A sizable wealth management team has departed Morgan Stanley for Wells Fargo’s Financial Networ, reflecting the continued momentum behind advisor transitions into the independent channel—especially among large, mature practices.
According to reporting by The Gershman Group, advisors Alexander “Sandy” Fischman and Shalom Azar—who were producing roughly $12 million in annual revenue—made the move to FiNet following a relatively brief stint at Morgan Stanley.
The Fischman Azar Group includes:
- Alexander “Sandy” Fischman — Senior Financial Advisor
- Shalom Azar — Senior Financial Advisor
- Solomon Tobal — Financial Advisor
- Tomer Mizrahi — Financial Advisor
Why teams keep choosing “supported independence”
For many high-performing practices, the calculus increasingly centers on a mix of economics and autonomy. Platforms like FiNet are often positioned as a middle ground: advisors can pursue more control over branding, client experience, and long-term business value—while still tapping a large firm’s infrastructure, platform access, and operational support.
The Gershman Group’s coverage also notes that these moves are frequently paired with broader business-building considerations, including ownership structure and ways to invest in or monetize a practice over time.
The bigger takeaway
The ongoing shift isn’t just about advisors changing firms—it’s about established teams choosing models that better align with how they want to run a business. As the independence ecosystem matures, breakaway moves like this one continue to demonstrate that the “wirehouse vs. independence” decision is increasingly part of a long-term enterprise strategy, not only a compensation discussion.
