Raymond James welcomes Florida advisors managing $185 million in assets
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Raymond James recently welcomed financial advisors Michael “Covey” Davis and Manuel “Manny” Benitez, CRPCTM, CPFA®, to Raymond James & Associates (RJA) – the firm's employee advisor channel – in Naples, Florida, according to Gregg Stupinski, South Atlantic regional director for RJA.
The advisors arrive from Merrill Lynch, where they managed approximately $185 million in client assets. Together, they lead Betavest Wealth Management of Raymond James, serving families, individuals, retirees and business owners. The advisors are joined by Senior Client Service Associate Jessica Dang and Practice Marketing Associate Katherine Chami.
“What stood out about Raymond James was the firm’s commitment to supporting advisors serving high-net-worth clients through both autonomy and depth of resources,” said Davis. “This environment enables us to deliver personalized wealth strategies that align with our clients’ goals, while fostering the kind of balance and collaboration that has always guided our approach.”
Davis began his career in 2005 and brings over 19 years of financial services industry experience to his role as senior vice president of investments, most recently serving at Merrill Lynch for 10 years. He earned a bachelor's degree in financial economics from Florida State University.
Manuel began his career in 2019 at Merrill Lynch and has served in the financial services industry for more than six years. His experience is backed by both a bachelor and master’s in business administration from Florida International University alongside the Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorTM and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor designations.
About Raymond James & Associates
Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (RJA), member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC, is an industry leader in financial planning and wealth management services for individuals, high-net-worth families, corporations and municipalities. RJA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE-RJF), one of the nation's premier diversified financial services companies with financial advisors throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. Total client assets are approximately $1.64 trillion as of June 30, 2025. Additional information is available at raymondjames.com.
CRPC™ and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ are registered service marks of the College for Financial Planning.
Raymond James and its advisors do not offer tax advice. You should discuss any tax matters with the appropriate professional.