Rockefeller poaches $1.3B Morgan Stanley team

The wealth advisory team, which caters to high-net-worth clients, is the firm's fourth recruit this year.

Rockefeller Capital Management has just added more than a billion dollars to its already substantial asset base as it welcomes a powerhouse high-net-worth advisory team.

The firm has announced that its wealth management division, Rockefeller Global Family Office, has signed Variant Path Group, a Charlotte, North Carolina-based team from Morgan Stanley.

The group includes 10 professionals led by managing director and private advisor Taylor Barden, along with senior vice president and team chief investment officer Tory Raether.

Other team members include senior vice presidents and private advisors Kristen Richards, James Freeman, and C. Lee Ives III; vice presidents and private advisors Harper Hicks and James Waters; senior client associates Alyce Noonan and Maggi Brown; and wealth management analyst Ashley Haisch.

The group will be reporting directly to Kristen Sario, southeast divisional director of Rockefeller Global Family Office.

“The Charlotte area is one of the fastest growing in the United States, and Variant Path Group brings deep ties to the community dating back more than 60 years,” Christopher Dupuy, president of Rockefeller Global Family Office, said in a statement.

Aside from being the second-largest banking center in the country, Sario said Charlotte stands out for its diversified economy – exhibiting rapid growth across transportation, technology, education, energy, and health care sectors – and its rich cultural tapestry.

“Variant Path Group will play a central role in bringing the Rockefeller experience to a growing number of current and future clients,” she said.

The Variant Path Group was recently recognized by Forbes as one of its “2024 Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams.” According to the listing, it manages a total of $1.3 billion in client assets, and caters to a clientele with a minimum account requirement of $5 million.

The group is the fourth to join Rockefeller this year, closely following Lewis Wealth Partners, another 10-person team that was recruited just last week.

“The group’s reputation for providing excellence in financial advice and client service to individuals, families, business owners, and professionals across generations makes it a perfect fit with Rockefeller’s mission and culture,” Dupuy said.