HB Wealth has expanded into Texas with the addition of Steven D. Podnos, Rachel Podnos O’Leary and Lauren Podnos-Garner, a three-advisor team that previously operated Wealth Care LLC with approximately $700 million in assets under management.
Rachel Podnos O’Leary and Lauren Podnos-Garner will be based in Austin, while Steven Podnos will divide his time between Austin and Cocoa Beach, Florida.
The addition establishes Texas as HB Wealth’s seventh market, joining Georgia, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Steven Podnos founded Wealth Care in 2002 as an independent, fee-only registered investment adviser.
Before entering wealth management, he worked as a physician specializing in pulmonary and critical care and continued practicing critical care medicine in the Air Force Reserve through 2023.
That background helped shape the family’s specialization in working with physicians and other healthcare professionals.
The team’s services combine financial planning and investment management with tax planning, asset protection, estate planning and advice around legal and liability considerations associated with medical careers and practices.
The team also serves high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families nationwide.
At HB Wealth, the advisors will gain access to the firm’s investment platform, financial planning capabilities and family office resources.
Advisor Growth Strategies served as transaction adviser to Wealth Care.
HB Wealth manages more than $33 billion for individuals, families and institutions as of September 30, 2026, with more than 360 employees across 13 offices in seven states.
KEY QUOTES:
“Joining HB Wealth represents an important next chapter for our clients and our team. It allows us to preserve the independent, fiduciary approach that has always defined our work while expanding the depth of advice and resources we can bring to each relationship. Rachel, Lauren, and I have built our practice around understanding the full picture of our clients’ lives, including the distinct challenges physicians and other healthcare professionals face. HB Wealth strengthens our ability to address every aspect of our clients’ financial lives with the same personal attention and unwavering focus on their best interests.”
Steven D. Podnos, MD, MBA, CFP
“We’re thrilled to welcome Steven, Rachel, and Lauren, who have built their practice around seeing the complete picture of each client’s life and providing advice that evolves alongside their needs and ambitions. Their addition establishes a strong foundation for us in Austin. This team will be pivotal in how we bring a valuable new dimension to the way we serve medical professionals nationwide.”
Thomas Carroll, CEO of HB Wealth
