Clients
Sterling Capital Management serves 3,508 clients, 1,011 of them high-net-worth individuals. The average client has about $20 million with the firm, and high-net-worth clients hold 3% of its $69.2 billion in assets.
- High-net-worth individuals1,011 clients3%
- Banking or thrift institutions2 clients9%
- Investment companies21 clients6%
- Pension and profit-sharing plans70 clients26%
- Charitable organizations95 clients4%
- OtherState or municipal government entities, Insurance companies, Corporations and other businesses, Individuals, Pooled investment vehicles, Other investment advisers53%
Show client breakdownHide client breakdown
| Client type | Clients | Regulatory AUM | Share | Avg. per client |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals (other than HNW) | 1,777 | $800,051,186 | 1.2% | $450K |
| High-net-worth individuals | 1,011 | $1,958,224,679 | 2.8% | $1.94M |
| Banking or thrift institutions | 2 | $6,165,715,242 | 8.9% | $3.08B |
| Investment companies | 21 | $4,129,657,410 | 6.0% | $196.7M |
| Pooled investment vehicles | 5 | $729,264,781 | 1.1% | $145.9M |
| Pension and profit-sharing plans | 70 | $17,819,725,606 | 25.7% | $254.6M |
| Charitable organizations | 95 | $2,722,925,788 | 3.9% | $28.7M |
| State or municipal government entities | 112 | $17,215,106,646 | 24.9% | $153.7M |
| Other investment advisers | 10 | $140,912,254 | 0.2% | $14.1M |
| Insurance companies | 134 | $1,814,864,564 | 2.6% | $13.5M |
| Corporations and other businesses | 271 | $15,737,742,278 | 22.7% | $58.1M |
| Total | 3,508 | $69,234,190,434 | 100% | $19.7M |
- Clients
- 1,777
- Regulatory AUM
- $800,051,186
- Share
- 1.2%
- Avg. per client
- $450K
- Clients
- 1,011
- Regulatory AUM
- $1,958,224,679
- Share
- 2.8%
- Avg. per client
- $1.94M
- Clients
- 2
- Regulatory AUM
- $6,165,715,242
- Share
- 8.9%
- Avg. per client
- $3.08B
- Clients
- 21
- Regulatory AUM
- $4,129,657,410
- Share
- 6.0%
- Avg. per client
- $196.7M
- Clients
- 5
- Regulatory AUM
- $729,264,781
- Share
- 1.1%
- Avg. per client
- $145.9M
- Clients
- 70
- Regulatory AUM
- $17,819,725,606
- Share
- 25.7%
- Avg. per client
- $254.6M
- Clients
- 95
- Regulatory AUM
- $2,722,925,788
- Share
- 3.9%
- Avg. per client
- $28.7M
- Clients
- 112
- Regulatory AUM
- $17,215,106,646
- Share
- 24.9%
- Avg. per client
- $153.7M
- Clients
- 10
- Regulatory AUM
- $140,912,254
- Share
- 0.2%
- Avg. per client
- $14.1M
- Clients
- 134
- Regulatory AUM
- $1,814,864,564
- Share
- 2.6%
- Avg. per client
- $13.5M
- Clients
- 271
- Regulatory AUM
- $15,737,742,278
- Share
- 22.7%
- Avg. per client
- $58.1M
Total
- Clients
- 3,508
- Regulatory AUM
- $69,234,190,434
- Share
- 100%
- Avg. per client
- $19.7M
What it does
Sterling Capital Management provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, portfolio management for investment companies, portfolio management for pooled vehicles, portfolio management for institutions, selecting other managers and other activities. It is paid through a percentage of assets, fixed fees and performance-based fees.
Sterling Capital Management provided financial planning to 1–10 clients last fiscal year and advises no private funds.
99.9% of assets ($69.15B across 3,499 accounts) are managed with discretion; $85.3M across 9 accounts are not. $2.69B sits in a wrap fee program the firm both sponsors and manages. 3% of clients are outside the U.S., and 17 clients received advice without assets under management last fiscal year.
What the accounts hold
- Stocks6%
- Funds8%
- Pooled vehicles6%
- Registered funds2%
- Bonds76%
- Investment grade corporate bonds35%
- U.S. government and agency bonds31%
- State and local bonds10%
- Cash1%
- Other8%
- "other" category primarily consists of non agency securitized fixed income instruments (abs/cmbs/mbs) and repurchase agreements.8%
Filed values cover 99%. The neutral 1% gap has no reported category.
Custodians
Sterling Capital Management’s client accounts are held mainly at Truist Bank, with 39% of managed assets, and Fidelity, with 25%. Sterling Capital Management has custody of $18.00B for 519 clients.
- Truist BankTruist Bank · Wilson, NC · $27.05B39%
- The Bank of New York MellonThe Bank of New York Mellon · New York, NY · $6.56B9%
- FidelityFidelity Management Trust Comapany · Boston, MA · $17.44B25%
- All other custodians$18.18B26%
Ownership and leadership
Guardian Capital US Asset Management LLC owns 75% or more of Sterling Capital Management, and Scott Haenni is its CEO.
- Owns 75% or more of Sterling Capital Management LLC
Guardian Capital US Asset Management LLC
Control person · since July 2024
- Owns 75% or more of Guardian Capital US Asset Management LLC
Guardian Innovations Inc.
Control person · since June 2024
- Owns 75% or more of Guardian Innovations Inc.
Guardian Capital Group Limited
Control person · since June 2024
- Owns 75% or more of Sterling Capital Management LLC
Guardian Capital US Asset
Control person · since July 2024
- Owns 75% or more of Sterling Capital Management LLC
Desjardins Financial Corporation Inc.
