Stokes Family Office Surpasses $3.3B AUM Amid Major Expansion

NEW ORLEANS, LA – April 29, 2026 – Stokes Family Office has cemented its position as one of Louisiana’s financial powerhouses, announcing it now manages over $3.35 billion in assets. The milestone, reflecting figures as of December 31, 2025, signals a period of aggressive, disciplined growth for the New Orleans-based investment adviser, which is simultaneously expanding into the competitive Dallas market and developing a new flagship headquarters in its home city.

This surge in assets represents a significant leap for the firm, which reported approximately $2.47 billion in assets under management (AUM) just one year prior. The growth underscores a successful strategy that has also seen the firm add an additional $245 million in retirement plan assets under advisement. The announcement comes as the firm, whose advisory roots trace back to 1987, approaches its 40th anniversary.

Louisiana's Financial Frontrunner

The $3.35 billion AUM figure places Stokes Family Office squarely in the top echelon of Louisiana's Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs). The firm's size is now comparable to, or exceeds, other major players in the state. For instance, prior to its recent acquisition by a national firm, New Orleans-area competitor TruWealth Advisors held $3.1 billion in assets at the end of 2025. This rapid accumulation of assets has not gone unnoticed on the national stage. For four consecutive years, Forbes has named Stokes Family Office to its list of America’s Top RIA Firms, and in 2025, it was the only Louisiana-headquartered firm to crack the top 100, ranking #79 nationally. Similarly, Financial Advisor Magazine has consistently honored the firm as one of the nation's top RIAs. This consistent recognition highlights a growth trajectory that is outpacing many regional peers and capturing national attention.

The Driving Force: A Market Shift Toward Fiduciary Trust

The firm’s impressive growth is not happening in a vacuum. It reflects a broader, seismic shift in the financial services industry, where clients—from large institutions to wealthy families—are increasingly demanding transparency and a true fiduciary standard of care. This is particularly evident in the firm's burgeoning retirement plan advisory practice. Corporate plan sponsors, facing intense regulatory scrutiny and legal pressure to act in the best interest of their employees, are moving away from traditional brokers and toward independent fiduciaries.

"Plan sponsors are more focused than ever on governance, oversight, and fiduciary process," said Patrick McKay, the firm's Head of Retirement Plan Services, in a statement. "Our growth in this area reflects the level of accountability and service we bring to those relationships."

Industry trends validate this observation. The Department of Labor continues to refine rules under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), heightening the need for expert, conflict-free guidance. Plan sponsors are seeking 3(21) advisors like Stokes Family Office to help them navigate complex decisions around investment selection, fee reasonableness, and participant education. This demand for a higher standard of care is a key engine behind the growth of independent RIAs, who are legally bound to put their clients' interests first—a stark contrast to the less stringent "suitability" standard that has long governed parts of the financial world.

Strategic Growth: Texas Expansion and New Orleans Investment

Building on its momentum, Stokes Family Office is executing a two-pronged expansion strategy that both extends its geographic reach and deepens its local roots. The firm recently launched a new office in Dallas, Texas, a move that plants its flag in one of the nation's most dynamic and competitive financial centers. Led by veteran wealth manager Daniel Becker, the Dallas office is positioned to tap into a massive market of high-net-worth individuals and corporate clients. The expansion into the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex—a region experiencing explosive population and economic growth—represents a significant strategic step to diversify the firm's client base beyond its traditional Louisiana stronghold.

Simultaneously, the firm is making a monumental investment in its home city. Stokes Family Office is developing a new, state-of-the-art flagship headquarters at 1600 Magazine Street in New Orleans' historic Lower Garden District. Scheduled to open in 2027, the project is more than just a new office; it's a tangible commitment to the city the firm has called home for decades and a statement of confidence in its future. The investment in a permanent, high-profile headquarters is designed to enhance client service capabilities and serve as a central hub for its growing team.

A Forty-Year Legacy in the Making

This period of rapid growth is viewed by the firm's leadership not as a sudden sprint, but as the latest chapter in a long-term journey. The firm traces its origins to 1987, when David Stokes co-founded a predecessor firm built on a simple yet powerful idea.

"When our dad founded what became Stokes Family Office in 1987, the idea was simple — put clients first and build relationships that last," said Managing Partner Greg Stokes. "Our growth has been the result of staying focused on clients, maintaining independence, and building long–term relationships over time."

That ethos continues under the second-generation leadership of brothers Greg and Doug Stokes, who formally established Stokes Family Office in 2019. As the firm approaches its 40th anniversary, its current strategic moves—from crossing the $3 billion AUM threshold to breaking ground in new markets and a new headquarters—are seen as a continuation of that founding vision. The commitment to independence and a client-first fiduciary model, once a differentiator, has now become the standard that a growing number of savvy investors and institutions demand, positioning the family-led firm for its next era of growth.