Washington Federal Launches New Wealth Management Firm in Seattle

SEATTLE, Wash. — Washington Federal Bank (WaFd) has announced the launch of WaFd Wealth, a new registered investment advisor, in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The new firm, based in Seattle, aims to expand the bank’s offerings in wealth management.

WaFd Wealth has brought on experienced leaders from the finance industry to spearhead its operations. John Chavez, who spent 30 years at Merrill Lynch, will serve as the CEO. He is joined by Bobby Campbell, another former Merrill advisor with 15 years of experience, who will take on the role of president.

The leadership team also includes Shane Parris, who previously worked at enlyte, overseeing operations, and Danny Law, who spent 19 years at Merrill Lynch and now leads relationship management. Belle Jimeno and Liz Parris are taking positions in client services and executive initiatives, respectively.

A spokesperson for WaFd did not respond to requests for comment. On their website, the bank stated, “The demand for integrated financial planning and wealth management solutions is at an all-time high.”

WaFd Wealth plans to provide a wide range of services, including financial planning, investment consulting, tax planning, and risk management, among others. The establishment of the new firm reflects a strategic effort to fill a growing gap in the financial planning market.

According to its recent investor presentation, WaFd is publicly traded and operates about 208 branches across nine states, making it the second-largest bank headquartered in Seattle, with total assets of $26.7 billion.