Fiduciary Trust Taps Rivals for Talent in Northeast Expansion Push

By Brenda Thompson

NEW YORK, NY – April 08, 2026 – Fiduciary Trust International is intensifying its expansion in the American Northeast, making a significant statement by hiring three senior portfolio managers from major industry rivals. The move underscores a broader strategy of leveraging deep-pocketed backing from parent company Franklin Templeton to attract elite talent and solidify its presence in key wealth corridors.

The firm, a global wealth manager with over $113 billion in assets under management, announced the appointments of Lisa Thors in Lincoln, MA, Anthony Peros in Radnor, PA, and Tim Herpertz at its New York headquarters. The new hires previously held senior roles at powerhouse firms including Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, and Deutsche Bank, signaling Fiduciary Trust International’s growing ability to compete for top-tier professionals in a fiercely competitive market.

This talent acquisition campaign is not a series of isolated hires but the latest phase in a multi-year strategy to build regional dominance. “The continued growth of our national footprint is a testament to the reputation we have earned among high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, foundations, and endowments in regional markets throughout the country,” said Gene Todd, president and head of regional markets at Fiduciary Trust International, in a statement. He added that the new managers “are outstanding senior wealth and investment management professionals who specialize in helping clients with complex financial needs achieve their long-term goals.”

A Calculated Play for Regional Dominance

The strategic placement of these new portfolio managers is directly tied to Fiduciary Trust International's recent acquisition-fueled growth. The firm’s presence in Lincoln, Massachusetts, was established through its March 2020 acquisition of Athena Capital Advisors, an investment advisor with nearly $6 billion in assets. The addition of Lisa Thors to this office is a clear move to deepen the expertise and client service capabilities of that regional hub.

Similarly, the Radnor, Pennsylvania office, just outside Philadelphia, became a key strategic location following the May 2020 acquisition of The Pennsylvania Trust Company, which brought approximately $4 billion in assets. Placing Anthony Peros in Radnor reinforces the firm’s commitment to this affluent market, building on the foundation laid by that acquisition.

This pattern of acquire-and-reinforce demonstrates a deliberate, long-term playbook: first, establish a physical and operational foothold in a target market through a strategic acquisition, and then bolster that presence by parachuting in top-level talent poached from the industry’s biggest players. This strategy appears to be paying dividends, with the firm’s assets under management and administration growing significantly from approximately $71 billion in early 2020 to over $113 billion by the end of 2025.

Winning the War for Wealth Management Talent

The caliber of the new hires speaks volumes about Fiduciary Trust International’s ascending position in the wealth management hierarchy. Each brings a formidable resume and deep experience serving the ultra-high-net-worth clients the firm targets.

• Lisa Thors, joining the Lincoln office, arrives from Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Her career includes a 16-year tenure at the Boston-based powerhouse Wellington Management Co., where she rose to managing director. Her background in managing portfolios for multi-generational private wealth clients, combined with her deep roots in the New England financial community and degrees from Yale and Harvard, makes her a significant asset for the firm’s Boston-area operations.

• Anthony Peros, CFA, now in the Radnor office, was previously a director and senior portfolio manager at BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager. His career also includes senior portfolio management roles at Citi Investment Management and a decade at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. His expertise in crafting multi-asset-class portfolios for ultra-high-net-worth and institutional clients is precisely what is needed to compete in the sophisticated Philadelphia wealth market.

• Tim Herpertz, CFA, joins the New York headquarters after more than 12 years at Deutsche Bank’s wealth management division. There, he was a director, senior portfolio manager, and a member of the U.S. regional investment committee. His experience managing multi-asset strategies for a global client base and his fluency in German enhance the firm’s capabilities in the world’s most competitive financial center.

Successfully recruiting three seasoned managers from such prominent institutions in a short span is a clear signal of Fiduciary Trust International's appeal as a destination for top talent.

The Franklin Templeton Advantage

Underpinning this aggressive growth and talent acquisition is the stability and scale of Fiduciary Trust International's parent company, Franklin Templeton. As a wholly owned subsidiary of a global investment giant with over $1.7 trillion in assets under management, Fiduciary Trust International operates with a significant advantage. It combines the personalized, client-centric feel of a specialized wealth management boutique with the vast resources, cutting-edge technology, and global research platform of a financial behemoth.

This dual identity is a powerful recruiting tool. It offers prospective portfolio managers the opportunity to work in a more focused, high-touch environment while still having access to the institutional-grade infrastructure and intellectual capital of a global leader. This structure not only helps in attracting talent but also provides a compelling value proposition for clients, offering tailored, sophisticated advice backed by immense analytical power. The parent company's strategic focus on diversifying its business and expanding its client reach aligns perfectly with its subsidiary's targeted regional growth, creating a symbiotic relationship that fuels mutual success.