SD
Stephanie B. Desear
SYNOVUS SECURITIES
SARASOTA, FL 34236
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CRD#: 5542494
SD
Professional summary
Stephanie Benardo Desear, who also goes by Stephanie Ashton Benardo, is a registered financial advisor currently at SYNOVUS SECURITIES, INC. located in Sarasota, Florida.
Stephanie is registered as an IAR (Investment Advisor Representative) and RR (Registered Representative) and started their career in finance in 2011. Stephanie has worked at 6 firms and has passed the Series 66, SIE and Series 7 exams.
Question & Answer
Are you a "fiduciary"?
Yes
Aliases
Stephanie Ashton Benardo
Other business activities
Outside business activity is any business or activity undertaken by an advisor that is outside the scope of their relationship with their firm (e.g., consulting services, real estate, freelance work, teaching, etc.). Investors should stay informed about these activities to ensure no conflicts of interest.
The advisor shows no other business activity.
CRS (Client Relationship Summary) - RIA
Click below to view Stephanie Benardo Desear's CRS (Customer Relationship Summary).
CRS (Client Relationship Summary) - BD
Click below to view Stephanie Benardo Desear's CRS (Customer Relationship Summary).
Certified licenses
Advisors may have various certifications and credentials from different organizations. AdvisorCheck highlights these seven certifications - AIF®, CFP®, ChFC®, CFA, CLU®, CIMA®, CPWA®
NoneExperience
Current
May 18, 2022 - Present
SYNOVUS SECURITIES, INC.
Office #1: 1605 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34236RIA
BD
CRD#: 14023
SARASOTA, FL
Current
May 17, 2022 - Present
SYNOVUS SECURITIES, INC.
Office #1: 1605 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34236RIA
BD
CRD#: 14023
SARASOTA, FL
Past
August 1, 2017 - May 4, 2022
TRUIST ADVISORY SERVICES, INC.
RIA
CRD#: 283390
LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL
Past
July 19, 2017 - May 4, 2022
TRUIST INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC.
BD
CRD#: 17499
LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL
Past
May 21, 2013 - July 13, 2017
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES, LLC
RIA
CRD#: 19616
BRADENTON, FL
Past
May 16, 2013 - July 13, 2017
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES, LLC
BD
CRD#: 19616
BRADENTON, FL
Past
February 13, 2013 - May 8, 2013
RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC.
RIA
CRD#: 705
SARASOTA, FL
Past
February 13, 2013 - May 8, 2013
RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC.
BD
CRD#: 705
SARASOTA, FL
Past
August 11, 2011 - February 13, 2013
MORGAN KEEGAN & COMPANY, LLC
RIA
CRD#: 4161
SARASOTA, FL
Past
May 25, 2011 - February 13, 2013
MORGAN KEEGAN & COMPANY, LLC
BD
CRD#: 4161
SARASOTA, FL
Primary Firm SEC Registration
This SEC-registered firm can serve clients nationwide. Some states may require the firm to submit a notice filing if the firm has more than 5 clients or a physical office there. You can view these state-level filings under the section titled "State Registrations and Notice Filings".
SS
SYNOVUS SECURITIES, INC.
CALUMET FINANCIAL ASSOCIATES INC. | SYNOVUS SECURITIES, INC. | SYNOVUS FINANCIAL PLANNING SERVICES | CREATIVE FINANCIAL GROUP, A DIVISION OF SYNOVUS SECURITIES, INC. | CALUMET FINANCIAL ASSOCIATES, INC.
CRD#: 14023 / SEC#: 801-19690, 8-34709
RIA
Registered Investment Advisory firm - SEC (9/1/1983 Approved)BD
Broker-Dealer Firm Regulated by FINRA (Atlanta district office)
State Registrations and Notice Filings
Listed states reflect where the advisor is authorized to serve clients under state regulations.
IAR
means the advisor is registered as an Investment Advisor Representative in this state and is authorized to provide investment advice to clients there.RR
indicates the advisor is registered as a Registered Representative in this state, allowing them to offer securities such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds through a broker-dealer.Visual representation of state registrations
RR
Florida(5/17/2022)
IAR
Florida(5/18/2022)
RR
Maine(4/26/2023)
IAR
Maine(4/26/2023)
RR
North Carolina(1/3/2023)
RR
Tennessee(12/9/2022)
Exams
State Security Law Exam
General Industry/Product Exam
General Industry/Product Exam
SRO Registrations
RR
FINRA
Current Firm
SS
SYNOVUS SECURITIES, INC.
CALUMET FINANCIAL ASSOCIATES INC. | SYNOVUS SECURITIES, INC. | SYNOVUS FINANCIAL PLANNING SERVICES | CREATIVE FINANCIAL GROUP, A DIVISION OF SYNOVUS SECURITIES, INC. | CALUMET FINANCIAL ASSOCIATES, INC.
CRD#: 14023 / SEC#: 801-19690, 8-34709
RIA
Registered Investment Advisory firm - SEC (9/1/1983 Approved)BD
Broker-Dealer Firm Regulated by FINRA (Atlanta district office)
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Contact information
Main Address
33 W 14th Street 3rd Floor, Columbus, GA 31901
Mailing Address
P.o. Box 2628, Columbus, GA 31902-2628
Phone number
(706) 649-2327
Established
Georgia since 06/27/1985
Firm type
Corporation
Fiscal year end
December
Firm Size
Medium
# of Employees
280
SEC notice filing (52 States and Territories)
FINRA licenses (53 States and Territories)
Direct owners and executive officers
| Name | Position | CRD# |
|---|---|---|
| PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC. | SYNOVUS SECURITIES, INC. PARENT | |
| BROOKS, WILLIAM THOMAS | CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER | 5028846 |
| ELEAM, JENNA KELLEY | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER / FINOP | 7801582 |
| GUNDERSON, GENE FREDERICK | DIRECTOR OF COMPLIANCE, TRUST & BROKERAGE | 2914172 |
| KIRK, LEAH JEANETTE | CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER | 2217286 |
| LAW, ROBERT WARD | PRESIDENT - CFG DIVISION | 1399885 |
| MCKENZIE, MICHELLE JESSUP | ROP | 2475731 |
| SEXTON, GUY LEONARD | EVP/DIRECTOR | 1204541 |
| VARNER, ROBERT PARKER | PRESIDENT | 2192715 |
Regulatory assets under management
| Total Number of Accounts | 12,411 |
| AUM (Assets Under Management) | $ 8,445,083,014 |
Disclosures
| Regulatory Event | 10 |
| Arbitration | 2 |
Accountant surprise examination report
| Filing Date | Form ADV-E Cover | Form ADV-E Report |
|---|---|---|
| 12/22/2025 | ||
| 11/22/2024 | ||
| 10/27/2023 |
Red Flags
Disclosures can be potential red flags, including customer disputes, regulatory fines, employer terminations, bankruptcies, judgments, liens, or certain criminal activities.
Check for any disclosures as part of your thorough research when choosing an advisor.
