Raymond James welcomes New York advisor team managing over $1 billion in assets
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Raymond James recently welcomed a financial advisor team of five to Raymond James & Associates (RJA) – the firm's employee advisor channel – in Williamsville, New York, according to Kelly Anderson, Northeast regional director for RJA.
The team, led by Christopher Scott, CFP®, Kevin Klein, CFP®, Michael Gates, CRPC™, and Salvatore Gandolfo, CPFA™, CRPC™, arrives from Merrill Lynch where they managed over $1 billion in client assets. They are joined by financial advisor Jeffrey Baker, CRPC™, and client relationship associates Alicia Birch, Jaclyn Greiner, Christina Ivancic and Elia Criola. As Scott Klein Gates Gandolfo Wealth Management of Raymond James, they serve business owners, endowments and foundations, families and individuals, retirees and retirement plans as part of RJA’s Williamsville branch, led by complex manager Gary Hernandez.
“The culture and leadership at Raymond James were key factors in our decision to transition to the firm. Knowing that much of the firm’s leadership comes from a financial advising background means they have experienced the same policies we do, fostering a deeper sense of accountability and shared values,” said Scott. “It’s a refreshing approach that aligns perfectly with our focus on serving clients.”
A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, Scott brings over 25 years of financial services industry experience to his role as managing director, wealth management. He began his career in 1999 and was affiliated with Merrill Lynch until this transition. His experience is backed by a degree from the University of New Orleans.
Klein, managing director, joins Raymond James after a more than 20-year tenure at Merrill Lynch, where he began his career in 2005. He holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation, a degree from John Carroll University and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.
Gates began his career at Merrill Lynch, serving for over 14 years at the firm. As managing director, he holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ designation and his industry experience is backed by a degree in business management from D’Youville University.
Gandolfo is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor™ professional with a degree in finance and economics from the University of Pittsburgh. He brings over 16 years of financial services industry experience to his role as managing director.
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome Christopher, Kevin, Michael, Salvatore and their team to Raymond James. Their dedication to client service and alignment with our firm’s values make them an impactful addition to our Northeastern division,” said Anderson. “We look forward to supporting their success and continued growth.”
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 8,800 financial advisors throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. Total client assets are approximately $1.54 trillion as of Aug. 31, 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.
CRPC™ and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ are registered service marks of the College for Financial Planning.