TBAY Made: How Raymond James went from family business to international financial firm

From dispensing investment advice out of a St. Pete apartment to earning an annual revenue of ~$11 billion in 2022 — Raymond James has its roots in Tampa Bay.

Screen Shot 2023-07-10 at 4.17.01 PM.png

Meet Raymond James Financial’s Carillon office.

Photo via St. Pete EDC

Table of Contents

You might know Raymond James Stadium for the Luke Combs concerts, sold-out Taylor Swift shows, and as the home of the Super Bowl Championship-winning Buccaneers. But the name comes from one of the largest banking institutions in the US — Raymond James Financial.

It’s been more than 60 years since Raymond James was founded here in TBAY. This is the story of how the investment bank + financial services firm came to be.

Fast Facts

    • Founded in 1962 in St. Pete
    • Headquarters located at 880 Carillon Pkwy., St. Petersburg
    • Employs ~8,700 financial advisors worldwide
    • Raymond James Financial is the fourth-largest public company in Tampa Bay, with ~$11 billion in annual revenue and ~ $1.22 trillion in client assets
    • Traded as: RJF

    Timeline

    Screen Shot 2023-07-10 at 3.39.38 PM.png

    Imagine this is what your Robinhood account looked like.

    • 1962: Robert A. James started Robert A. Investments right in his teeny St. Pete apartment. Two years later, the company merged with Raymond & Associates, another investment firm run by Edward Raymond.
    • 1969: The firm planned to go public for $10 a share, but an unsteady market delayed the move until 1983.
    • 1986: While other firms closed their trading desks to minimize Black Monday losses, Raymond James actually kept its desks open.
    • 1998: The company bought the naming rights to TBAY’s newest football stadium. The Bucs christened the inaugural game at Ray Jay with a win over the Chicago Bears.

    Today’s Product

    If you’re trying to figure out how to budget and set financial goals, you might as well ask local. Raymond James Advisors can help plan for the future through investments + retirement planning.

    Upcoming Events (at Raymond James Stadium)

    Screen Shot 2023-07-10 at 3.48.50 PM.png

    TBAY loves Ray Jay.

    Photo via Visit Tampa Bay

    This is the first story in a series called “TBAY Made,” which will highlight the important businesses that call our metro home.

    More from TBAYtoday
    Increasing the value of your home might be easier than you think.
    The budding corals will eventually be replanted within the Keys as part of Florida’s Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery Initiative.
    We compiled all of the feedback from our Giving Campaign to learn what readers love most and want to see more of in our newsletters. Here’s a peek at what they said.
    From pop legends to chart-topping bands, there’s no shortage of concerts to see this year in the Tampa Bay area.
    Here’s where to ring in 2026 in TBAY.
    We rounded up six locally approved matcha picks so you can get your green fix.
    We wrap up some of our favorite waterfront parks, local businesses, bakeries, and other faves across Tampa and St. Pete
    Some of country music’s biggest and rising stars play the 2026 festival right on St. Pete Beach.
    A grassroots effort is helping Tampa Bay region properties become part of a nationwide habitat network.
    We’re digging in the Cigar City Brewing IPA’s roots, inspiration, and popularity across the United States.