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:
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Jim Gold, CEO of the Year (AUM Higher Than $25 Billion)
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Rob Guldner, CCO of the Year
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Scott 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.
