Marilyn Hoosen – a 20-year industry veteran and former Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch – is going independent, according to Stifel Independent Advisors (SIA), a subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp.
Hoosen has launched eGOLI Wealth Advisors, a boutique financial planning firm backed by SIA.
For Hoosen, who managed nearly $90 million in client assets at her previous post, the choice wasn’t about leaving Merrill – it was about building something better.
“Going independent was not a quick decision, but after extensive due diligence, it became clear that Stifel Independent Advisors offers the best platform for me to maintain the boutique culture I’ve fostered while continuing to grow by delivering the best possible service to my clients,” said Ms. Hoosen.
Her new firm, named after eGoli – the Zulu word for Johannesburg, her hometown – could be aiming to blend the intimacy of a boutique practice with the technological and research firepower of a major firm.
Hoosen’s launch aligns with the company’s Women Owners’ Network (WON) initiative, now in its second year, which helps women advisors scale their businesses with confidence and community. This year’s WON event featured author Mary Alice Monroe, according to SIA.
A Howard University alum with degrees in Psychology and African Studies, Hoosen is a fixture in the Northern Virginia civic scene and president of the Annandale Chamber of Commerce.
At eGOLI, Hoosen could be betting that personal finance and wealth management deserve personal treatment.
“Marilyn has spent the majority of her career as a financial advisor at the wirehouses, but knew it was time to break free of the constraints associated with that model,” said Tim Boostrom, Managing Director of Stifel Independent Advisors. “We’re committed to supporting Marilyn as she works to achieve her long-term goals by doing what’s best for her business and, most importantly, her clients.”
