Focus Financial Partners has made five hires from firms including Goldman Sachs and HighTower Advisors, as the US-based partnership of independent wealth management firms looks to bolster its business and expand its leadership team.

Focus Financial Partners has made five hires from firms including Goldman Sachs and HighTower Advisors, as the US-based partnership of independent wealth management firms looks to bolster its business and expand its leadership team.

Pradeep Jayaraman – latterly of Goldman Sachs – joins as a vice president in charge of business development and acquisition activities, with a focus on recruiting top advisors and RIA firms.

In his role as vice president at Goldman Sachs, Jayaraman advised financial services clients on merger and acquisition transactions, debt and equity offerings. He was previously an associate within Citigroup’s investment banking division.  

Robert Freedman, who joins Focus as a senior manager from HighTower Advisors, will lead the marketing of Focus Connections, the firm’s offering which supports advisors undergoing the transition to RIA status.

Specifically, Freedman work on social media, digital marketing and business development strategies to attract breakaway advisors and support transitioning teams market their new firm. He held a similar role at his former firm.

Focus has also strengthened its succession planning offering, bringing in Anita Venkiteswaran as a vice president to provide business development strategies to Focus Successions. Through this program, advisors seeking a succession plan can partner with existing Focus firms.

Venkiteswaran formerly worked at private equity firms Audax Private Equity and CI Capital Partners, responsible for sourcing, evaluating and structuring transactions. Before that, she was at McKinsey & Company, helping clients implement strategic and operational initiatives.

Meanwhile, Michael McGowan has been named assistant general counsel – a role in which he will work with the general counsel on internal and external legal affairs, including mergers and acquisitions, for Focus and its partners. He latterly served as a corporate associate within the capital markets, private equity and M&A groups at Vinson & Elkin.

Lastly, Ilse Hamblin fills the newly-created position of manager of information sharing, established to promote the sharing of best practices among Focus’ partners and employees in areas including investments, marketing, technology and operations.

Recent acquisitions

In August alone, Focus added Grand Rapids, MI-based investment advisor, LaFleur & Godfrey, and MI-based independent investment advisor Telemus Capital Partners, to its roster of wealth management firms.

The former firm has around $400 million in client assets and provides investment management and financial planning services to high net worth clients. The addition of Telemus, meanwhile - which has $2.2 billion in client assets and offers advisory services to some 600 clients nationwide - was part of the firm's expansion plans in the Midwest.

Focus Financial Partners was founded in 2006 and has over $65 billion in client assets. With 27 partners, the firm provides wealth management, benefit and investment consulting services to individuals, families, employers and institutions. It has offices in New York and San Francisco, CA.