Raymond James has welcomed financial advisors Seth Lawless and Charters “Jay” Osborne to Raymond James and Associates in Lexington, Kentucky, where they will operate as Osborne Lawless and Associates of Raymond James. The advisors arrive from Merrill Lynch, where they previously managed approximately $400 million in client assets. Their team specializes in serving multigenerational families, business owners, healthcare professionals, and retirees, and has been recognized as a 2026 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Team. They are joined by client relationship consultant Rob Mitchell and senior registered client relationship associates Karie Howard and Lee Ann Myers.
Lawless brings over 15 years of financial services industry experience to his role as senior vice president of Wealth Management and holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor professional designations. He is also recognized on the 2026 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors ranking. Osborne is a proud second-generation advisor with 25 years in the financial services industry, backed by the Accredited Asset Management Specialist, Chartered Financial Consultant, Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor, and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designations — a deep credential set that reflects his tenure and commitment to professional development.
The team’s decision to move to Raymond James was driven by the firm’s advisor independence model and client-focused culture, as well as access to a suite of technology tools designed to enhance financial planning services across tax and estate planning. Raymond James and Associates is an employee advisor channel of Raymond James Financial, one of the nation’s premier diversified financial services companies. Total client assets at Raymond James are approximately $1.76 trillion as of March 31, 2026. The firm operates advisors throughout the United States, Canada, and overseas.
The addition of the Osborne Lawless and Associates team reflects Raymond James’ ongoing effort to recruit experienced, credentialed advisors with strong practices and established client relationships in key regional markets. Mid-American regional director Amy Smart oversees the advisors’ integration into the firm’s employee channel. The team’s presence in Lexington, Kentucky deepens Raymond James’ footprint in a market where demand for high-quality wealth management advice from multigenerational families, business owners, and healthcare professionals continues to grow.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are committed to making sure that our clients’ interests come first, and we are excited to experience the advisor independence and client-focused culture at Raymond James. We especially appreciate access to the firm’s suite of technology that enhances our financial planning services in a variety of impactful ways, especially in areas related to tax and estate planning.”
Seth Lawless, Senior Vice President of Wealth Management, Raymond James
