An advisor who managed more than $500 million in client assets as wealth advisor at Wells Fargo is joining Summit Trail Advisors as the first hire for that firm’s Seattle office.
Michelle Rudd has 30 years of experience in the industry, 17 of which were with Wells Fargo. She specializes in Pacific Northwest ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) clients, including executives and business owners. Rudd said the goal was to better serve those types of clients with Summit Trail Advisors, which is a member of Dynasty Financial Partners’ Network of independent financial advisory firms.
“UHNW clients demand sophisticated investments, innovative technology, full transparency with fees and terms, and most importantly, alignment of interests,” she said. “Summit Trail Advisors is designed and dedicated to serving the unique needs of the ultra-high-net-worth client.”
Rudd’s hiring marks the opening of Summit’s Seattle office; in addition to this new office, the firm operates offices in Chicago, Boston, New York and San Francisco. Summit Trail Advisors has been interested in expanding into Seattle since 2017, according to a 2017 interview with Jack Petersen, the founder and managing partner of Summit. The firm was founded in July 2015 by a group of former Barclays advisors (including Petersen) and currently has $5.5 billion in assets under management. Petersen said Summit was “thrilled” about Rudd’s hiring.
“She is an advisor with deep expertise in life planning and family governance,” he said. “Michelle is well respected in the Seattle business community and a natural leader who will help us build the premiere UHNW wealth advisory practice in the Pacific Northwest.”
