Raymond James has named longtime executive Kirk Bell as president of its Independent Contractor Division, effective April 1, elevating a nearly three-decade veteran to oversee one of the firm’s key growth engines.
Bell, who currently serves as division director of Raymond James Financial Services, will take on the expanded role as part of both the firm’s senior leadership team and the Private Client Group’s executive leadership ranks. He succeeds Shannon Reid, who left the firm late last year to become president of Osaic.
The move formalizes Bell’s leadership over a division that has been central to Raymond James’ push to attract and retain independent advisors. The firm has continued to invest in its supported independence model as competition intensifies across the channel.
“Over his nearly 26 years with the firm, Kirk has embodied Raymond James’ culture and values and consistently led from a people-first approach,” Private Client Group President Tash Elwyn said in a statement. “He has spent decades helping advisors achieve their goals with a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities that define the independent advisor experience.”
Bell said he plans to focus on strengthening advisor relationships and building on the division’s recent momentum. “Supporting and providing guidance to independent advisors has long been a passion of mine, and I’m honored to be selected as president of ICD,” he said. “I look forward to drawing on decades of experience and best practices as I meet advisors and their staff across the country and continue to build on our momentum.”
The leadership transition follows a period of strong growth for Raymond James’ Private Client Group, which reported $1.71 trillion in client assets at the end of 2025, up 15% year over year. Net new assets also surged, reaching $30.9 billion in the fourth quarter, more than doubling from the prior year period.
In conjunction with the change, interim president David Sisemore will return to his prior role as division director through the end of the fiscal year before transitioning into a consulting position ahead of his planned retirement in December.
Raymond James has nearly 9,000 advisors across its employee and independent channels, with a significant portion operating within its independent model, underscoring the importance of Bell’s new role as the firm looks to sustain recruiting and asset growth.
