Raymond James welcomes California advisor team managing over $300 million
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Raymond James recently welcomed financial advisors Steven Hocking, CFP®, Jennifer Hocking, CRPSTM, C(k)P®, and Ryan Mueller, C(k)P®, to Raymond James & Associates (RJA) – the firm's employee advisor channel – according to John Simmons, California regional director for RJA.
Based in Irvine, California, the advisors operate as THG Retirement Solutions of Raymond James and are joined by senior client service associate Jennifer Uy and service and marketing specialist Karla Castro. The group specializes in financial planning and wealth management for corporate retirement plans, business owners and individuals preparing for or living in retirement. They previously managed over $300 million in client assets at UBS.
"Raymond James stands out in the financial services industry for its client-first approach—a philosophy that resonates deeply with us. In my 25 years within this industry, it is rare to encounter a firm that not only pledges to prioritize client interests but also consistently acts on this commitment," said Steven. "The firm's record of stability and resilience assures us that we have a reliable partner backing up our fiduciary standard of care, capable of supporting our clients through various market conditions without taking outsized risks."
With more than two decades in the financial services industry, Steven has extensive experience in the retirement planning space. He recently spent 15 years at UBS and previously held positions at Merrill Lynch and Farmers Financial Solutions. Steven graduated from California State University, Fullerton College of Business and Economics and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional.
"It became apparent to our team that to meet the long-term goals of our clients, we had to make a strategic decision driven by two primary considerations, each centered around our core mission: to deliver a quality experience for our clients and their employees and to uphold our fiduciary responsibilities with integrity," said Jennifer.
With a background in human resources, Jennifer began her financial services career in 2002 with Toyota Financial Services. She joined UBS as an advisor in 2015. Jennifer earned her MBA in business from California State University, Fullerton and attained the Certified 401(k) Professional and Chartered Retirement Plan SpecialistTM professional designations.
"Access to a comprehensive suite of technology, tools and resources for our clients was of the utmost importance," said Mueller. "This move has allowed us to enhance our service model by providing expanded communication channels and offerings for our clients using top-of-the-line technology resources."
Mueller brings nearly a decade of financial services experience to the firm. He previously managed operations at a boutique insurance brokerage before joining UBS as an advisor in 2018. Muller earned an MBA from California State University, Fullerton College of Business and Economics and holds the Certified 401(k) Professional designation.
"Empowering advisors with essential tools and resources to prioritize their clients while advancing their business is paramount at Raymond James. This value proposition strongly resonates with highly skilled advisor teams and often yields significant benefits for their practice," said Simmons. "We're thrilled to extend a warm welcome to this talented team as we intensify our efforts to expand our footprint in the California market."
About Raymond James & Associates
Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (RJA), member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC, is an industry leader in financial planning and wealth management services for individuals, high-net-worth families, corporations and municipalities. RJA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE-RJF), one of the nation's premier diversified financial services companies with approximately 8,700 financial advisors throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. Total client assets are approximately $1.42 trillion as of Feb. 29, 2024. Additional information is available at raymondjames.com.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.