Steward Partners Deepens Advisor Bench With 29 Forbes Best-In-State Honorees and New Senior Hires

New updates have been reported about Steward Partners.

Steward Partners is leveraging advisor recognition to reinforce its competitive position, with 29 of its advisor partners named to the Forbes | SHOOK 2026 Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list, underscoring the firm’s depth of talent across key U.S. markets during a period of market volatility. The ranking, based on SHOOK Research’s qualitative interviews and quantitative metrics such as assets and revenue, strengthens Steward Partners’ brand as it competes for high-net-worth clients and experienced advisors.

The firm further expanded its senior roster in early 2026 with the arrival of portfolio managers Peter Silcox and David Lum, who earned their Best-In-State honors based on work at their prior firm but now bring that validated client-advice track record to Steward Partners. While the award does not reflect their performance at Steward Partners, their move signals the firm’s continued success attracting top producers as it scales from nearly $50 billion in client assets as of December 2025.

Executives will note that this recognition supports Steward Partners’ positioning as a leading independent, employee-owned wealth platform, building on its #9 national ranking in Barron’s 2025 Top 100 RIAs. The combination of third-party rankings, advisor accolades, and selective lateral recruiting may enhance the firm’s ability to drive net new assets, maintain client retention, and sustain advisor productivity in a crowded RIA and independent advisor landscape.

Internally, the concentration of recognized advisors in markets such as Washington, D.C., Florida, New England, and the Mid-Atlantic highlights where the firm already has strong franchises and creates a foundation for further regional expansion. Externally, the disclosure that no fees are paid for inclusion in the Forbes or Barron’s rankings helps mitigate concerns about pay-to-play recognition, supporting Steward Partners’ credibility with sophisticated clients and institutional prospects focused on governance, independence, and advisor quality.