In 1883, the forerunner of Hazlett, Burt & Watson, Inc. opened for business under the name of Hazlett, Wheat & Hayes. The office was located at 1314 Main Street, Wheeling, West Virginia. The firm originally sold wholesale notions, fancy goods and toys.

In 1891, William B. Simpson and Howard Hazlett joined in partnership to sell real estate and investments. Several months later, Hazlett purchased his partner’s interest and reorganized the firm into Howard Hazlett and Company, specializing in stocks and bonds.

In 1908, the firm moved into what is now the Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Building when it was opened by Wheeling brewer, Henry Schmulbach.  On February 1, 1923, D.A. Burt resigned from the Wheeling Steel Corporation and joined the brokerage firm. They purchased a membership on the New York Stock Exchange and were early promoters of investing in blue chip common stocks.

On October 1, 1938, Howard Hazlett II, D.A. Burt Jr. and John C. Watson formed the partnership of Hazlett, Burt & Watson .   D.A. Burt, Jr. passed away in 1973. The firm was purchased by George S. Weaver, Jr., Stuart F. Bloch, John C. Watson, and other employees. The firm is still owned by its employees.  Since its incorporation in 1973, Hazlett, Burt & Watson, Inc. has been actively involved as an underwriter of tax-exempt securities.  During this period, the firm has been a participant in many major bond offerings and has managed or co-managed several of these financings.

In January 2000, Hazlett, Burt & Watson, Inc. converted to a holding company structure in the name of HB&W, Inc.  HB&W, Inc. owns two businesses, Hazlett, Burt & Watson, Inc. the brokerage firm and Security National Trust Company.  Security National Trust Company received its National Bank Charter May 15, 2000 as a non-deposit, non-loan making bank whose sole focus is providing Trust Investment Services.  Total trust assets as of December 31, 2007 exceeded $406,000,000.

Hazlett, Burt & Watson, Inc. is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).