RIA looks to seasoned sales hand to kickstart business development efforts. Registered investment advisory Symmetry Partners has hired Wall Street veteran Robin Sweeny to help the Glastonbury, Conn.-based firm execute its strategic planning.

"I'm thrilled to be able to apply my experience to a young, vibrant company with such terrific prospects," says Sweeny.

Family

Sweeny was lured out of retirement by her brother, Patrick Sweeny, a principal of Symmetry.

"Symmetry has experienced some very rapid growth within the last few years and we wanted to have someone on the team with depth of experience in both the industry and in management to help develop our business and build out our team," says Patrick Sweeny.

Sweeny rose through the ranks of PaineWebber's municipal bond department, ultimately serving 15 years directing sales for all municipals; a position she retained after UBS acquired PaineWebber in 2001. She left UBS in 2005.

David Connelly, another Symmetry principal says the firm is "exceptionally fortunate to have a professional of Robin's caliber join the firm." Her primarily role, adds Connelly, will be to help "formulate our vision and implement our strategic plan."

Symmetry manages or sub-advises more than $2.5 billion in client assets. The firm says it "employs a passive approach to portfolio management, utilizing broad diversification across asset classes and increased exposure to small cap and value stocks to create structured investment portfolios."

Financial Advisor magazine named Symmetry the fastest growing RIA in the nation based on 2005 asset growth. -FWR

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