$850M Team Departs Steward Partners to Launch RIA Clear Trail Advisors 

A Texas-based financial advisor duo with $850 million in client assets has left Steward Partners to launch their own financial planning firm, in partnership with Dynasty Financial Partners. 

Houston-based Clear Trail Advisors, which is led by father-and-son duo chairman Randolph and CEO Matthew Price, along with president Matthew Kerns, also serves as wealth advisors for the firm. Additionally, four other staff members have joined the team. 

Clear Trail Advisors previously functioned as The Price Group while affiliated with Steward Partners, who joined the registered investment advisor in 2018, from RBC Wealth Management. 

Clear Trail Advisors provides “tailored” retirement planning, tax-efficient planning strategies, and income-focused portfolio strategies to high-net-worth individuals and families. 

The team has chosen Dynasty Financial Partners to provide back-office support and to further market its firm’s usage of Dynasty’s investment management platform. The team’s breakaway from Steward reflects the increasing trend that firms are seeking to provide more services and optimize long-term growth. 

Clear Trail Advisors has also selected Charles Schwab as its primary custodian, stating that the platform provides “scale, stability,” and stabilizes a “strong” presence in Texas. 

“As fiduciaries, we are always focused on how to serve our clients more thoughtfully and effectively,” Kerns said. “This move gives us the tools to do that while staying grounded in the approach our clients know and trust.” 

Clear Trail Advisors plans to expand its service model by hiring a director of financial planning and adding in-house tax services over the next two years, the firm said.

Pictured: Randolph Price (Left), Matthew Price (Center), and Matthew Kerns (Right)