Chicago, IL-headquartered HighTower has brought in Frank Epinger from Morgan Stanley Wealth Management as an executive director in Los Angeles, CA.

The firm confirmed to Family Wealth Report that the move is part of its plan to grow in California.

At Morgan Stanley, Epinger was a branch manager and senior vice president in Pasadena, CA.

He started his career in the financial advice industry over two decades ago and worked at Citigroup’s Smith Barney before joining Morgan Stanley.

HighTower is an advisor-owned firm that specializes in high net worth and institutional clients. Besides Chicago, the firm has corporate bases in New York and San Francisco, CA.