MCLEAN, Va., May 20, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- First Horizon Bank, a full-service financial services company and part of First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN), announced today the expansion of its wealth management team to include operations in the greater Baltimore area. Focusing its efforts on high-quality service and advice, including personalized financial planning, the addition of this highly experienced team is in line with the company's commitment to meet consumer demand for objective financial advice in the Mid-Atlantic region.
"I am pleased to announce that this experienced and respected wealth management team has joined the First Horizon family, which allows us to better serve consumers in the Mid-Atlantic region," said Terrie G. Spiro, regional president of First Horizon Bank. "This new group, in conjunction with our Northern Virginia-based team, is a powerful combination to meet consumer expectations for objective, high-quality financial counsel."
The Baltimore-based First Horizon wealth management team includes the following individuals:
-- William J. Gering has joined First Horizon as vice president and senior trust officer with more than 32 years of banking, trust and legal experience in the financial industry. His expertise will be utilized in the management, analysis, advisement and administration of estates, trusts, IRAs and agency accounts within the wealth management division of the Maryland region. Prior to joining First Horizon, Gering served as senior administrative officer for Branch Banking and Trust Company (BB&T) and its predecessor, Carroll County Bank and Trust Company, in Westminster, Md. -- Diane L. Granic has joined First Horizon's wealth management team in direct support of the portfolio management services. Granic will be responsible for analysis and administrative activities including directing the management of client portfolios and responding to individual objectives based on First Horizon's asset allocation models. -- Karl E. Macklin has joined First Horizon as vice president and senior business development officer. His responsibilities include working with business sources and contacts in developing wealth management business within the Maryland region. Previously, Macklin served as vice president and wealth management advisor within the Baltimore metropolitan and Maryland region representing a number of financial service providers including J.P. Morgan and Company and SunTrust Bank. -- Timothy Maurer has joined First Horizon as a vice president and financial planner, bringing nine years of financial planning experience to the team. He specializes in comprehensive financial planning and integrated wealth management. In addition to Certified Financial Planner and Certified Senior Advisor certifications, Maurer holds NASD licenses Series 7, Series 63, and Series 65 and insurance licenses for life, health, property and casualty insurance. -- Matt Rakerd has joined First Horizon as vice president of First Horizon Investment Services. With eleven years of experience to draw from, Rakerd specializes in working with clients to better maximize their investment resources. He is also knowledgeable in the areas of long-term care, disability and life insurance. -- Thelma M. Voelker has joined First Horizon as vice president and senior portfolio manager, bringing more than 34 years of experience in investment management to the team. She will direct individual investment and portfolio management in the Maryland region. Voelker most recently managed investment accounts totaling more than $280 million for clients of Branch Banking and Trust (BB&T) and its predecessor, Carroll County bank and Trust Company, in Westminster, Md. -- Terri D. Wagner has joined First Horizon as a trust administration and office administrator with more than three decades of experience in service-oriented job positions within the banking industry. Wagner is responsible for the overall office support and administration of the business development and client accounts within the wealth management division in Maryland. -- Margaret "Meg" Borys works as a sales assistant within the wealth management group. Borys supports the efforts of our financial planning officer and investment officer as they facilitate client service needs.
2005 Wealth Management Program of the Year Award
First Horizon National Corporation recently received the 2005 Wealth Management Program of the Year Award for regional institutions from the Bank Insurance & Securities Assoc. The award recognizes a securities, insurance or combined wealth management program that incorporates best practices in the industry. First Horizon received the award for its comprehensive delivery of wealth management services which includes an advice-based financial planning program, its integrated team approach to meeting customers' needs and its ethical practices.
"We know that our clients value objective advice, and we deliver on that proposition with one of the nation's best teams of certified financial planners, insurance specialists, investment advisors, and trust professionals," commented Phillip P. Deutsch, senior vice president of trust services for First Horizon who will lead the Baltimore-based team from the company's McLean, Va., headquarters. "It's an honor for us to receive this national recognition, and we strive to continue to achieve such successes by hiring the best possible people. This new team of professionals will work together to give our clients the expertise and attention they deserve."
First Horizon offers a unique approach to banking by offering All Things Financial to consumers, small businesses and corporate clients, including:
-- Commercial lending -- Treasury management -- Commercial real estate and home loans -- Private banking -- Insurance and investments -- Financial planning -- Trust services -- Merchant card services -- Retail banking with extended hours of operation -- Check imaging service for businesses
About First Horizon
The 13,000 employees of First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN) provide financial services to individuals and business customers through hundreds of offices located in more than 40 states. The corporation's three major brands -- FTN Financial, First Horizon and First Tennessee -- provide customers with a broad range of products and services including:
-- Capital markets, one of the nation's top underwriters of U.S. government agency securities -- Mortgage banking, one of the nation's top 20 mortgage originators and top 15 servicers, which earned a top-10 ranking in customer satisfaction from J.D. Power and Associates -- Retail/commercial banking, with the largest market share in Tennessee and one of the highest customer retention rates of any bank in the country
FHN companies have been recognized as some of the nation's best employers by AARP, Working Mother and Fortune magazines. FHN also was named one of the nation's 100 best corporate citizens by Business Ethics magazine. More information can be found at www.FirstHorizon.com.