World Investment Advisors Taps Industry Veteran as New President
World Investment Advisors, a registered investment adviser and division of World Insurance Associates LLC, announced the appointment of Edward Walters as president. Walters will oversee WIA’s operations, growth initiatives, and adviser and client experience platforms while working closely with the executive team to expand its presence as a leading presence in the wealth management industry.
As part of this announcement, current chief executive officer Troy Hammond will step down at year-end but will remain with the firm during the transition period to ensure continuity and support during Walters’ onboarding.
“Ed is a visionary leader with a proven track record of executing successful strategies that transform financial services businesses,” said Rich Eknoian, CEO of parent company World Insurance Associates. “We are confident Ed’s leadership will accelerate our ability to deliver innovative solutions, empower advisers, and create long-term value for our clients and stakeholders. I am deeply grateful to Troy Hammond, whose contributions to World Investment Advisors over the years have been immense.”
According to WIA, Walters is a seasoned C-suite leader with more than 20 years of experience across some of the industry’s most respected firms, including Osaic, Lincoln Financial Group, T. Rowe Price, Janney Montgomery Scott, and Ferris Baker Watts. Notably, Walters served as chief operating officer and head of wealth management at the $70 billion Lincoln Financial Network, part of the Lincoln Financial Group. There, he reportedly led a growth strategy that quintupled earnings and supported approximately 1,500 financial professionals.
Earlier in his career, Walters developed and launched T. Rowe Price’s ActivePlus Portfolios, a first-of-its-kind robo-adviser, according to the company. While there, he also expanded the firm’s managed account platform globally. At Janney Montgomery Scott, Walters spearheaded the firm’s transition from a transactional brokerage to a fee-based wealth management model, driving sustained double-digit growth.
“I am honored to join World Investment Advisors at such an exciting stage in its evolution,” said Walters. “Together, we will build a platform designed to serve multigenerational investors, thoughtfully use technology to meet clients where they are, and deliver superior, consistent service that strengthens the adviser-client relationship. I look forward to working with the team to drive innovation, expand our reach, and continue fostering a culture of growth.”
As previously reported by AltsWire, WIA added industry veteran Kevin Ryan as the firm’s CFO last year.
World Investment Advisors, formerly Pensionmark Financial Group, is a network of more than 630 advisers and staff across more than 100 U.S. locations with thousands of retirement plan and wealth management clients.
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