Stifel Financial Corp. secured the top position in employee advisor satisfaction among wealth management firms in the JD Power 2026 U.S. Financial Advisor Satisfaction Study. This marks the fourth consecutive year the firm has earned the No. 1 ranking, reflecting a score of 812 out of 1,000, which is 180 points higher than the employee segment average. The firm serves clients from more than 400 offices across the U.S. with approximately $580 billion in client assets as of May 31, 2026.

Key Performance Metrics

Stifel outperformed the industry average significantly in the latest study. The firm's consistent performance highlights its focus on advisor support and culture.

Category Leadership

In addition to the overall ranking, Stifel achieved the top position in three specific categories within the study. These areas underscore the firm's operational strengths and commitment to its workforce.

• Leadership and culture
• Operational support
• Products and marketing

Executive Commentary

Ron Kruszewski, Chairman and CEO of Stifel, emphasized the importance of the milestone. "Earning the No. 1 ranking from JD Power for the fourth consecutive year is a meaningful milestone for our firm," he said. "Our advisors are the foundation of our success, and this recognition reflects the strength of our culture and our unwavering commitment to supporting their independence, growth, and ability to serve clients."

Kruszewski also highlighted the role of technology in the firm's strategy. "We believe AI presents an extraordinary opportunity to enhance – not replace – the advisor by reducing friction, improving insights, and giving advisors more time to do what they do best: build trusted relationships and help clients achieve their financial goals."

Jim Zemlyak, President of Stifel and Head of Global Wealth Management, attributed the success to continuous investment. "Consistency at this level doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from continuous investment in our advisors and a deep understanding of what they need to succeed," Zemlyak stated.

Stifel Financial Corp. reported a 16% year-over-year increase in total client assets to $579,678 million as of May 31, 2026, driven by market appreciation and solid advisor recruiting. Fee-based client assets rose 20% to $238,727 million during the same period, excluding the sale of Stifel Independent Advisors, LLC. The company expects second-quarter investment banking revenue to increase 25% to 30% from the second quarter of 2025, supported by increased capital raising activity.

Ronald J. Kruszewski, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, highlighted that loan balances rose more than 2% from the prior month due to robust demand in fund banking. Treasury deposits declined 3% in May, primarily due to the timing of inflows and outflows by corporate clients, though the company anticipates strong growth in the second quarter and beyond.

Selected Operating Data (Unaudited)

The following table presents selected operating data for the periods indicated:

Notes

(1) Total client assets and Private Client Group fee-based client assets as of May 31, 2025, include $9.3 billion and $4.4 billion, respectively, of client assets from the Stifel Independent Advisors business that was sold on February 2, 2026.

(2) Includes Smart Rate deposits, Sweep deposits, Third-party Bank Sweep Program, and Other Sweep cash.

(3) Includes Other Bank deposits and Third-party Commercial Treasury deposits, which represent Venture, Fund, and Commercial deposits at Stifel Bancorp and third-party banks.