Ziegler Hires Church Securities Specialist

Ziegler Wealth Management, an investment bank and brokerage that specializes in general and structured municipal finance, continued to expand its public finance team with the addition of Rolando Q. Leavell as a financial advisor with expertise in church securities.

Over the span of 34-years, the firm has participated in about 550 church bond transactions totaling more than $2.1 billion. Among the religious issuers Ziegler has worked with are the Bayside Community Church of Sarasota, Inc., based in Bradenton, Fla., and the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, based in Menomonee Falls, Wisc. Ziegler also focuses on other community sectors such as healthcare, senior living, charter schools and higher education.

"Being one of the leading underwriters of church bonds in the country, it was a natural fit for me to join Ziegler," Leavell said in a press release. "I've worked with fixed-income securities virtually my entire career, and specialize in church securities, which are one of Ziegler's primary bond underwriting sectors."

Leavell's fixed-income specialty stems from being an active deacon and Sunday school teacher at the First Baptist Church of Jackson.

"With this move I can continue working with my clients to develop financial plans for income and growth, using many of Ziegler's unique underwritten products," Leavell said.

He will be based out of Ziegler's Glen Allen, VA office and report to branch manager Thom Kirby.

"Bringing Roland Leavell onto our team is a great accomplishment," Kirby said. "He is a 30-year plus veteran in the business and his experience will be appreciated by his colleagues as well as his clients. We are excited to be growing and bringing this caliber financial advisor to the firm."

The addition is part of the firm's continued strategy to build its public finance team and broaden its presence in a variety of sectors.

"Hiring quality financial advisors continues to be one of our key initiatives and we will continue to seek out advisors who are interested in growing their practice in a boutique environment that offers a high level of support and flexibility," said Thomas Paprocki, the chief executive officer of Ziegler.

In May, Ziegler hired three muni veterans from Stern Brothers & Co. to join its Chicago office as well as three senior-living finance bankers from BB&T Capital Markets in the firm's Richmond, Virginia office.

Previously, Leavell served as president and CEO of Rives, Leavell & Co, a church and nonprofit investment services firm, which as of May 15, 2014 has ceased operations.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM BOND BUYER