Steward Partners Adds More Than $2.2 Billion in Client Assets Across Six Advisor Teams in Q3 2026 as the independent wealth management firm continues its rapid expansion across the country. The steady onboarding of new practices builds on earlier growth during the year, highlighting ongoing momentum for the company as it scales its operations, institutional infrastructure, and affiliation models across multiple regions.
What Changed in Q3 2026
During the third quarter of 2026, Steward Partners successfully added six separate advisor teams to its growing platform. Five of these six teams joined the firm through its M&A channel, while one team affiliated through the traditional model. The additions collectively brought more than $2.2 billion in combined client assets to the firm.
The incoming teams span multiple geographic locations and operate with varying asset volumes, reflecting a diverse mix of practices joining the platform. American Financial Advisors, led by Mike Stark in Georgia, joined with approximately $1 billion in client assets. O’Neill Wealth Management in New Jersey joined with approximately $426 million in client assets. Sapphire Blue Advisors in Michigan brought approximately $305 million in client assets to the firm.
Additional teams rounding out the third-quarter growth include KM Private Wealth, led by Kyle Martin in Alabama, which joined with approximately $194 million in client assets. Axiom Capital Wealth Management, led by Bob Phinney in Massachusetts, added approximately $191 million in client assets, and Integrity Financial Services, led by Jeff Seitz in Washington, joined with approximately $116 million in client assets. These additions highlight a broad geographic footprint spanning the South, Northeast, Midwest, and Northwest regions.
Context and Prior Growth
The third-quarter results follow an active expansion period earlier in the year. During the first half of 2026, Steward Partners added more than $6 billion in client assets across eleven advisor teams. Established in 2013, the firm has grown into a major industry player within the independent registered investment advisor sector.
As of September 2026, Steward Partners was responsible for over $57 billion in client assets. The firm’s market standing was further recognized when it was ranked #10 on the 2026 Barron’s Top 100 RIA Firms list within the non-Mega RIA firms category. Additionally, InvestmentNews named Steward Partners a 2025 Thrivent Employer of Choice, underscoring its corporate culture and workplace environment alongside its financial trajectory.
Business Implications and Affiliation Models
According to statements from the firm, the third-quarter additions underscore ongoing demand for Steward’s flexible partnership model and choice in affiliation paths. Leadership noted that successful advisors and founders want multiple options rather than a rigid structure, pointing out that advisory businesses do not all arrive at the same decision for the same reason and should not be forced into a single model.
The firm combines advisor ownership with institutional infrastructure, operational support, technology, investment capabilities, and M&A resources through its OneSteward model. Company representatives noted that completing five M&A affiliations in a single quarter reflects the rigor built into their integration process, alongside overall market demand.
Industry observers note that independent wealth management firms have increasingly competed on their ability to offer flexible structures. By accommodating both traditional affiliation and M&A channels, platforms like Steward aim to capture established practices looking for operational scale without surrendering their entrepreneurial focus.
Who May Be Affected
Clients and principals of the newly integrated practices—including American Financial Advisors, O’Neill Wealth Management, Sapphire Blue Advisors, KM Private Wealth, Axiom Capital Wealth Management, and Integrity Financial Services—transition to Steward Partners’ institutional framework. These teams gain access to centralized operational backing, technology upgrades, and M&A resources while maintaining their client-facing advisory roles.
End clients served by these six advisor teams will interact with their familiar local advisory practices while gaining potential access to broader institutional investment capabilities and expanded resources backed by a firm managing over $57 billion in client assets.
Limitations and Uncertainties
While aggregate asset figures for the third quarter are reported at more than $2.2 billion, client asset amounts for individual teams are stated as approximate figures rather than exact balances. Observers monitoring the independent registered investment advisor sector will continue to track how successfully these diverse regional teams integrate into the OneSteward operational ecosystem over subsequent reporting periods.