Wealth Management Giants Bolster Leadership Ranks with Strategic Veteran Hires

The ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) wealth management landscape is witnessing a significant talent shuffle, as three prominent financial institutions—Oxford Financial Group, Fiduciary Trust International, and BMO—have announced key executive appointments. By tapping seasoned veterans from industry titans like Goldman Sachs, Northern Trust, and Baker Tilly, these firms are signaling a concerted effort to deepen their footprint and enhance service delivery for the most affluent clients across New York, Los Angeles, and Milwaukee.

As wealth management becomes increasingly complex, requiring a sophisticated blend of tax strategy, estate planning, and alternative investment oversight, firms are prioritizing the recruitment of leaders who possess both technical expertise and the ability to manage the intricate needs of multi-generational families.

Oxford Financial Group Expands New York Presence with Goldman Sachs Hire

In a move underscoring its long-term commitment to the East Coast, Carmel, Indiana-based registered investment advisor (RIA) Oxford Financial Group has appointed Eric D. Lipkind as a managing director in its New York office. Lipkind joins the firm following a distinguished tenure as a private wealth advisor at Goldman Sachs, where he led a high-profile team dedicated to serving UHNW families and select institutional clients.

Lipkind’s background is rooted in the high-pressure environment of institutional finance. Before his time at Goldman Sachs, he honed his skills at Bloomberg, where he specialized in sales and analytics. During that period, he was instrumental in supporting sell-side institutions and developing go-to-market strategies for the firm’s expansive salesforce. This dual experience—navigating both the data-driven world of Bloomberg and the relationship-heavy private wealth sector at Goldman Sachs—positions him well for the multidisciplinary nature of Oxford’s advisory model.

At Oxford, Lipkind’s mandate is to provide comprehensive oversight for his clients, helping families synthesize investment management with estate planning, tax strategy, and insurance administration. The appointment comes at a time of steady growth for Oxford, which reported more than $38 billion in assets under advisement as of December 31, 2024.

Lipkind will work closely with an established leadership cohort in New York, including Chief Executive Jeffrey H. Thomasson and co-managing partner Kristina Baron. According to Thomasson, the hire is part of a deliberate strategy to scale the firm’s human capital in one of the world’s most competitive financial hubs.

"Over the last 15 years, we have been building in New York with intention, bringing on experienced professionals who can handle the complex needs of the families we serve," Thomasson noted.

Beyond his professional credentials, Lipkind has demonstrated a commitment to community impact. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, he co-founded a nonprofit organization focused on supplying essential equipment to emergency responders in New Orleans. His addition to the team follows a broader hiring trend at Oxford, which earlier in June expanded its Midwestern operations by appointing Neal Davis and Ashlee Walton as managing directors in its Cincinnati office—marking the fifth and sixth additions to that specific location within a single year.

Fiduciary Trust International Secures Northern Trust’s LA Leader

In Southern California, Fiduciary Trust International, the wealth management arm of Franklin Templeton, has made a high-profile play to strengthen its Los Angeles operations. The firm announced the hiring of Ayla Kalani, who joins the organization as a regional managing director for the Los Angeles market.

Kalani’s transition is notable, given her previous role as the head of Northern Trust’s wealth management business across Los Angeles and California’s Central Coast. During her tenure at Northern Trust, she was responsible for recruiting and developing high-performing staff across investment, trust, banking, and asset management teams. Her deep industry roots also include a decade-long stint at J.P. Morgan, where she served as a market team lead, driving significant growth across northern Los Angeles and the Central Coast.

The regional managing director role at Fiduciary Trust had been filled on an interim basis by Gene Todd, the firm’s head of sales. By securing a leader with Kalani’s local expertise and operational track record, Fiduciary Trust aims to accelerate its growth in a region defined by high concentrations of wealth and complex, multi-faceted client requirements.

Kalani will be working alongside senior portfolio manager Andrew "Drew" Chan, who joined the Los Angeles office in October 2026. Chan’s expertise in alternative investments and integrated tax and wealth planning is expected to complement Kalani’s leadership in business development and team management.

"Southern California is home to individuals, families, and institutions with diverse and often complex wealth management needs," Kalani stated regarding her new role. Her deep integration into the local business community is evidenced by her service on the board of the CASA Pacifica Center for Children & Families in Ventura County and her previous tenure on the board of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. Fluent in both English and Persian, Kalani is expected to leverage her linguistic and cultural reach to engage with the region’s diverse ultra-high-net-worth demographic.

BMO Taps Milwaukee Veteran to Lead Eastern Wisconsin Market

While the coastal markets are seeing significant movement, the Midwest continues to be a strategic stronghold for major banks. BMO has announced that Bill Grady, a 26-year veteran of the Wisconsin financial advisory sector, will lead its Eastern Wisconsin wealth management market as managing director.

Grady moves to BMO from Baker Tilly, where he provided high-level advisory services focused on the intersection of personal wealth, tax optimization, and business planning. His deep ties to the region are both professional and academic; he is a Wisconsin native who earned his degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Marquette University Law School. Over the course of his quarter-century career, he has built a reputation for navigating the specific financial hurdles faced by business owners and wealthy families across the state.

In his new capacity, Grady will manage a team of 12 advisors and private bankers. His focus will be on the high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth segments, ensuring that BMO’s wealth management offerings are effectively integrated with the firm’s broader commercial banking capabilities. He succeeds Alex Kramer, who has transitioned into the role of head of sales enablement at BMO. Grady will report directly to Derek Weatherford, the regional president for BMO’s Northern Region.

The appointment of Grady is part of a larger initiative by BMO to align its wealth management operations more closely with its commercial banking relationships. This approach, which emphasizes the "one-bank" model, has been evident in other recent moves, including the bank’s decision earlier this year to hire a Northern Trust alum to spearhead its San Diego market.

As these firms continue to invest in senior leadership, the overarching trend is clear: the era of "one-size-fits-all" wealth management has largely given way to a model that demands highly localized, specialized, and deeply experienced leadership. Whether in the boardrooms of New York, the diverse economic landscape of Southern California, or the industrial heartland of Wisconsin, firms are betting that the best way to secure their future is by bringing on the industry’s most seasoned talent.