Merrill Lynch Advisors Join WaFd Bank to Lead New RIA

Core Viewpoint - Washington Federal Bank (WaFd) is launching a new registered investment advisor, WaFd Wealth, in Seattle to meet the growing demand for integrated financial planning and wealth management solutions [1][4]. Company Overview - WaFd is a publicly traded consumer bank with approximately 208 branches across nine Western states, including Washington, Oregon, Arizona, California, and Nevada. It is the second-largest bank headquartered in Seattle, with total assets of $26.7 billion [5]. Leadership and Team - WaFd has appointed John Chavez, a former Merrill Lynch executive with 30 years of experience, as CEO of the new RIA. Bobby Campbell, also from Merrill Lynch with 15 years of experience, is serving as president [2]. - Additional key hires include Shane Parris as chief operating and financial officer, Danny Law as director of relationship management, Belle Jimeno as director of client services, and Liz Parris as director of executive initiatives, all of whom have backgrounds from Merrill Lynch [3]. Services Offered - The new wealth management firm will provide a comprehensive range of financial planning and consulting services, including business planning, cash flow forecasting, trust and estate planning, financial reporting, investment consulting, insurance planning, retirement planning, risk management, charitable giving, distribution planning, tax planning, and education planning [4].