Veteran wealth management executive brings visionary leadership, proven track record of transformation and deep expertise in building scalable advisory platforms
World Investment Advisors (WIA), leading financial advisory firm and division of World Insurance Associates LLC (World), today announced the appointment of Edward (Ed) Walters as President. Walters will oversee WIA’s operations, growth initiatives, and advisor and client experience platforms, while working closely with the executive team to expand its presence as a leading force in wealth management.
As part of this announcement, current WIA CEO Troy Hammond will step down at the end of the year. To support a pre-planned leadership transition, he will remain with the firm until then, collaborating closely with Walters to provide WIA continuity and ensure a smooth handoff.
“Ed is a visionary leader with a proven track record of executing successful strategies that transform financial services businesses,” said Rich Eknoian, CEO of World Insurance Associates. “We are confident Ed’s leadership will accelerate our ability to deliver innovative solutions, empower advisors and create long-term value for our clients and stakeholders. I am deeply grateful to Troy Hammond, whose contributions to World Investment Advisors over the years have been immense.”
Walters is a seasoned C-suite leader with more than 20 years of experience driving transformational growth across some of the industry’s most respected firms, including Osaic, Lincoln Financial Group, T. Rowe Price, Janney Montgomery Scott and Ferris Baker Watts. He has developed a reputation for building sophisticated centralized wealth platforms, launching innovative products, accelerating growth within organizations, and creating new levels of scale and profitability.
Notably, Walters served as Chief Operating Officer & Head of Wealth Management at the $70 billion Lincoln Financial Network, part of the Lincoln Financial Group. In that role, he executed a growth strategy that quintupled earnings while leading over 200 associates and supporting approximately 1,500 financial professionals.
“I am honored to join World Investment Advisors at such an exciting stage in its evolution,” said Walters. “Together, we will build a platform designed to serve multigenerational investors, thoughtfully use technology to meet clients where they are and deliver superior, consistent service that strengthens the advisor–client relationship. I look forward to working with the team to drive innovation, expand our reach and continue fostering a culture of growth.”
Earlier in his career, Walters developed and launched T. Rowe Price’s Active Plus Portfolios, a first-of-its-kind robo-advisor. While there, he also expanded the firm’s managed account platform globally.
Meanwhile, during his time at Janney Montgomery Scott, he successfully transformed the firm’s model from transactional brokerage to fee-based wealth management, driving sustained double-digit growth.
Walters is also recognized as a culture builder and talent developer. He has sponsored leadership programs that elevate rising executives and launched financial literacy initiatives for underserved communities. His board service at Saint Joseph’s University and the Urban League of Philadelphia underscores his commitment to ethics, inclusion and community impact.
