HD Vest Enhances Executive Team with Appointment of James T. Hickey as Chief Investment Strategist

IRVING, Texas, June 15, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HD Vest, a leading independent financial services firm providing wealth management solutions, specifically through tax professionals, today announced that James T. Hickey has joined the firm as chief investment strategist.

Mr. Hickey brings more than 23 years of financial services and insurance industry experience to the firm, having most recently spent time as vice president and portfolio manager for Boston-based FDO Partners LLC, a $3 billion quant investment firm founded by Harvard Business School Professor Ken Froot. Prior to that role, he was CEO and chief investment officer of Houston-based multi-strategy investment firm and family office RiverRock Group LLC.  

In his role as chief investment strategist, Mr. Hickey will shape the firm's investment policy, execute investment strategies and lead portfolio creation and management for HD Vest's network of independent advisors. Mr. Hickey will also provide insights to HD Vest advisors about implications of macroeconomic changes.

"We are pleased to add an executive of James' caliber to the firm's executive leadership team," said Bob Oros, chief executive officer of HD Vest. "As the lead investment strategist for HD Vest, James will conduct thorough investment and economic research and will play a significant role in providing thought leadership to help our advisors stay on top of changes in the industry. Offering our advisors access to James' thought leadership around the portfolio gives them more time to focus on nurturing existing client relationships and attracting new clients to grow their practices."

Mr. Hickey will be a member of the HD Vest executive leadership team, reporting directly to Mr. Oros.

"Now more than ever, independent broker dealers must evaluate their investment strategies in the wake of uncertainty, the changing regulatory environment and other macroeconomic factors," added Mr. Hickey. "HD Vest's thoughtful investment strategy of tying wealth management together with tax planning helps clients maximize their financial planning tactics and have the potential for higher returns. I'm delighted to join the firm and help advisors navigate today's markets."

Mr. Hickey holds FINRA series 7, 24, 27, 66 and 79 licenses and is a Chartered Financial Analyst^®. He earned his Master of Business Administration, with high honors, from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania and his bachelor's degree, with high honors, from Harvard University.

About HD Vest Financial Services
Since its inception in 1983, HD Vest Financial Services® has supported an independent network of tax and non-tax professionals who provide comprehensive financial services including securities insurance, money management services, and banking solutions. The firm has over 4,400 independent contractors, who manage over $40 billion in assets for individuals, families and small businesses in all 50 states.¹ HD Vest Investment Services is ranked as one of the top 15 independent broker-dealer firms.² To learn more about HD Vest, a business of Blucora, Inc. BCOR, visit www.hdvest.com.

¹As of March 31, 2017
²Think Advisor 2016 Broker-Dealer Reference Guide, which measured/ranked the top 25 independent broker-dealers by annual revenue.

HD Vest Financial Services^® is the holding company for the group of companies providing financial services under the HD Vest name.  The HD Vest affiliated companies exclusively provide financial products and services, and do not provide or supervise tax or accounting services. Advisors may provide tax, accounting or other services through their independent outside businesses, but these services are separate and apart from HD Vest.

Securities offered through HD Vest Investment Services^SM, Member: SIPC, Advisory services offered through HD Vest Advisory Services^SM, 6333 N. State Highway 161, Fourth Floor, Irving, TX 75038, (972) 870-6000.

Contacts
Shaunna Morgan 	
HD Vest 
shaunna.morgan@blucora.com
319.531.3626 

Alexandra Gambale
Peppercomm
agambale@peppercomm.com
212.931.6170