#United States #Wealth Management #Tampa Bay #Steward Partners #Jazz Wealth

Steward Partners Acquires Jazz Wealth

In a strategic move to bolster its footprint in the Southeast, Steward Partners, an independent financial services firm, has announced the acquisition of Jazz Wealth, bringing with it approximately $450 million in client assets. This acquisition marks a significant milestone for Steward Partners as it expands its services along Florida's Gulf Coast.

A New Era for Wealth Management

Operating out of the Tampa Bay area, Jazz Wealth has carved a niche for itself by challenging traditional approaches to wealth management. The firm appeals to a diverse, multigenerational client base, primarily focusing on investors in their mid-forties. Through personalized investment strategies, Jazz Wealth has successfully established itself as a go-to financial advisory for both seasoned investors and emerging wealth builders.

What sets Jazz apart is not just its demographic focus, but its innovative use of digital media to engage clients. With a fully equipped production studio, Jazz Wealth has leveraged video content and social media to provide educational resources and maintain an active dialogue with clients and prospects. Their unique approach has led to a devoted following, extending well beyond the local Gulf Coast community.

Seamless Integration with Steward Partners

Steward Partners welcomes an enthusiastic team of eight professionals from Jazz Wealth, including notable advisors like Dustin Tibbitts and Eric Powell. This team, formerly associated with Goldman Sachs, will continue to leverage that relationship through Goldman Sachs Advisor Solutions. This partnership not only preserves client service quality but also allows the Jazz Wealth team to access a broader range of resources from Steward Partners.

Scott Danner, Chief Growth Officer at Steward Partners, highlighted this collaboration's significance by stating, "Most firms in this industry are still fighting over the same slice of the pie. Jazz went out and found a different pie entirely... bringing them into the Steward family wasn't a hard call."

Dustin Tibbitts echoed Danner's sentiments, saying the primary consideration when evaluating this partnership was ensuring that it would benefit their clients first. By joining forces with Steward, Tibbitts believes they can focus more intently on delivering top-notch service while continuing their unconventional approach that distinguishes Jazz Wealth in the industry.

The Vision for the Future

The MA Channel at Steward Partners is purposely designed to support established advisory teams like Jazz Wealth, facilitating a long-term succession plan without compromising brand identity or client relationships. For Jazz, this means a relief from back-office complexities, enabling them to concentrate strictly on delivering proactive and engaged client service.

In recent years, Steward Partners has emerged as one of the fastest-growing firms in the financial services sector, marking its place on Barron’s Top 100 RIA Firms list at #9 for 2025 and increasing its ranking from last year’s position at #18. They were also named a Thrivent Employer of Choice by InvestmentNews, affirming the firm’s commitment to fostering a culture that promotes collaboration and excellence.

With nearly $50 billion in client assets as of March 2026, Steward Partners offers an array of services, including wealth planning and private banking, ensuring a comprehensive approach to meet the needs of families, businesses, and multigenerational investors alike.

Conclusion

The acquisition of Jazz Wealth is poised to not only enhance Steward Partners' service offerings but also to set a precedent in the financial advisory landscape. As client needs evolve, maintaining a focus on personalized service through innovation will be crucial. The collaboration signifies a new chapter for both firms, promising enhanced client experiences and continued growth within the competitive wealth management sector.