Updated:
Galvin Gaustad & Stein (GGS)
Galvin Gaustad & Stein was founded in Scottsdale, Arizona by namesake partners Kevin Galvin, Dan Gaustad, and Brian Stein. The trio established the firm to...
Galvin Gaustad & Stein (GGS)
Galvin Gaustad & Stein was founded in Scottsdale, Arizona by namesake partners Kevin Galvin, Dan Gaustad, and Brian Stein. The trio established the firm to deliver wealth management and investment advisory services to high-net-worth individuals and families, independent of the large bank and wirehouse distribution models that still dominate the Arizona wealth corridor. The firm constructs multi-asset-class portfolios spanning public equities, fixed income, and alternative investments. GGS operates with a client-by-client allocation model rather than a single house strategy, tailoring exposure based on individual liquidity needs and tax circumstances. Their investment committee selects third-party fund managers alongside direct holdings, with an emphasis on tax-aware asset location and after-fee net return analysis. The advisory team operates from a single Scottsdale location, though the client base extends beyond Arizona through long-standing referral relationships. GGS has not launched proprietary fund vehicles or adjacent ventures such as a family-office services line or a charitable foundation — the firm remains centered on its core private wealth mandate. In June 2022, the firm updated its regulatory filings to reflect its continued independent structure under the SEC's Form ADV framework (per public record). GGS is structured as a classic partnership-model RIA — a form that is becoming rarer as aggregators and roll-up platforms acquire independent advisory practices. The three named principals remain actively involved in client relationships, which is itself a structural differentiator in an industry where founder liquidity events increasingly transfer control to outside capital partners.
General information
Firm type
Bank / Wealth / Trust
Year founded
2010
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Scottsdale
Corporate office
Scottsdale, AZ, United States
Principals
Kevin Galvin
Founding Principal
Dan Gaustad
Founding Principal
Brian Stein
Founding Principal
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at GGS?
Investment decisions are made by the firm's investment committee, led by founding principals Kevin Galvin, Dan Gaustad, and Brian Stein. The three partners maintain direct involvement in portfolio construction and manager selection, consistent with the partnership-model RIA structure they established. The firm has not publicly designated a separate CIO role distinct from the founding partners.
Is GGS a single-family office or a wealth management firm?
GGS is a registered investment advisory firm serving multiple high-net-worth clients — not a single-family office. It operates as a fee-only RIA with a multi-client practice, structured as a partnership among the three founding principals. The firm does not manage a single family's consolidated balance sheet.
Does GGS manage proprietary funds or only allocate to third-party managers?
GGS primarily allocates client capital to third-party managers across public equities, fixed income, and alternative investments. The firm does not maintain a family of proprietary mutual funds or ETFs. Direct holdings are managed on a client-by-client basis, with manager selection conducted by the in-house investment committee.
What is GGS's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
GGS has not publicly disclosed a co-investment program. The firm's regulatory filings and public materials emphasize manager selection and asset allocation rather than direct co-investing alongside external general partners. Clients considering co-investment access would typically need to pursue that through a dedicated family-office or institutional platform.
Does GGS maintain philanthropic structures for clients?
GGS provides advisory services on charitable giving strategies as part of its wealth management offering, but does not operate a separate philanthropic foundation. The firm has not registered a donor-advised fund program or charitable trust company under its own banner — philanthropic planning is integrated into the overall client-advisory relationship.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on registered investment advisers?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: