Top Financial Advisors in Virginia

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Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. The firm's institutional client base includes pensions and profit-sharing plans, charities, government entities, insurance companies and businesses.

As a fee-based firm, some advisors at Cary Street Partners can receive commissions from selling financial products to clients. While this creates the potential for conflicts of interest to arise, the firm is a fiduciary that is legally obligated to act in the best interests of clients.

Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory Background

Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory was founded in 2002. The firm's parent and holding company is called Cary Street Partners Financial, LLC.

Cary Street provides clients with financial planning services and investment management services. It also provides a wrap fee program. About half of the firm's assets are managed on a discretionary basis.

Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory Investment Strategy

Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory, like many other financial advisory firms, looks to tailor its investment management services and investment strategies to the individual needs of its clients. This process involves meeting with clients and discussing such factors as risk tolerance, liquidity needs and time horizon.

Advisors at Cary Street tend to invest client assets in mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), annuities, fixed-income securities, structured notes and equities. However, specific investments depend upon the client's situation.

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Wilbanks, Smith & Thomas Asset Management (WST) has a minimum investment amount of $1 million, though it may waive this requirement at its discretion.

The fee-only firm works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as investment companies, pooled investment vehicles, retirement plans, charities, government entities and businesses.

The advisors at this firm have a number of certifications. These include designations as chartered financial analyst (CFA), Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified public accountant (CPA), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) and certified investment management analyst (CIMA).

Wilbanks, Smith & Thomas Asset Management Background

The ownership of Wilbank, Smith & Thomas Asset Management is split among its principals and Rosemont, though Rosemont only holds a minority non-voting interest. The firm was created in 1990.

Retirement planning is definitely at the forefront of the services offered by this firm. But it can do much more than that, such as business financial consulting, investment management, asset allocation planning, cash flow planning and net worth determination.

Wilbanks, Smith & Thomas Asset Management Investing Strategy

WST completes every part of the investment decision process in-house, including investment origination, research and strategy implementation. Index funds, bonds and traditional stocks are all part of this research, as well as specific investigations into the companies, exchange traded-funds (ETFs), passive funds and actively managed funds within these categories.

Exactly which investments become part of a client's portfolio depends on the requirements of the client, such as risk tolerance, time horizon and liquidity needs. Because of this, the firm strays from exclusively long-term-centric investing, incorporating short-term purchases and short sales as well.

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Cassaday & Co., a McLean-based advisory firm, has a collective account minimum of $500,000 per client.

Its typical client base is made up of primarily high-net-worth individuals and families but also includes other individuals and corporate pension and profit-sharing plans, charities and businesses.

The advisory staff holds multiple certifications, including Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®), chartered mutual fund counselors (CMFCs), financial paraplanner qualified professionals (FPQPs), certified fund specialists (CFSs), chartered retirement planning counselors (CRPCs), chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and certified investment management analysts (CIMAs), among other designations.

This is a fee-based firm. That means certain on-staff advisors can receive commissions from the sale of securities or insurance products to clients. Although this induces a potential conflict of interest, the firm's fiduciary duty requires it to act in clients' best interest, no matter what.

Cassaday & Co. Background

President and CEO Stephan Cassaday established Cassaday & Co. in 1993, after being involved in the financial services industry for 16 years.

Cassaday features several different focus areas of financial planning: personal, investments, retirement, tax/cash flow, death/disability and education. If you’re looking for something more specific, each of these topics can be customized to fit your needs.

Cassaday & Co. Investing Strategy

Modern portfolio theory and a “buy and hold” mindset typically drive investment decisions here. Generally, the firm believes that the market will remain efficient and that a portfolio can take advantage of this if its assets are allocated correctly and in an ultra-diversified way. Cassaday mostly invests in exchange-traded funds, fixed-income securities and mutual funds. 

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Wealthcare Capital Management is a fee-only firm that serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pensions, profit-sharing plans, charities and businesses. Wealthcare does not have a set account minimum

Wealthcare Capital Management Background

Wealthcare Capital Management became an SEC-registered investment advisor shortly after its founding in 2001.The firm is headquartered in Richmond and is wholly-owned by Wealthcare Parent Holdings, LLC, which is principally owned by Financeware LLC and VMS Intermediate Inc.

The firm's operators are president Matthew T. Regan, chief investment officer Ronald E. Madey, chief financial officer Justin DuBrueler and chief compliance officer James J. Krause.

Wealthcare provides wealth management services and financial planning services to clients. It even has a patented investment system known as GDX360.

Wealthcare Capital Management Investment Strategy

Investment strategies at Wealthcare Capital Management are designed to help clients fulfill their individual investment goals instead of creating a broad-brush approach that they apply to everyone. Investment strategies and financial plans are goal's-driven. The firm uses what it calls the Comfort Zone to provide ongoing management.

Advisors may invest client assets in a variety of different investments, including (but not limited to) mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and alternative investments.

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Heritage Wealth Advisors offers investment advisory services to both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as retirement plans, charities and businesses. The firm’s annual investment advisory fee is based on a percentage of assets under management, generally between 0.50% and 1.0%.

While the company doesn't require an annual minimum fee or asset level for investment advisory services, it may decide to charge a lesser investment management fee based on certain criteria at its sole discretion. 

Heritage Wealth Advisors' Background

Founded in 2005 as a limited liability company (LLC), Heritage Wealth Advisors is registered with the SEC since the fall of that same year.

The principal owners of Heritage Wealth Advisors are Delores Ann Remo, John Gwyn Jordan III, Charles Thomas Hill, Jr., Marshall Ogden Chambers, Caroline Elizabeth Baronian and Sarah Christine Simmer. 

Heritage Wealth Advisors' Investing Strategy

Heritage Wealth Advisors offers independent investment strategies designed to meet the specific needs of each client. The firm considers the client’s time horizon, risk tolerance, cash flow needs and other personal preferences when designing an investment portfolio.

Heritage Wealth Advisors designs more conservative investment allocations for clients who are more risk-averse or more aggressive investment allocations for clients who desire a more growth-oriented portfolio.

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The Burney Company is a fee-only firm that works mainly with non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individual clients. It also serves investment companies, retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations and businesses.

The Burney Company has a minimum account size requirement of $750,000.

The Burney Company Background

Founded in 1974, The Burney Company registered with the SEC as an investment advisor in the same year. The principal owners of the firm are Lowell Pratt, Bill Stewart, Martin Walsh, Alex Shen, Richard Bauchspies, Gil Green, and Tom Hunt.

The Burney Company offers clients with financial planning and portfolio management services. All assets are managed on a discretionary basis.

The Burney Company Investment Strategy

The Burney Company works with clients to ensure that all investment and asset allocation strategies are tailored to their individual needs and financial objectives. They take into account such factors as a client's temperament, investment experience, income requirements and true time horizon. Advisors at The Burney Company tend to use a mix of bonds, preferred stocks, real estate investment trusts (REITs), master limited partnerships (MLPs), managed futures and international equities.

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Navy Federal Investment Services is a fee-based firm headquartered in Vienna. The firm works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. Though clients without high net worth greatly outnumber those with high net worth.

According to its brochure, an NFIS investment advisory representative meets with a potential client to discuss financial objectives, needs, risk tolerances, and financial status.

Navy Federal Investment Services' Background

Navy Federal Investment Services is entirely owned by Navy Federal Financial Group, which is owned by Navy Federal Credit Union. 

NFIS started operations in September 2005. The company's principal business activity includes acting as a dual registered investment advisory firm and broker-dealer. The offers advisory clients portfolio management services for a fee.

Navy Federal Investment Services' Investing Strategy

Navy Federal Investment Services primarily provides investment advice to members of Navy Federal Credit Union, individual people, trusts and institutions.

For advisory accounts initial minimum investments do exist, and they range from $50,000 to $100,000 depending on the portfolio management program and third-party portfolio manager that is chosen.

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West Financial Services (WFS) is a fee-only firm that engages in financial planning, retirement plan consulting and investment management services, as well as executive and business consulting. The firm has a minimum investment requirement of $1 million, though it may be willing to waive this at its discretion.

The team holds multiple certifications, including Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®), chartered financial analyst (CFAs), certified employee benefits specialist (CEBS), certified investment management analyst (CIMA) and certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA), among others.

West Financial Services Background

West Financial Services was founded in 1982. Today, it’s owned by Sandy Spring Bank, which is, in turn, a subsidiary of Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. The firm mostly works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, businesses, retirement plans and charitable organizations. 

West Financial Services Investment Strategy

West Financial Services aims to build investment portfolios based on their clients’ financial circumstances, risk tolerance and goals. Accounts are both discretionary and non-discretionary. This means the firm either does trades without running them by the client first or it allows the client to have control of asset allocation and other aspects of their portfolios.

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The Ascent Group (TAG) is a fee-based advisor, meaning some advisors at the firm earn commissions for selling insurance or securities. This is a conflict of interest, but advisors are still required to act in the best interest of the client when serving as an advisor. Most of the clients of the firm are individuals, with the vast majority not having a high net wealth. Institutional clients include pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations.

Financial planning and consulting fees are charged hourly or on a fixed basis, while investment management fees are charged a percentage of assets under management. The minimum account size depends on the services used.

The Ascent Group Background

TAG was founded in 2021 and is owned by Alera Group Inc. Services offered at TAG include financial planning, consulting services, retirement planning, portfolio review, estate planning, investment management and wealth management. Today, the firm manages more than $2.8 billion in assets under management (AUM). 

The Ascent Group Investment Strategy

The firm employs a sophisticated approach to asset management, focusing on personalized investment strategies. Their offerings include Custom Indexing, where they utilize a subadvisor to create tailored portfolios based on factor-based metrics with enhanced tax management features. Additionally, they offer Direct Indexing, which involves constructing portfolios that mimic specific indices through the purchase of underlying stocks, optimizing for tax efficiency and customization.  Nearly two-thirds of the firm’s investments are in individual stocks, while just less than one-third are in mutual funds. The rest is split between cash holdings and bonds.

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Rembert Pendleton Jackson is a fee-only firm that caters to a diverse clientele including individuals, families, high net-worth individuals, retirement and profit-sharing plans and charitable organizations.

The firm offers a comprehensive suite of services tailored to meet various financial needs. These include insurance, income tax services, cash management, education funding, and retirement goals planning. Additionally, they specialize in support for special needs planning, planned giving, and stock option exercise strategies. The firm also provides expert guidance in business form and succession planning, along with other financial areas as mutually agreed upon with the client.

Rembert Pendleton Jackson Background

Rembert Pendleton Jackson was founded in 1974. The firm is owned by Sandy Spring Bank, a Maryland corporation, and its holding company, Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc., which is also based in Maryland. Today, the firm manages more than $2 billion in assets under management (AUM) across its 13 advisors. 

Rembert Pendleton Jackson Investment Strategy

The firm tailors investment strategies to the unique financial profile of each client, considering factors such as their financial circumstances, investment time frame, personal and financial risk tolerances, net worth, cash flow needs, income tax implications, past investment performance, specific investment goals, broader tax and wealth management objectives and any personal investment restrictions they might have.