Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Argent Trust Company opens New Orleans office

by BIZ. Staff

Ruston-based financial services group now has 29 offices across 12 Southern states

NEW ORLEANS – Argent Trust Company today announced the opening of a new office in New Orleans, the company’s 29th overall. Market President Kevin Reed will lead the group.

Reed will focus on building Argent’s presence throughout the Greater New Orleans market. He has more than 30 years of experience in management, asset management, trust administration, client expansion, and product and service development. He joined Argent in 2017.

“We’re very happy to be expanding Argent’s footprint to the Crescent City and surrounding region,” Reed said. “Our fiduciary responsibility to our customers is at the heart of everything we do, and that, combined with our consistency and reliability, makes us unique among financial advisory firms. We aren’t just here for today and tomorrow. We are here to serve generations to come.”

Working with Reed is Richard “Dick” Fox, portfolio manager, and Elizabeth Laufer, relationship manager, both of whom recently joined Argent. Mark Milton, senior vice president of institutional services, will also work from the office.

Fox has more than 40 years of experience in the investment industry. He has managed hedge accounts for major grain exporters; served as the director of research, chief investment strategist and senior portfolio manager for a number of institutions; and provided portfolio and asset management for high-net-worth individuals, families, charitable entities, governmental bodies and corporations. He has been awarded designations from the Institute of Business Appraisers, the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts and the American Society of Appraisers. He is also a part-time professor of corporate finance and investment theory at Southeastern University of Louisiana. Fox received his undergraduate degree in mathematics and his MBA from Tulane University and has been a member of the CFA Institute since 1985.

Laufer has previously worked in the trust divisions of First Commerce Corporation and Whitney National Bank. She has 30 years of financial services experience, including commercial and private banking, human resources and office administration, while most recently managing the office at Lusher Charter School, an “A” rated, K-12 New Orleans public charter school. She received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Georgia Southern University in 1986.

Milton has more than 30 years of experience in various roles in the financial services industry, including business development, operations, risk management and compliance.
He is leading Argent Financial Group’s retirement consulting, institutional custody and funeral trust services.

“Ruston, Louisiana, is where Argent was founded, so New Orleans feels like a natural place for our company to put down roots,” said Kyle McDonald, CEO of Argent. “We believe that the elements that have driven Argent’s continued success — our attitude of ‘humble confidence’ and our deep dedication to fiduciary-level service — will allow us to stand out in this competitive market.”

You may also like

-
00:00
00:00
Update Required Flash plugin
-
00:00
00:00