UBS Wealth Management Americas has bolstered its Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, South Carolina and Virginia offices with three group and four individual appointments.

Joining the St Petersburg, FL branch, with a production of about $4 million and assets under management of approximately $540 million, is Kilgroe Frantzis and Associates, the firm said. Led by Matthew Kilgroe, Peter Frantzis and Tommy Kidwell, the group - formerly of Merrill Lynch - will report to complex director Gregory Kadet, based in central Florida, and St Petersburg-based branch manager Jim Tarantino.

Meanwhile, in Michigan, the Cross and Vannelli Wealth Consulting Services group has joined UBS WMA's Troy complex. First vice presidents of investments James Cross and Bradford Vannelli, who also join from Merrill Lynch, lead the team, reporting to complex director Michael Gatewood. Overall, the group brings with it a production of approximately $1.69 million and AuM of more than $259 million.

The remaining group appointment is the Meridian Wealth Management team, latterly of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Based in Roanoke, VA, the team brings to the firm a production of approximately $3.2 million and over $317 million in AuM. 

Reporting to complex director Carl Chaput, the Meridian team consists of: Nelson Link, senior vice president and senior portfolio manager; Michael Kemp, senior vice president and senior portfolio manager, and financial advisor Cynthia Shively. 

Individual hires

Also in Florida, the firm said it has added two financial advisors to its Fort Myers office, in the shape of Eric Hynden, senior vice president of investments, and senior vice president Thomas Burt. 

Hynden, who previously worked at FSC Securities, joins with a production of around $1.35 million and AuM of over $156 million. Meanwhile, Burt joins from Morgan Stanley Smith Barney with a production value in the region of $1.3 million, with over $150 million in AuM. Both Hynden and Burt will report to director and branch manager Matthew Welborn.

At the same time, in New Jersey, Gregory Kenzik has joined the Paramus office, with a production of approximately $2.8 million and AuM of about $180 million. Kenzik also joins from Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and will report to Brian Cain, executive director and complex director.

The remaining individual appointment is that of Jim Yarbrough, who enters the Greenville, SC office as vice president of investments. Latterly of Scott & Stringfellow, Yarbrough brings to UBS a production of approximately $1.17 million and AuM of over $131 million. Yarbrough will report to H Beasley, director and branch manager.