Raymond James welcomes $400 million advisor team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Raymond James welcomed financial advisors Gus Panos, Jason Firek, CFP®, and John Gaynor, CPFA, CRPC®, to Raymond James & Associates (RJA) – the firm’s traditional employee broker/dealer – in Auburn Hills, Michigan, according to John Kuklenski, Northern divisional director for RJA.
The advisor trio operates as Panos Firek Wealth Management and joins the firm from Merrill Lynch, where they previously managed more than $400 million in client assets and had over $4 million in annual production. Also joining the team at Raymond James are financial planning consultant Jennifer Pulcini, senior client service associate Nicole Yates and practice business manager Amanda Fredericks. The team provides its clients, who include many automotive company executives, business owners, professionals and multigenerational families, a broad spectrum of comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services, including individual portfolio design, retirement and estate planning, insurance and 401(k) corporate retirement plans.
“We were drawn to Raymond James because the firm puts clients’ interests first while providing advisors world class capabilities to deliver comprehensive wealth management services,” said Firek, managing director. “We want the freedom to continue to grow our business in the manner we desire and in service to our clients, not as dictated by someone else.”
“Like many others before us,” added managing director Panos, “we were attracted to the independent culture of Raymond James. We discovered as we did our due diligence that ‘client-first’ was not just a slogan – but the essence of the firm. Advisors are given tremendous support and flexibility, provided superior resources and technology tools, and allowed to put our clients’ interests ahead of anything else.”
Panos began his financial services career in 1991. In 2000, he joined Morgan Stanley, where he met Firek, and in 2007 they moved to Merrill Lynch. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Michigan State University and in 2019 was recognized by Forbes magazine as one of the Best-in-State Wealth Advisors.*
Firek has been in the financial services industry since 2002 when he joined Morgan Stanley, and in 2007 he moved to Merrill Lynch. He is a graduate of Hope College in Holland, Michigan, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. While at Hope, he spent a year in Chicago working for the Bank of New York on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. In 2007, he obtained his Certified Financial Planner™ certification and in 2019 was recognized by Forbes as one of the Best-in-State Wealth Advisors.*
Gaynor, vice president and senior financial advisor, joined the industry and the Panos Firek team in 2003 at Merrill Lynch. He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Wayne State University and has attained the Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM designation as well as the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor1.
“Gus, Jason and John lead a successful, premier financial advisory practice. With shared values and a client-first approach, they are an outstanding addition to Raymond James,” said Daniel Wisniewski, Auburn Hills branch manager. “They are the total package, and I am delighted they and their staff chose Raymond James as the firm with whom they can partner and grow their practice.”
About Raymond James & Associates
Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC, which has built a national reputation for more than 50 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 7,800 financial advisors throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. Total client assets are $785 billion. Additional information is available at www.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.
Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) is a professional financial planning designation awarded by the College for Financial Planning
1 The Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) credential is issued by the National Association of Plan Advisors and demonstrates an advisor has knowledge and expertise and a commitment to working with retirement plans.
*The Forbes ranking of Best‐In‐State Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of 7 years of experience, and the algorithm weighs factors like revenue trends, AUM, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their practices and approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Out of 29,334 advisors nominated by their firms, 3,477 received the award. This ranking is not indicative of advisor’s future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of individual clients’ experience. Neither Raymond James nor any of its Financial Advisors or RIA firms pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating. Raymond James is not affiliated with Forbes or Shook Research, LLC.