Three Steward Partners leaders – spanning CEO, compliance and M&A – named finalists for national industry honors

STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Steward Partners, a full-service, employee-owned, independent financial services firm, today announced that three of its executives were named finalists in the 2026 Wealth Management Industry Awards, spanning leadership, compliance and M&A. The recognition underscores how deep the firm’s bench runs at the top, with distinct disciplines all drawing national attention in the same award cycle. The Steward Partners executives recognized include:

Jim Gold, CEO of the Year (AUM Higher Than $25 Billion)Rob Guldner, CCO of the YearScott Danner, M&A Leader of the Year

“This recognition reflects the caliber of leadership we’ve built at every level of this firm,” said Jim Gold, CEO of Steward Partners. “Whether it’s the discipline our compliance team brings, the growth our advisors are driving, or the strategic thinking behind our M&A work, this is a team performing at the highest level—and having that recognized on a national stage means a great deal to all of us.”

The Wealth Management Industry Awards, popularly known as the Wealthies, are presented annually to recognize the year’s best business initiatives that advance the industry, empower financial advisors, and help wealth management firms deliver the best possible client outcomes. Firms submit business initiatives either introduced or enhanced during the previous 18 months, which are reviewed by a panel of independent judges with required industry expertise, evaluating each submission’s innovation, scope, and impact. This year, a record 1,392 nominations were submitted by more than 500 unique companies, with only a third of submissions selected as finalists.

View the full list of 2026 Industry Awards finalists and winners from Wealth Management.

Since its launch in 2013, Steward Partners has solidified its place as one of the industry’s fastest-growing and most influential RIA firms. The firm was recently recognized with a #10 ranking on the 2026 Barron’s Top 100 RIA Firms list. Additionally, Steward Partners was named a 2026 Excellence Awardee for RIA of the Year and Broker-Dealer of the Year by InvestmentNews, reflecting the firm’s commitment to delivering an exceptional advisor and client experience across every dimension of its platform. Several Steward Partners advisors and teams were also honored on Forbes | SHOOK’s 2026 Best-In-State Wealth Advisors and 2026 Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams lists, underscoring the quality of client service delivered across the platform.

About Steward Partners
Representing some of the U.S.’s top advisors, Steward Partners is a full-service, employee-owned, independent financial services firm that offers wealth management solutions for families, businesses, and multigenerational investors. Established in 2013, the firm fosters a positive, transparent culture of camaraderie and excellence that has fueled its substantial growth in a highly competitive industry. With its commitment to exceptional client service and forward-thinking partnerships, the firm was ranked as the #10 RIA in the country in Barron’s Top 100 RIAs for the year 2026. Offering services such as comprehensive wealth planning, private banking, institutional consulting, and business solutions, the firm was responsible for over $57 billion in client assets as of September 2026.

To learn more about Steward Partners, visit www.stewardpartners.com.

Media Contact:
Zach Allegretti
JConnelly
zallegrettiii@jconnelly.com
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About Barron’s Top 100 RIA Firms
2020 – 2023 Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Company, L.P. All rights reserved. Participation in this ranking is by invitation only and limited to firms that meet the minimum eligibility requirements. About 200 firms were nominated, with 100 being ranked. Participating firms were evaluated and ranked on a wide range of quantitative and qualitative data, including: assets overseen by the firm, revenue generated by the firm, level of technology spending, number of clients, size of staff, diversity across staff, and placement of a succession plan. The ranking may not be representative of any one client’s experience, is not an endorsement, and is not indicative of the advisor’s future performance. Neither Steward Partners nor any of its Financial Advisors pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating. Barron’s is not affiliated with Steward Partners.

2024 – 2025 – Source: Barrons.com. Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Company, L.P. All rights reserved. Participation in this ranking is by invitation only and limited to firms that meet the minimum eligibility requirements. Barron’s selected firms that manage 2% or more of the total assets of all ranking applicants. This year, that creates a threshold of $70 billion in assets. Participating firms were evaluated and ranked on a wide range of quantitative and qualitative data, including: assets overseen by the firm, revenue generated by the firm, level of technology spending, number of clients, size of staff, diversity across staff, and placement of a succession plan. The ranking may not be representative of any one client’s experience, is not an endorsement, and is not indicative of the advisor’s future performance. Neither Steward Partners nor any of its Financial Advisors pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating. Barron’s is not affiliated with Steward Partners. 

