Feature Image: Alan Tedford
Stephens Group Asset Management is a Little Rock-based investment adviser that was founded by Witt Stephens Jr. and Elizabeth Campbell in partnership with father-son duo Bill and Alan Tedford. The Tedfords brought a combined 70 years at Stephens to the venture.Â
“In the 1960s, my father was the first stockbroker hired by Stephens Inc. — the investment bank Witt Stephens Sr. founded in the 1930s — and our families developed a close personal and professional relationship over the decades,” Managing Partner Alan Tedford said.Â
In the early 2000s, the Tedfords created a low-cost investment strategy built around exchange-traded funds and began managing investments for Stephens and his family. Later, a 2017 lunch conversation with Stephens sparked the idea to build an independent investment advisory firm. Â
“Although we had not planned to leave our previous firm, the opportunity to partner with people we respected so deeply was simply too compelling to pass up,” Tedford said.
As of September 21, 2026, Stephens Group Asset Management manages more than $1.9 billion in assets under management and provides advisory services for over $400 million in additional retirement-plan assets. The most rewarding part of the job, Tedford said, is helping people reach their financial goals and improve their lives, and he is proud of the team he has helped build from the ground up. Stephens Group Asset Management enjoys a close-knit, team-oriented culture that prioritizes both great work and great relationships.
“We take our work seriously, but not ourselves,” Tedford said. “That balance has helped create a group that genuinely cares and enjoys spending time together, both in and outside of the office.”
Fast approaching a decade since its founding, the firm has grown, all the while staying committed to its objective of helping clients preserve and grow wealth. While many firms emphasize returns first, Tedford said Stephens Group Asset Management starts by focusing on risk.
“We believe successful investing begins with understanding the risks clients may encounter and helping them develop a realistic understanding of their own capacity and tolerance,” he explained. “Once that foundation is in place, we steer them toward portfolios that align with their individual goals, circumstances, and comfort level. We have found that clients who understand the risks they are taking are better equipped to stay disciplined through evolving market conditions and remain focused on their long-term objectives.”
The firm joined the Little Rock Executives’ Association in July 2026. LREA is one of the longest-lived business associations of its kind in Arkansas, and as a member, Tedford has welcomed the opportunity to learn more about the breadth and depth of local business talent.
“Both personally and professionally, I have enjoyed learning about the variety of businesses in our community and the interesting people behind them,” he said. “I look forward to building more of those relationships in the months and years to come.”Â
As for the future growth of Stephens Group Asset Management, Tedford said the team currently has its sights set on opportunities in northwest Arkansas.
“SGAM’s roots in the state run deep, and we believe northwest Arkansas represents a natural extension of those roots,” he said. “As we grow, we intend to move thoughtfully and remain highly selective about whom we bring on board, ensuring their values and character align with ours.”
100 River Bluff Dr. #220, Little Rock
501-246-7696
Year founded: 2017
Years in business: 9
Number of employees: 9
Joined LREA: 2026
