Transition Announcement: $323mm Edward Jones Advisor Finds a Different Path to Independence with &Partners

After more than 15 years at Edward Jones, Brian Geist launches Stonemere Wealth in Oklahoma, choosing a partnership model that combines greater autonomy, equity ownership, and institutional resources.

Brian Geist, a nationally recognized financial advisor who built a $323mm practice at Edward Jones, has joined &Partners and launched Stonemere Wealth in Seminole, Oklahoma.

After spending his entire advisory career at Edward Jones, Brian was ready for greater independence and the flexibility to serve his clients and grow his business on his own terms. Yet the traditional independent broker dealer models he initially explored didn’t quite offer what he was looking for.

Working with Diamond Consultants, Brian discovered &Partners, an alternative that offered the autonomy of independence, an equity stake in the firm, and access to the resources and collaborative environment he valued.

A Successful Practice Ready for Its Next Chapter

Brian began his career at Edward Jones in 2009 and built a highly successful practice serving business owners, retirees, pre-retirees, and multigenerational families, including clients with wealth tied to Oklahoma’s agriculture and energy industries.

Recognized by Forbes among Oklahoma’s Best-in-State Wealth Advisors, Brian developed a reputation for his commitment to clients and the local community.

As his business evolved, however, he increasingly felt constrained by the limitations of his existing platform.

Outdated technology, restrictions on marketing, and a limited range of solutions for higher-net-worth clients made it more difficult to deliver the experience he envisioned.

Brian had long been interested in independence. He wanted greater control over how he served clients, managed his practice, and positioned the business for future growth. At the same time, he wasn’t looking to sacrifice the resources and support that had helped him build a successful practice.

Looking Beyond the Traditional Independent Model

Like many advisors considering a departure from Edward Jones, Brian initially explored traditional independent broker dealer options.

He had watched former colleagues successfully transition to a relatively familiar group of independent firms. While he recognized the merits of those platforms, none generated the enthusiasm or conviction he needed to make such an important move.

Through his work with Diamond, Brian was introduced to &Partners as an alternative to the more traditional independent broker dealer model.

The firm offered a different approach to independence: a partnership structure that allows advisors to maintain autonomy over their businesses while participating in equity ownership of the larger enterprise.

Equally important was the firm’s culture and leadership. Brian connected with the people, the collaborative environment, and the opportunity to be part of a growing organization that shared his vision for client service.

For an advisor who wanted independence without feeling entirely on his own, the model offered a compelling combination.

Why &Partners

Brian’s decision ultimately centered on finding an environment that would support both his clients’ increasingly sophisticated needs and his ambitions as a business owner.

&Partners offered several important advantages:

• Greater independence and autonomy: The ability to make decisions about how he operates his practice, serves clients, and grows his business.
• Equity ownership: An opportunity to participate in the value of the broader enterprise through a partnership model.
• Expanded capabilities: Access to resources and solutions designed to support a sophisticated client base.
• A collaborative culture: Leadership and fellow advisors whose experience, values, and approach to the business aligned with his own.
• Support for continued growth: The infrastructure of an established organization without sacrificing the flexibility Brian wanted.

With the launch of Stonemere Wealth, Brian is joined by Gina Cheves, partner and practice director of operations, and Kristina Paul, client service associate.

Together, the team will continue serving clients from Seminole, Oklahoma, with a focus on personalized advice, long-term relationships, and comprehensive wealth management.

Diamond Consultants’ Role: Finding the Option That Wasn’t on the Radar

When Brian began evaluating his options, he had a general sense of what independence could offer. But the firms he was considering didn’t fully address what he wanted for the next stage of his business.

We helped him look beyond the more familiar destinations for Edward Jones advisors and introduced &Partners as a compelling alternative.

Rather than focusing solely on the benefits of independence, the evaluation centered on identifying the right combination of autonomy, ownership, capabilities, and culture.

That distinction proved important.

The traditional independent broker dealer model wasn’t necessarily wrong for Brian. It simply wasn’t the model that best matched his vision.

By broadening the range of options under consideration, we helped Brian identify a solution that delivered the independence he wanted while offering the partnership and support he valued.

A New Chapter for Stonemere Wealth

Brian’s transition reflects the increasing range of choices available to successful advisors who want greater control over their businesses.

For advisors at Edward Jones and other traditional firms, independence no longer means choosing between a familiar independent broker dealer and building an RIA entirely from scratch. Emerging partnership models are creating additional opportunities to combine business ownership, autonomy, and institutional resources.

Diamond Consultants is pleased to have guided Brian through this important decision and congratulates him, Gina, and Kristina on the launch of Stonemere Wealth.

We look forward to watching their continued success.

Considering your own next chapter?

Whether you’re exploring independence or simply want to better understand the options available, Diamond Consultants can help you evaluate the possibilities and identify the right path for your business.

Ready to start the conversation? Complete our contact form, and a member of our team will be in touch to learn more about your goals and how we can help.