Wilmington Trust Newsroom

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Wilmington Trust has promoted William T. LaFond, formerly managing director of business development for Wilmington Trust’s Family Wealth group, to head the company’s Wealth Advisory business in the Washington, D.C. and Richmond regions. In addition, four additional senior wealth advisors were hired for Wilmington Trust’s expansion in the Washington, D.C. region.
 

Most recently, LaFond oversaw a team of wealth specialists in the company’s Delaware region with expertise in planning, fiduciary services, investments, and private banking. He has more than 15 years of experience in investment management and financial planning specializing in risk management, estate planning, and investment services.
 

Prior to joining Wilmington Trust in 2004, LaFond advised high-net-worth clients and their families as a vice president and financial planner with U.S. Trust Company of New York. LaFond holds a Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall University School of Law and earned his bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Scranton.
 

The new senior wealth advisors for Wilmington Trust’s D.C. office are:

The four wealth advisors specialize in serving high-net-worth individuals and families. They join Wilmington Trust from Wells Fargo Private Bank.
 

“We are pleased to offer our clients access to the leadership and talent that these professionals bring to our wealth advisory team in D.C. and Richmond,” said Mark Graham, executive vice president and head of Wilmington Trust’s Wealth Advisory. “Under Bill’s leadership we will continue our commitment to growing and investing in our wealth advisory business in this market.”
 

Behar joins Wilmington Trust with more than 27 years of wealth management experience. Most recently, he was senior trust and fiduciary advisor with Wells Fargo Private Bank. Earlier in his career, he worked for UBS Trust Company, Wachovia Trust Company, and Riggs & Co. Behar holds a Juris Doctor degree from George Washington University National Law Center and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Columbia University. He is a member of the D.C. Bar Association, Estate, Trust & Probate Section; the D.C. Estate Planning Council; the Maryland Estate Planning Council; and the Greater Washington Society of CPAs.
 

Hoffmeister brings more than 26 years of financial services experience, specializing in estate planning, wealth management, and tax planning. Most recently he served as senior vice president and senior

financial planner with Wells Fargo Private Bank. Earlier in his career, he served as a partner with the Washington, D.C. firm Feldesman, Tucker, Leifer, Fidell LLP. Hoffmeister holds a Juris Doctor from Washington University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois. He is a member of the D.C. Bar Association, Probate Section; Missouri Bar Association; American Bar Association; ABA Real Property and Probate Section; Washington, D.C. Estate Planning Council; AICPA; AICPA Tax Section; and the Illinois CPA Society.
 

Schoener has more than 18 years of financial services experience, specializing in wealth planning and family wealth. Prior to joining Wilmington Trust, he held senior positions with Wells Fargo Private Bank, U.S. Trust, and Charles Schwab. Schoener is a Certified Financial Planner, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from George Mason University, and is a member of the Investment Management Consultants Association and the Financial Planning Association.
 

Sohi brings more than 25 years of financial services experience to his position. Most recently, he served as senior private banker with Wells Fargo Private Bank, providing investment management, financial planning, and trust services to high-net-worth clients. Earlier in his career, he worked for U.S. Trust, First Union Bank, Perpetual Savings Bank, and Federal Home Loan Bank of America in various roles. Sohi earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation from the CFA Institute.
 

“As we expand our presence in the D.C. and Richmond markets with the combined strength of M&T and Wilmington Trust, the experience of both companies will be a driving force in the wealth management services we provide to our clients,” said Graham.