$1.5B Advisory Team Bolts for Ameriprise from UBS

Q5 Wealth Management, a financial advisory team managing $1.5 billion in assets, has joined the independent channel of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. from UBS Financial Services.

The 11-person team is led by Omar Bitar, Brad Klein, Jeremy Saba, Mike Persia and his son, Edward Persia and chose the new broker-dealer to “elevate their high-net-worth clients’ experience,” the firm said. The team specializes in advising on complex financial situations for individuals planning for retirement, families and business owners.

“Our team continually evaluates the way we’re doing business to ensure we’re delivering them the highest value. We saw an opportunity with Ameriprise to enhance our client offering and better position our practice for future growth,” said Mike Persia.

Bitar joined UBS from Morgan Stanley in 2015 after working in the financial services industry since 2007, according to BrokerCheck. Saba, who entered the business in 1998, also came to UBS from Morgan Stanley in 2015.

Mike Persia started his industry career in 1980 and joined UBS from Merrill Lynch in 2012, according to his BrokerCheck records. Ed Persia began his career at Merrill in 2011 and left for UBS in 2012. Klein began with Merrill in 1991 and left for UBS in 2012.

With offices in Beaumont and Houston, TX, the team includes their supporting staff, investment specialists Kevin Wagner and Ashley Carter, client service managers Sherri Thompson, Brandy Head and Taryn King, and client concierge Dena McNiel.

Ameriprise has over 10,300 brokers working both under employee and independent channels. Its employee channel consists of more than 2,200 advisors and 8,100 franchisees.