A three-person advisory team managing nearly $1.8 billion in assets under management is joining Wells Fargo's network of independent financial advisors from Morgan Stanley, the website office announced Friday.

Chicago-based Frank Devincentis, Craig Eyler and Molly Girard are joining Wells Fargo Financial Network (FiNet) under the firm name Verismo Financial. The trio is joined by supporting cast Jennifer Huns, Scott Tucker, Yaelle Kimmelman, Tracy Weidman, Tess Kearns and Sophie Spence.

“It's always been a dream of ours to open our own business, and after many years working for a large organization, we realized that being independent was the best way to truly serve our clients,” Devincentis said.

Devincentis joined the industry in 2004 with Citigroup before joining Morgan Stanley in 2009, according to SEC filings. Eyler joined Citigroup in 2001 before traveling with Devincentis to Morgan Stanley a few years later, while Girard joined Morgan Stanley in 2021, according to SEC filings.

Wells Fargo FiNet Illinois Market Leader Jennifer Johnson said in a statement that she was “thrilled” the trio was joining the wirehouse's indie channel.

“They operate like a family, centering every discussion around how to ensure their customers and team are taken care of while building a business they can be proud of,” she said.

At the beginning of this year, Wells Fargo promoted Erik Karanik in the newly created role of head of independent solutions for the firm's Wealth Management and Investments business. He is focusing on growth initiatives at FiNet, the firm's IBD, and First Clearing, Wells Fargo's clearing and custody unit.

Karanik has been with the firm since the 1990s, and John Tyers, head of the independent advisory group and president of FiNet, reports to him. As of the end of 2022, Wells had a total councilor count of 12,027, although the television bureau is no longer reporting that number.