With nearly three decades of industry experience, Steven has the knowledge to guide clients through a variety of market environments. Helping clients pursue what they’re passionate about – their long-held goals and dreams – is a calling for him. He takes a hands-on approach to wealth management and specializes in serving retirees, business owners and healthcare professionals. As a Certified Financial Planner™ professional, Steven believes in comprehensive planning with the client at the center. His way of doing business has earned him recognition in the industry; he was named a Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor* in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
After a 29-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he attained the titles of managing director and portfolio manager, Steven joined Raymond James in 2021, along with the Williams & Townsend Wealth Management Partners team. He was initially drawn to the financial services industry by his father, who had built a second career at Merrill Lynch after serving in the military. “I grew up around the advising business, so it was a natural fit,” Steven says.
He is a graduate of the University of Utah, where he earned a degree in business with an emphasis in finance. In addition to Certified Financial Planner™ certification, Steven has continued to add to his credentials by earning the Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor designations. He has demonstrated his knowledge of a host of retirement planning topics as well as the responsibilities of plan fiduciaries.
Staying connected to the community is a priority for Steven. He is active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and served a mission for the church in Hong Kong, where he learned Cantonese. He also coached youth football for 14 years, as well as youth basketball, baseball, softball and lacrosse. He served as a high school football official from 1992 to 2008.
Born in Oklahoma, he lives in North Salt Lake, Utah, with his wife, Sue. They have three children, Nathan, Meghan and Connor. In his free time, Steven enjoys outdoor pursuits including skiing and hiking. You might also find him playing basketball; attending plays, musicals and his children’s events; and spending time with his family.
steven.g.williams@raymondjames.com
D: 801.736.6173
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified Financial Planner™, 
*The Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years of experience, and the algorithm weights factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their practices and approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criteria due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Out of approximately 32,000 nominations, more than 4,000 advisors received the award. This ranking is not indicative of an advisor’s future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of an individual client’s experience. Neither Raymond James nor any of its financial advisors or RIA firms pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating. Raymond James is not affiliated with Forbes or Shook Research, LLC. Please visit forbes.com/best-in-state-wealth-advisors for more info.
