Kestra Financial has expanded its wealth footprint yet again as it welcomes a five-member team in the Northeast.
On Thursday, the wealth platform announced that SZC Financial Planning & Management has joined its network. Based in Montgomery County, Maryland, SZC Financial oversees $200 million in assets under management and is known for its personalized, high-touch client services.
Led by founding partners David Shober and Steve Collins, SZC Financial provides a range of financial planning and advisory services. The firm’s five-person team emphasizes a tailored approach, working closely with clients to help them achieve their financial, business, and life objectives.
By integrating with Kestra Financial, SZC Financial plans to maintain its client-focused strategy while exploring new growth opportunities.
"The personalized support and comprehensive offerings that the Kestra Financial ecosystem provides – while allowing us to maintain our autonomy – is exactly what we’re looking for in a partner firm,” Shober said in a statement.
His BrokerCheck profile shows a 21-year record in the industry, most recently including a brief months-long affiliation with Osaic Wealth starting in January. Prior to that, he'd been registered under Woodbury Financial Services – which was integrated into Osaic at the start of 2024 – for seven years
Shober highlighted his firm's newfound autonomy under Kestra, calling the ability to choose how to operate "refreshing."
“We’re excited to join a firm that aligns with our unique approach to delivering high-caliber service,” he said of his firm's new partnership with Kestra.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Austin, Texas-based wealth platform announced its addition of a $225 million boutique advisory firm from the greater New York area.
In 2024, Kestra continued to attract significant advisory teams, including a $500 million Merrill Lynch team that joined its hybrid RIA subsidiary in June, and a $600 million multigenerational high-net-worth practice from the Big Apple.
Kestra Financial saw record growth in 2023, adding 110 new advisors managing a combined $9.5 billion in assets to its platform.
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