Steve is a Managing Director with Lazear, leading the California market while extending his expertise to business owners nationwide. He helps privately held companies explore the full range of succession options, with a particular focus on ESOP transactions, guiding owners to structure their strategy to maximize value, preserve company culture, and empower employees.

His professional experience over the past 25 years in the financial services and investment banking industry enables him to provide real world applications for the options available in today’s marketplace. In addition, his personal experience of being a proud member of a 4th generation family agricultural business is central to his core tenets as a professional.

Before joining Lazear, Steve worked as a Director of ESOP Advisory and Senior Vice President for regional investment banking firms located in California. He was instrumental in the development, analysis and execution of business succession plans for dozens of family businesses. Steve began his career as a financial advisor for high-net-worth families as part of an Institutional Middle Markets team at Merrill Lynch and received his B.S. in Business Administration (Legal Environment) from California State University, Fresno.

What do you think is unique about Lazear’s approach to working with clients?

Our firm has at its core, a passion for fully understanding the financial and non-financial objectives of our clients while crafting tailored comprehensive and sustainable business succession strategies that exceed their expectations!