William Keith Email & Phone Number

Atlanta, Georgia

Responsible for the consolidation of all the trust companies of Argent Financial Group to a single back office provider. The responsibility was to create a higher level financial planning, CRM, reporting, investment modeling and aggregation platform than has been available to the company. I worked with all the major vendors in the trust space to select the best possible solution, either in-house or outsourced, for Argent and subsidiaries.In 2012, completed the restructuring of the private label business of National Independent Trust Company by moving the existing customer base to new providers around the United States. The process was completed during a one year period with minimal disruption in service levels to the end client.

Founded and operated the trust department for a NYSE regional broker dealer with over 100 retail brokers, along with developing and executing sales and marketing programs for brokers and non-brokerage customers. Effectively handled all budgetary, regulatory, and compliance duties. Deployed expertise in benefits plans, personal trust services, custody, and corporate trust activities. Active Board member of the Holding Company. Developed, marketed, and sold a daily-valuation 401(k) program to retail advisors throughout the Southeast. Successfully improved assets under management by $650 million and annual gross revenue by $3.5 million from scratch. Directed the transition of a captive RIA, Sterne Agee Asset Management (SAAM), from Atlanta, GA to Birmingham, AL, while expanding the product offering from a sole WRAP program to asset-allocated separate account management process. Selected as CEO and headed up all investment, compliance, and regulatory committees of SAAM;

Key participant in driving dramatic growth for the new Trust Division, which was ranked as the largest in the state of Louisiana when sold in 1994. Hired, trained, motivated, and supervised a team of 25 professionals in all operating policies and procedures. Served as Head of Employee Benefits in all markets for this bank. Succeeded in turning around the low-performing Trust Department into a $2.5 billion entity with gross revenue of $2.5 million and $1.25 million in pre-tax profit.  Expanded assets under management by $250 million after a successful proposal for trusteeship for a NYSE ESOP; instituted one of the first directed trustee pass-through voting provisions for ESOPs nationwide. Deployed extensive skills in organizational restructuring, upgrades to the IT platform, and implementation of an aggressive marketing plan. Recognized as one of the first 401(k) plan providers to utilize asset allocation risk-based model portfolios.