Naperville, IL Office

Team
Updated today
Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd logo

Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd

Enterprise

Firm-wide stats for Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd

Total advisors

381

Across 131 offices

Clients per advisor

65 Typical

Avg AUM per client

$706,728 High

HNW client ratio

17% Typical

About

Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. is an SEC‑registered enterprise adviser with roughly 379 advisors and about $18.6 billion in assets under management that serves a broad mix of individuals (including high‑net‑worth clients), retirement plans, corporations, nonprofits and other institutional clients. Services are delivered through affiliated and independent investment adviser representatives and include advisor‑managed wrap and non‑wrap programs, financial planning (flat‑fee, subscription and hourly), third‑party manager programs, and outsourced CIO solutions for institutional clients.

The firm’s model is IAR‑driven: most advisors operate as independent contractors (with a program for some to become employees) and provide discretionary and non‑discretionary portfolio management, using customized portfolios or model allocations aligned to client goals and ongoing active monitoring. Stratos employs an open‑architecture approach that integrates multiple third‑party platforms and managers — including affiliated sub‑advisors (Stratos Investment Management and SEI Investment Management Corporation), Envestnet, LPL, Fidelity and Schwab — and offers overlay and tax‑management features as part of portfolio implementation.

Several features disclosed in the brochure distinguish Stratos from many peers: a December 2025 strategic investment by SEI brought common ownership with SEI Investment Management Corporation and SEI Private Trust Company, enabling use of SEI‑managed strategies, the SEI Integrated Cash Program (including a mandatory 1% FDIC sweep) and the SEI Access Marketplace — arrangements the firm identifies as creating potential economic conflicts of interest. The brochure also highlights less common operational elements such as held‑away discretionary management via the Pontera platform, an option‑overlay sub‑adviser arrangement that shares fees with a parent company, and niche planning services (for example, sports and entertainment and executive planning), which clients are asked to review with their IAR.

Based on Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd

Expertise

Options & derivatives strategies Business exit / sale strategy Trust structures (GRAT, IDGT, revocable) Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k)

Based on Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd

Occupation focus

Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired Self-Employed

Based on Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd

Demographic focus

HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet) Established Professionals Approaching retirement

Based on Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd

Location

1700 Park Street, #110

Naperville IL 60563

Advisors at this office

4

Advisors at this office

user avatar

David B

CFP®, Series 63

Naperville, IL

Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd

David Blaydes is a CFP® with 47 years of industry experience, currently advising at Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. He has previously worked with LPL Financial, OSAIC, Securities America Advisors, and National Planning Corp. Outside of his advisory role, he is an author of the book "I Just Got Fired, Now What" and conducts webinars related to its content. Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. is an SEC-registered enterprise advisor with approximately 379 advisors and $18.6 billion in assets under management. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, nonprofits, and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory services through an open-architecture platform and both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Options & derivatives strategies Business exit / sale strategy Trust structures (GRAT, IDGT, revocable) Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired Self-Employed HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet) Established Professionals Approaching retirement
user avatar

James W

Series 63, Series 66

Naperville, IL

Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd

James Wilkins is a financial advisor with Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd., holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and having 34 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at LPL Financial LLC, OSAIC, Securities America Advisors, and National Planning Corporation. Wilkins also works as a wealth advisor specializing in variable annuities. Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. is an SEC-registered enterprise adviser with approximately 379 advisors and $18.6 billion in assets under management. The firm serves a diverse client base—including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, nonprofits, and institutional clients—offering investment management and financial planning through a network of affiliated and independent advisers using an open-architecture model with multiple third-party platforms.

Options & derivatives strategies Business exit / sale strategy Trust structures (GRAT, IDGT, revocable) Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired Self-Employed HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet) Established Professionals Approaching retirement
user avatar

James B

Series 65, Series 63

Naperville, IL

Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd

James Blaydes is a financial advisor with Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and bringing nine years of industry experience. His career includes roles at LPL Financial, OSAIC, Securities America, and National Planning Corporation. Outside his advisory work, he serves as president of his condo association, managing administrative duties unrelated to investments. Stratos Wealth Partners is an SEC-registered enterprise advisor with approximately 379 advisors and $18.6 billion in assets under management, serving individuals, retirement plans, corporations, nonprofits, and institutional clients. The firm employs an open-architecture, IAR-driven model that integrates multiple third-party platforms and offers customized portfolio management and specialized planning services.

Options & derivatives strategies Business exit / sale strategy Trust structures (GRAT, IDGT, revocable) Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired Self-Employed HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet) Established Professionals Approaching retirement
user avatar

Jared L

CFP®, Series 65, Series 63

Naperville, IL

Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd

Jared Lester is a CFP®-designated financial advisor at Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd with 10 years of industry experience. His prior roles include time at LPL Financial LLC, OSAIC, Securities America Advisors, and NATIONAL PLANNING CORPORATION. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as an assistant soccer coach for kindergarten-aged children in Naperville, IL. Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd is an enterprise SEC-registered advisory firm with approximately 379 advisors and $18.6 billion in assets under management that serves individuals, retirement plans, corporations, nonprofits, and institutional clients. The firm uses an open-architecture, IAR-driven model integrating multiple third-party platforms and managers, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside financial planning and outsourced CIO solutions.

Options & derivatives strategies Business exit / sale strategy Trust structures (GRAT, IDGT, revocable) Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive Retired Self-Employed HENRY (High Earners, Not Rich Yet) Established Professionals Approaching retirement
View complete list of advisors at this office
Warmer team member

Not sure where to start?

We'll help you think it through—whether you ultimately need an advisor or not. Warmer helps you compare advisors clearly, so you can choose with confidence.

Find your advisor

For advisor listings, we rely on sources including public filings and data provided by advisors, and we cannot guarantee that all information is current or accurate. Advisors are independent and may not have reviewed or updated this information. Please review an advisor’s Form ADV and do your own diligence before deciding whether to work with them.

Advisor matching and introductions are provided by FinanceHQ LLC (“FHQ”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warmer and an SEC-registered investment advisor. We receive compensation from certain participating advisors for introductions or referrals. This creates a conflict of interest because we have an incentive to recommend advisors who compensate us, including those who pay us more. You pay no fee to use our matching service, and advisor fees are not increased because of a referral or introduction. We do not review the ongoing performance of advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.

By using our service, you agree to our Terms of Service and Advisory Agreement, and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. Please review FHQ’s ADV Part 2A and Form CRS. Logos provided by Logo.dev

© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. (“Warmer”)