The latest appointments, moves and personnel changes in the North American wealth management sector.

Raymond James Financial Institutions
Raymond James Financial Institutions (FID) has welcomed financial advisor Nick Bronson, CPFA, to First Mid Wealth Management (FMWM), part of First Mid Bank & Trust.

Bronson, based in Burlington, Iowa, who manages about $355 million in client assets, will provide clients with investment and wealth management services through Raymond James Financial Services. He was previously affiliated with LPL Financial as part of Two Rivers Bank & Trust, which was acquired by First Mid in October.

Bronson began his financial services career in 2019 with his previous firm and holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor designation. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa.

Falcon Wealth Planning
Falcon Wealth Planning, a SEC-registered investment advisory firm looking after about $1.9 billion in assets under management, has appointed David Lynch as managing director. Lynch will report directly to Gabriel Shahin, chief executive officer, and will be based at the firm’s headquarters in Ontario, California.

Lynch previously served as senior vice president and region head at Fidelity, where he oversaw 50 branches and $700 billion in assets under administration. Prior to his role at Fidelity, Lynch served in senior leadership positions at Merrill Lynch as managing director and market executive and at TD Ameritrade. Lynch has more than 35 years of experience across the wealth management industry. He will oversee advisor development efforts and help strengthen the firm’s strategic relationships with custodial partners.

Janney Montgomery Scott 
Janney Montgomery Scott has added LaCroix Wealth Management to the firm’s Roanoke, Virginia, office.

The team is led by financial advisor Brandon LaCroix, managing director, and includes Jessica Miller, senior private client associate, and Gatis Zigats, wealth planning associate. Previously with Merrill Lynch, LaCroix Wealth Management manages nearly $400 million in client assets. 

LaCroix joined Merrill Lynch in 2006 after beginning his career with a multinational insurance and financial planning firm. A graduate of Duke University with a BS in economics and a Markets and Management Certificate, he served as captain of the varsity golf team. He is a CFP® professional and holds the CPFA and CRPC™ designations. He is active with the LifeRing Foundation, the American Cancer Society, the Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame Scholarship Committee, and serves as a Duke alumni interviewer. 

Originally from Latvia, Zigats earned a law degree from the Rezekne Academy of Technologies and previously practiced law before moving to the US in 2015. Later, he worked as a relationship banker in Boston before relocating to Roanoke. He is fluent in English, Russian, and Latvian, holds the CRPC designation, and is committed to pursuing additional industry credentials.