Control person · since March 2026
- Owns 75% or more of Desjardins Financial Corporation Inc.
Desjardins Financial Holdings Inc.
Control person · since March 2026
- Owns 75% or more of Desjardins Financial Holdings Inc.
Federation Des Desjardins Du Quebec
Control person · since March 2026
Leadership
- Scott HaenniSenior Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer
- Jason ToledanoChief Financial Officer
- Charles DurhamManaging Director, Chief Compliance Officer
- Robert BridgesSenior Managing Director
- Mark MontgomerySenior Managing Director
Staff
- 186 employees
- 64 in advisory functions
- 39 state-registered reps
- 36 broker-dealer reps
- 10 soliciting firms
Reported holdings
Sterling Capital Management’s reported 13F holdings total $5.90B across 3,289 positions, and the ten largest make up 23.5% of it.
- $5.90B
- Reported 13F value
- 3,289
- Positions
- 23.5%
- In the 10 largest
- +11.7%
- Value vs. prior quarter
- Rreef Core Plus Residential FU · LP4.8%
- Vanguard S&P 500 ETFETF3.6%
- Nvidia Corp.3.3%
- Manulife Co-investment Partner · LP2.6%
- Microsoft Corp.2.0%
- Apple Inc.1.6%
- TQ DB Pension Priv Inv Adm · LP1.6%
- Alphabet Inc.-cl A1.5%
- Alphabet Inc. Cap Stk CL C1.4%
- J P Morgan Chase And CO1.2%
Together, the ten largest are 23.5% of reported value.
A 13F covers only exchange-traded long positions the firm holds with discretion, so this $5.90B is not its $69.23B in regulatory assets and does not represent any individual client's portfolio.
Fees
Sterling Capital Management is paid through a percentage of assets under management, fixed fees (other than subscription fees) and performance-based fees.
Sterling Capital Management’s fee rates are not included in this profile. Find its brochure on the SEC’s site.
Offices and registrations
Besides its headquarters, Sterling Capital Management has 10 offices (5 private residences, listed without an address), with 6 listed addresses across 5 states.
North Carolina · 2 listed addresses
- 4350 Congress Street, Suite 1000, CharlotteHQ
- 434 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh
California · 1 listed address
- 533 Airport Boulevard, Burlingame
Pennsylvania · 1 listed address
- 150 S. Warner Road, King of Prussia
Utah · 1 listed address
- 6440 South Wasatch Boulevard, Salt Lake City
Virginia · 1 listed address
- 948 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach
Registration details
- Legal name
- Sterling Capital Management LLC
- Headquarters
- 4350 Congress Street, Suite 1000, Charlotte, NC 28209
- Phone
- 704-927-4175
- Website
- www.sterlingcapital.com
- SEC file
- 801-64257
- Structure
- North Carolina LLC
- Fiscal year end
- December
This directory does not report disciplinary history, for any firm or individual, in either direction. The SEC publishes the complete record, including any disciplinary events, and it is the authoritative place to check one. See this firm's record on adviserinfo.sec.gov
Common questions
How many clients does Sterling Capital Management have?
Sterling Capital Management has 3,508 clients and manages $69.2 billion for them, as of July 2026. They include 1,777 other individuals, 1,011 high-net-worth individuals and 271 corporations and other businesses.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.D and 5.F, filed 15 July 2026
What services does Sterling Capital Management offer?
Sterling Capital Management provides financial planning, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, portfolio management for investment companies, portfolio management for pooled vehicles, portfolio management for institutions, selecting other managers and other activities.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.G, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Which custodians does Sterling Capital Management use?
Sterling Capital Management’s separately managed account assets are held at Truist Bank (Wilson, NC), with $27,047,818,544, Fidelity Management Trust Comapany (Boston, MA), with $17,442,954,353 and The Bank of New York Mellon (New York, NY), with $6,563,681,594. Only custodians holding at least a tenth of those assets are named.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedule D, Section 5.K.(3), filed 15 July 2026
How many financial advisors does Sterling Capital Management have?
Sterling Capital Management has 39 investment adviser representatives registered with state securities authorities, out of 186 employees, and 64 perform investment advisory functions. 36 are registered representatives of a broker-dealer and 0 are licensed insurance agents.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.A and 5.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
What does Sterling Capital Management invest in?
At the end of its last fiscal year, Sterling Capital Management’s separately managed accounts held 35% investment grade corporate bonds, 31% U.S. government and agency bonds, 10% state and local bonds, 8% "other" category primarily consists of non agency securitized fixed income instruments (abs/cmbs/mbs) and repurchase agreements., 6% exchange-traded equities, 6% pooled vehicles (private funds and similar), 2% registered funds (mutual funds, ETFs, BDCs) and 1% cash and equivalents. It advises no private funds of its own.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Items 5.K.(1) and 7.B, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file
Who owns Sterling Capital Management?
Sterling Capital Management is owned through a chain of holding companies by Guardian Capital Group Limited and Federation Des Desjardins Du Quebec. Its direct owners are Guardian Capital US Asset Management LLC (75% or more), Guardian Capital US Asset (75% or more) and Desjardins Financial Corporation Inc. (75% or more).
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Schedules A and B, filed 15 July 2026
How does Sterling Capital Management get paid?
Sterling Capital Management is paid through a percentage of assets under management, fixed fees and performance-based fees. Its Form ADV lists no commissions among how it is paid.
Source: Form ADV Part 1A, Item 5.E, from the SEC's 2 October 2026 data file