Warren-Fantano Wealth Management, a team managing over $1 billion in client assets, has joined Janney Montgomery Scott LLC and will operate from the firm’s newly opened Middletown office and existing Lewes office in Delaware. 

The team, led by financial advisors Peni Warren, managing director, and Chris Fantano, managing director, moved from Merrill Lynch along with senior registered private client associate Crystal Van Lenten and senior private client associate Catherine Huffman. Fantano will serve as branch manager for the Middletown office as Janney expands its Delaware presence with the addition of the experienced wealth management team.

“Joining Janney allows us to serve our clients in the way we believe is best,” Warren said in a statement. “The firm’s boutique size and collaborative culture give us the flexibility to run our practice, while providing the resources that allows us to continue delivering the service and advice our clients have come to expect.”

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Warren brings 43 years of experience to Janney, having started her career in financial services in 1982. She holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation and serves on boards including The Delaware State Fair, Bayhealth Foundation, Delaware Community Foundation, and The Fund for Women.

Fantano has over 20 years of experience in financial services and holds Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designations. He graduated from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and works with multi-generational families, private foundations, and business owners.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Peni, Chris, and the Warren-Fantano Wealth Management team to Janney,” Bob Steinke, regional director with Janney Montgomery Scott, said in a statement. “They have built an impressive practice grounded in long-standing client relationships and comprehensive advice.”

The move comes about one month after Janney Montgomery named Tony Miller as CEO. 

That followed news in July that Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company would sell Janney to private equity firm KKR after 42 years of ownership. That deal closed last year, and it allows Janney to create a broad-based equity ownership program for its 2,300 employees.

As of the end of last year, Janney had over $150 billion in assets under advisement.