and discretionary portfolio management, with a strong focus on assisting clients in organizing and executing their retirement income distribution strategies.

In a statement, she highlighted how her new affiliation with Raymond James lets her “run my business in an independent manner while helping to enhance client service with high-quality technology and back office support.”

“[T]hrough this alignment, I have the freedom to prepare for the long-term future of my business with a succession plan of my choosing,” she added.

The firm’s latest wirehouse addition in the Southwest comes on the heels of another Wells Fargo advisor joining its employee advisor channel in Michigan.

Before that, Raymond James extended its reach in the far-flung state of Alaska, with two advisors defecting to the firm from Wells Fargo and Merrill Lynch.