The latest senior wealth management executive moves in North America.

Raymond James
Raymond James welcomed financial advisors David Alford and Claudia Tapara to its employee advisor channel. The team is based in Frisco, Texas.

Alford and Tapara join from Merrill Lynch, where they previously managed about $160 million in client assets. The Frisco office, which is part of the North Texas-Arkansas Complex, is managed by Jeremy Silvas. The team operates as Alford & Associates Wealth Management Group of Raymond James.

Alford has been in the financial services industry for over 28 years. He began his career in 1987 at Carty & Company, and also worked at Lehman Brothers and successor Smith Barney before joining UBS in 2008 and Merrill Lynch in 2012. Today, Alford provides investment strategies through the use of equities, fixed income securities and more through Raymond James.

Tapara has spent the last seven years at Merrill Lynch, where she began her financial services career. She earned her bachelor’s degree in finance with a minor in economics from the University of North Texas. Tapara also earned her Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor® (CRPC®) designation and attained the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation from the Investments and Wealth Institute™ (The Institute) through the Yale School of Management.

Raymond James
Raymond James has welcomed financial advisor Hans Asoera to its employee advisor channel. Asorera is based in Burlington, Vermont.

Asoera operates as Peregrine Wealth Management of Raymond James and joins from Edward Jones, where he managed more than $255 million in client assets for a variety of clients, including small business owners, retirees and sudden wealth recipients. Joining him at Raymond James are senior client service associates Andrea MacLeod and Tracy LaPan.

With more than 30 years of financial sector experience, Asoera began is career in 1989 as a financial advisor with Edward Jones. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Hanover College and an MBA in strategic management from Norwich University. He has also earned the Accredited Asset Management Specialist® designation.

Financial Planning Association
Lauren Schadle is reportedly standing down from her post as chief executive of the Financial Planning Association after nearly eight years in the role. 

Schadle has worked in leadership roles with the FPA for more than 20 years, previously serving as associate executive director and chief operating officer before assuming her role as CEO in October 2012, the report said. It was unable to state her future plans.

The FPA has reportedly appointed Patrick Mahoney as interim CEO, with immediate effect, while the association’s board of directors conduct a formal search for a permanent successor, according to a release from the organization.