2026 – Source: Barrons.com. Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Company, L.P. All rights reserved. The Barron’s 2026 Top 100 RIA Firms ranking was published in September 2026 and was based on information for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2026. Eligible firms completed a survey containing more than 100 questions about their practices, and Barron’s verified submitted information using regulatory databases. Barron’s applied a ranking formula consisting of three primary categories: assets, revenue, and quality of practice. The formula includes multiple quantitative and qualitative factors, such as asset type, growth, client retention, technology spending, succession planning, team diversity, charitable and philanthropic activities, and compliance records. Steward Partners was ranked among the non-Mega RIA firms. The ranking may not be representative of any individual client’s experience, does not constitute an endorsement of Steward Partners or its Financial Advisors, and is not indicative of future performance. No fee was paid for participation, consideration, or inclusion in the ranking. Steward Partners may pay licensing, advertising, publication, reprint, or promotional fees associated with publicizing the ranking. Barron’s is not affiliated with Steward Partners. 

About Financial Advisor Magazine’s Top RIA Discretionary and Non-Discretionary AUM Rankings
2026 – The Financial Advisor Magazine 2026 RIA Ranking recognizes independent registered investment advisory firms that demonstrate growth, scale, and consistent service delivery across a range of metrics. Rankings are based on year-end data collected through a voluntary survey, focusing on firm size, service offerings, and operational trends. Key indicators include increases in discretionary and nondiscretionary assets under management, client relationships, and assets under advisement not captured on a firm’s ADV. Additional factors such as staffing levels, multi-custodial capabilities, and business model evolution also inform the ranking. Neither Steward Partners, its affiliates, nor its Wealth Managers pays a fee to Financial Advisor Magazine in exchange for the rating. The ranking is based on data from 12/31/2024 to 12/31/2025. The ranking was announced July 10, 2026. 

Barron’s Top 1,500 Financial Advisors: State-by-state
2026 – Award announced on 3/20/2026, Source: Barrons.com – State-by-State as identified by Barron’s magazine, using quantitative and qualitative criteria. The rankings are based on data provided by over 7,000 of the nation’s most productive financial advisors. Advisors ranked in the Top 1,500 Financial Advisors list are measured by the growth of the advisors’ practices and their client retention. Barron’s also considers a wide range of qualitative factors, including the advisors’ experience; their advanced degrees and industry designations; the size, shape, and diversity of their teams; their charitable and philanthropic work; and, of course, their compliance records. Investment performance is not a criterion. The rating may not be representative of any one client’s experience and is not indicative of the financial advisor’s future performance. Neither Steward Partners nor its Wealth Managers pays a fee to Barron’s in exchange for the rating. The ranking was based on data as of October 2025. Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Company, L.P. All rights reserved. 

About Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors
2026 – Source: Forbes.com – Data provided by SHOOK® Research, LLC — Data as of 6/2025. Ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client impact, industry experience, review of best practices and compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Neither Steward Partners nor its Wealth Managers pay a fee to Forbes or SHOOK Research in exchange for the ranking. For more information, see www.SHOOKresearch.com. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC. Award announced 2/2026. 

About Advisor Hub’s RIAs to Watch 2026
2025 – For our inaugural RIA Firms to Watch list, we spotlight firms that are thriving in this new environment. Each firm on the list has a distinct niche—and unique challenges to sustain momentum. Several firms on the list are focusing on quality over scale, preferring to pursue M&A cautiously and acquiring firms that are culture fit. Some firms are trying to build out support networks complete with to rival their larger peers. Several firms are focusing on making an advisor-first culture with profit-sharing and employee ownership. Each one of these tracts has provided the firms on the list with exceptional growth across the board, but it remains to see how each will fare in the current environment. The frenzy of M&A triggered by the pandemic has only gathered steam. Firms face stiff competition from rivals in recruiting. Also, firms face rising compliance costs, technology integration demands and margin pressure, all while meeting evolving client expectations and preserving the culture that has driven their growth. Steward Partners nor its affiliates paid a fee to AdvisorHub in exchange for the ranking. For more information, see www.AdvisorHub.com. 

About InvestmentNews 5-Star Financial Planners
2026 – In 2025, InvestmentNews completed a nationwide survey, which closed on November 28, 2025, and reviewed data from the preceding 12 months for purposes of recognizing qualifying financial planners. The survey sought nominations for financial professionals who exemplify excellence, integrity, and dedication in helping clients achieve their financial goals. Participants were asked to provide detailed information on nominees, including professional credentials, areas of expertise, and significant achievements. Additional information sought included: number of clients served, client retention rates, and total assets under management the advisor manages, Nominations required confirmation from the nominee’s compliance team to ensure authenticity and adherence to ethical standards. The IN team conducted an objective evaluation of each entry, assessing the detailed information provided. This evaluation also involved benchmarking against other submissions to determine the winners. Award announced on 4/23/2026. Neither Steward Partners, its affiliates, nor its Wealth Managers pay a fee to InvestmentNews in exchange for the ranking. 

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SOURCE Steward Partners