History of Soundview

The roots of what is now Soundview Wealth Management trace back more than five decades.

There is a direct line from our team to Howard “Zeke” Robbins, who founded Heron Northwest in Seattle in 1967. At a time when the industry looked very different than it does today, Zeke built his practice around relationships, long-term thinking, and a deep connection to the Seattle community.

In the 1970s, Dick Glassburn began working with and eventually partnered with Zeke. Glass approached the business as a student, absorbing not just how to invest, but how to think.

Both brought a competitive spirit to their work. Zeke had rowed crew at Harvard University, while Glass played basketball at Claremont Men’s College. That shared background of discipline, teamwork, and long-term focus carried over into how they built their practice and served clients.

Zeke’s philosophy was simple, but enduring:

“If you take care of your clients, they will take care of you”

Those ideas still come up in conversations today.

Over time, their partnership grew across several firms and eventually landed at Dain Rauscher. Their relationship extended well beyond the office. They were frequent fixtures at Metropolitan Grill, where Zeke, cautiously bullish by nature, was known to win the restaurant’s “Guess the Dow” contest more than once.

What stood out most was not his ability to forecast markets. It was how he thought about business.

“Deliver the best product you can with the best possible service, and there will always be a line at your door”

Outside of work, both shared a love of gardening, especially dahlias. What began as a shared interest became a lasting connection between their families, one that continued even after Zeke’s passing in 1996.

Glass built on that foundation over a career spanning more than 50 years in the financial markets, beginning at Heron Northwest and ultimately retiring from D.A. Davidson in 2019.

He was known for his direct communication, steady presence, and the care he showed to clients and colleagues alike. He believed in showing up consistently, being clear in his thinking, and doing right by the people who trusted him.

The next chapter began to take shape at D.A. Davidson, where Glass began working alongside Paul Webber.

Paul’s path into the business reflects persistence and experience. After attending Boston College, where he was a swimmer, he moved to Alaska and eventually joined Merrill Lynch as a stockbroker in 1985. He later transitioned to Smith Barney in 2000 and ultimately joined D.A. Davidson in 2008.

Glass and Paul found immediate alignment, not just in how they invested, but in how they approached clients, with discipline, honesty, and a focus on doing what is right.

In 2009, Nikko Gronhovd joined the team as an intern while studying at the University of Washington. She grew into a central role over time, working closely with both Glass and Paul and helping shape the day to day experience for clients.

It was during this period that the group began discussing the idea of formally operating as a team, laying the groundwork for what would eventually become the first Soundview team.

In 2015, David Johnson joined with the intention of helping Glass transition his practice and continue serving clients into the next generation. In 2018, Michael Stevenson joined the team, further strengthening the group by bringing an engineering mindset and a natural ability to leverage technology.

For a period of time, Glass, Paul, Nikko, David, and Michael all worked side by side, bringing together decades of experience, fresh perspective, and a shared commitment to thoughtful decision making. During those years, they established a team first approach built on collaboration, open dialogue, and a consistent way of serving clients.

Today, that team operates as Soundview Wealth Management, LLC.

After years within a traditional broker dealer, the decision was made to transition to an independent model, partnering with LPL Financial.

This move was not about changing direction, but about strengthening how we serve our clients, creating more flexibility, more independence, and a structure better aligned with how the team has always approached its work.

As we look ahead, the environment we operate in continues to evolve, faster, more complex, and often filled with noise.

In those moments, we come back to the same principles that have guided this practice from the beginning.

From Zeke to Glass to Paul, the message has remained consistent. Focus on quality, think long term, and treat clients the right way.

We have had the privilege of working with multiple generations of families, in many cases serving the children and grandchildren of those who first worked with Zeke, Glass, or Paul. That continuity is not something we take for granted. It reflects the kind of long-term relationships we aim to build and the responsibility we feel to carry them forward.

The tools, technology, and markets will continue to change.

The foundation will not.