HighTower continued its West Coast expansion Monday by adding Doug Conklin, a senior financial advisor and senior vice president of wealth management from Merrill Lynch, to Sacramento, Calif.-based Ezzell Group, a member of the HighTower Network.
Conklin will join as a managing director and transition $225 million in assets under management. The team, now called Ezzell-Conklin Group, has a total AUM of $525 million.
Conklin began his career in wealth management in 1983 with Merrill Lynch and was given the title of “First Vice President” after 18 years. Conklin was unavailable to comment on his move from Merrill Lynch.
The HighTower Network was launched in 2013 to help advisors make the move to independence and has since picked up five wealth management firms. Advisors operate as independent contractors under the HighTower brand, own 100 percent of their business and are responsible for expenses, but get technology, compliance and operational support from HighTower.
“The Network continues to drive HighTower’s growth across the country, allowing us to be the essential strategic partner to top advisors regardless of location,” said Michael Parker, HighTower’s national director of enterprise development.