Kestra Financial has appointed a new leader for its wealth management division. Kelly Apple, a veteran executive from BlackRock, joined the Austin-based independent broker-dealer on July 9. She fills the position previously held by John Amore, who moved into the role of president in April 2025.
In her new capacity, Apple supervises advisors across both the Kestra Financial platform and the Kestra Private Wealth Services channel. This appointment follows a year-long search for a candidate capable of managing the firm's growth and advisor support structures. Kestra leadership cited her extensive background in national accounts and partnership development as primary reasons for her selection.
Apple brings 13 years of experience from BlackRock, where she served as head of national accounts. Her previous career history includes roles at DWS Investments and Van Kampen Investments. She enters an organization that maintains a substantial footprint in the financial services sector, reporting over $169 billion in total client assets as of the end of 2025.
Kestra currently supports more than 1,400 advisors and operates a subsidiary RIA aggregator named Bluespring Wealth. As a firm owned by Kestra Holdings, which maintains backing from Stone Point Capital and Oak Hill Capital, the appointment marks a transition in the firm's executive hierarchy. The addition of Apple is designed to provide direct management oversight for the firm's broad network of financial professionals.