Kestra Financial, a wealth management platform, appointed Kelly Apple as head of wealth management. As the firm continues to invest in helping advisors serve their clients as complete wealth managers, Apple will lead efforts to continue strengthening and expanding Kestra’s investment, planning and advisory capabilities.
Following John Amore’s promotion to president of Kestra Financial, the firm undertook a deliberate search to define the future of its wealth management organization and identify the right leader for its next phase of growth. Apple emerged as the clear choice given her extensive leadership experience, strategic perspective and track record of building strong partnerships across the wealth management ecosystem.
In her new role, Apple will lead Kestra’s wealth management organization, bringing together the teams, resources and expertise that support advisors across investment management, high-net-worth and advanced planning, advisory solutions, retirement, insurance, alternative investments and due diligence across both Kestra Financial and its breakaway-advisor channel Kestra Private Wealth Services (Kestra PWS). She joins as Kestra continues to attract high-quality, growth-oriented advisory firms, with a focus on equipping them with the resources they need to serve clients more comprehensively.
Apple joins Kestra from BlackRock, where she spent more than 13 years, most recently as managing director and head of national accounts, leading the team responsible for the firm’s largest distribution partnerships. She brings more than two decades of leadership experience in asset management and intermediary distribution, including prior senior roles at DWS Investments and Van Kampen Investments (now Invesco), along with a track record of building scalable partnerships and high-performing teams.
“When I stepped into the role of President, our leadership team saw an opportunity to thoughtfully define what this position needed to be for the future of our business,” John Amore, president of Kestra Financial, said. “We were committed to finding the right leader to help shape our wealth management strategy, strengthen the capabilities available to advisors and position us for long-term growth. Kelly’s experience building partnerships and high-performing teams, paired with a deep understanding of what today’s advisors need to grow, will help our community of complete wealth managers thrive.”
Apple added, “Advisors today are being asked to deliver increasingly comprehensive advice across every stage of a client’s financial life. Kestra has built something unique in this industry, a strong foundation for advisors who want to grow and deepen their client relationships, and I’m excited to help expand the capabilities and resources that support their success.”
