# Deann Cross joins Ballast Rock Private Wealth as senior wealth advisor

URL: https://www.financialadvsr.com/article/deann-cross-joins-ballast-rock-private-wealth-as-senior-wealth-9431f8
Published: October 15, 2026
By: Grant Whitmore, Moves Correspondent
Section: Moves
Publisher: Financial ADVSR (https://www.financialadvsr.com)

Charleston-based RIA Ballast Rock Private Wealth has added a senior wealth advisor focused on multi-generational planning, according to the firm's announcement and WealthManagement.com.

WealthManagement.com reported on October 15 that Deann Cross has joined Ballast Rock Private Wealth, the Charleston, S.C.-based RIA, as a senior wealth advisor. The move was included in the publication's People Moves roundup, which also covered other hires and appointments. Those items are not addressed here.

According to the firm's announcement, distributed through GlobeNewswire, Cross will focus on multi-generational planning. The release says she holds the AIF designation. The announcement additionally states that Cross has close to three decades in the industry and was formerly with a different independent firm, which the release leaves unnamed.

WealthManagement.com reported that Cross came to Ballast Rock from Integrity Financial Corporation, where it said she spent almost 20 years. The firm's own release does not name Integrity, so that link rests on the publication's reporting alone. WealthManagement.com describes Ballast Rock Private Wealth as an RIA with $400 million in assets under management.

WealthManagement.com also reported that Ballast Rock CEO Andrew Mescon stated that Cross's work with owners of private businesses, and on helping families pass wealth across generations, will help the firm grow. The statement, as the publication described it, presents the hire as a way to extend the firm's work with business owners.

Ballast Rock Private Wealth was formed in late 2022 by Ballast Rock Group, an alternative investments manager, according to ConnectMoney. InvestmentNews reported at the time that the RIA was designed to focus on alternative investments for wealthy clients and operates independently of its parent. It had attracted $30 million in client assets at launch, with another $20 million committed. ConnectMoney reported that Mescon was named CEO at formation and Christian Salomone was named chief investment officer. Citywire reported in April 2025 that advisor Troy Davidson had joined the firm after managing about $480 million at Charles Schwab. That figure describes his prior book, not the firm's assets under management.

The sources reviewed do not report Cross's client book, any client transition plans, or the terms of her arrangement with the firm. No Form ADV, SEC, FINRA or court records were checked for this article, so it relies only on the announcement, WealthManagement.com's reporting and the background coverage cited above.

Key facts:
- Deann Cross joined Ballast Rock Private Wealth as senior wealth advisor, focusing on multi-generational planning, per the firm's GlobeNewswire-distributed announcement.
- Cross holds the AIF designation and has nearly 30 years of experience, according to the announcement.
- WealthManagement.com reported that Cross came from Integrity Financial Corporation after almost 20 years there.
- WealthManagement.com describes Ballast Rock Private Wealth as a Charleston, S.C.-based RIA with $400 million in assets under management.
- Ballast Rock Private Wealth was formed in late 2022 by Ballast Rock Group, according to ConnectMoney.

Why it matters: Advisors weighing a move to a smaller independent RIA may note that this hire is built around business owners and generational transfer, a planning niche many independent firms compete to serve. For recruiters and firm leaders, the announcement shows how a boutique RIA backed by an alternatives manager is adding experienced advisors to extend its existing client focus.

Sources:
- WealthManagement.com: https://www.wealthmanagement.com/career-moves/people-moves-advisor-vet-joins-ria-ballast-rock-ubs-leaders-join-partners
- citywire.com: https://citywire.com/ria/news/former-schwab-advisor-joins-charleston-ria-ballast-rock/a2463679
- investmentnews.com: https://www.investmentnews.com/ria-news/alternative-investments-manager-ballast-rock-joins-ria-game/229608
- investmentnews.com: https://www.investmentnews.com/independent-broker-dealers/advisor-moves-wells-fargo-welcomes-back-550m-advisor-duo-from-ameriprise/266799
- ballastrock.com: https://www.ballastrock.com/insights/michael-welch-joins-ballast-rock-asset-management
- connectmoney.com: https://www.connectmoney.com/stories/ballast-rock-group-joins-the-ria-business-forms-ballast-rock-private-wealth/