Finding a Financial Advisor in Alabama
If you're searching for a financial advisor in Alabama, you're in luck. SmartAsset has compiled a list of the top 10 firms in the state based on a variety of criteria, including assets under management and the number of clients per advisor. But if you'd perfer us to find you an advisor to potentially work with, use SmartAsset's free matching tool to be paired with up to three advisors who serve your area.
| Rank | Financial Advisor | Assets Managed | Minimum Assets | Financial Services | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waverly Advisors, LLC Find an Advisor | $29,781,065,619 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
| 2 | Aptus Capital Advisors Find an Advisor | $14,141,557,319 | $50,000 |
| Minimum Assets$50,000Financial Services
|
| 3 | RFG Advisory, LLC Find an Advisor | $6,813,842,355 | Varies based on account type |
| Minimum AssetsVaries based on account typeFinancial Services
|
| 4 | Leavell Investment Management, Inc. Find an Advisor | $3,404,753,027 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
| 5 | The Welch Group, LLC Find an Advisor | $3,682,452,369 | $3,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$3,000,000Financial Services
|
| 6 | Tucker Financial Group | $339,025,322 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
| 7 | Southern Financial Group, LLC Find an Advisor | $1,050,139,365 | $50,000 |
| Minimum Assets$50,000Financial Services
|
| 8 | Meld Financial, Inc. Find an Advisor | $776,399,278 | No minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo minimumFinancial Services
|
| 9 | TrueWealth Advisors, LLC | $547,498,774 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
| 10 | Park Place Capital Corporation Find an Advisor | $879,223,964 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
How We Found the Top Financial Advisor Firms in Alabama
To find the top financial advisors in Alabama, we first identified all firms registered with the SEC in the state. Next, we filtered out firms that don't offer financial planning services; those that don't serve primarily individual clients; and those that have disclosures on their record. The qualifying firms were then ranked according to the following criteria:
Waverly Advisors
Waverly Advisors is a fee-only firm that works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as banks, investment companies, pooled investment vehicles, retirement plans, charities, insurance companies and businesses.
According to the firm’s brochure, new retail clients are subject to a $5,000 annual minimum advisory fee, and 401(k) plan clients are subject to a $15,000 annual minimum advisory fee.
Waverly says that it uses a range of investment strategies that are organized by investment objectives and approaches. These can include buy and hold (long-term asset allocation with periodic rebalancing), active and tactical (proactive allocation based on market trends and analysis), and customized (tailored strategies to meet specific client needs).
The firm provides a broad set of services for individual clients. These include investment management services, where the firm supervises and manages assets held at institutional custodians on a continuous basis, and advisement services, which are periodic, non-discretionary reviews and recommendations for accounts held elsewhere.
Clients can also request financial planning and consulting services, covering areas like retirement, tax and estate planning.
Aptus Capital Advisors
Aptus Capital Advisors is a fee-based firm that offers financial advisory services to both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as investment companies.
While the standard minimum investment requirement is $50,000, Aptus Capital Advisors may adjust this minimum at their discretion under specific circumstances.
Because Aptus Capital is a fee-based firm, its advisors may earn commissions from selling certain securities. This can pose a potential conflict of interest, but advisors must follow a fiduciary duty and put their client’s interests first.
The firm uses a range of services tailored to individual financial needs, including general cash flow planning, retirement planning and insurance analysis.
Aptus Capital typically invests in equities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), bonds, options and mutual funds. These strategies are tailored to align with the unique needs of their clients, taking into consideration individual circumstances and changes in personal or financial situations.
RFG Advisory
RFG Advisory is a fee-based financial advisor firm that serves both individual and institutional clients. These include non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as retirement plans, charities, government enteties, businesses and trusts.
As a fee-based firm, there is a potential for a conflict of interest as the firm and its advisors can earn commissions for the sale of certain securities. However, the firm is bound by a fiduciary duty to put the needs of each client first.
RFG offers a range of financial planning and portfolio management services.
Like other firms, it provides tailored investment management services that are based on client financial situations and investment goals. Advisors do this by meeting with clients to determine such information as their tolerance for risk, liquidity needs and time horizon.
Each advisor is different, so investment philosophies and strategies may vary depending on who you happen to work with. However, advisors tend to use a combination of fundamental analysis, technical analysis, charting and cyclical analysis to evaluate potential investments.
They may invest for the long term or short term and may use trading, options writing and margin transactions to help drive growth.
Leavell Investment Management
As a fee-only firm, Leavell Investment Management is compensated through asset-based management fees, which vary by portfolio. While there is no set account minimum, the firm does impose a minimum annual fee of $5,000 regardless of account size.
The firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, and investment companies, as well as pensions and profit-sharing plans. Clients also include consulting plans, business entities and charitable organizations.
Depending on a client's investment goals, advisors allocate assets across various classes including individual stocks and bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), as well as master limited partnerships, options, real estate investment trusts, and other securities.
Leavell Investment Management prefers fundamental analysis and derives its information from Morningstar reports, fund prospectuses, S&P reports, financial news and other materials.
The firm's equity management strategy seeks long-term capital growth while mitigating risk through diversification. Its fixed-income management strategy is designed to protect principals with short- and intermediate-term bonds.
The Welch Group
The Welch Group, LLC is a fee-only firm that works with individuals, families, business entities, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans and ERISA retirement plan participants.
The firm generally requires a $500,000 minimum for investment management services, including financial planning. The Welch Group may waive or reduce this minimum at its discretion.
As a fee-only firm, The Welch Group does not accept compensation from the sale of securities or other investment products. The firm also does not charge performance-based fees.
The firm offers a range of financial planning and portfolio management services, including retirement planning, tax planning, estate planning, education planning, insurance and risk management, ERISA plan and 401(k) advisory services, family office services and concierge services.
The Welch Group's investing approach is informed by a combination of charting, fundamental analysis, technical analysis and cyclical analysis. The firm may use long-term purchases, short-term purchases and trading strategies, depending on the client’s objectives and circumstances.
Client portfolios may include individual stocks, bonds, no-load mutual funds, variable annuity sub-accounts and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Tucker Financial Group
Tucker Financial Group is a fee-based financial advisor firm that works with individuals, families, small businesses, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations.
The firm does not require clients to maintain a minimum account balance.
Because Tucker Financial Group is a fee-based firm, its advisors may earn commissions from selling certain insurance products. This can pose a potential conflict of interest, but advisors must follow a fiduciary duty and put their client’s interests first.
Tucker Financial Group offers a range of financial planning and portfolio management services. These may include continuous investment advice, asset allocation guidance, written investment strategies, mutual fund research and selection, managed account programs, wrap fee program services and financial planning consulting.
The firm may also work with clients on risk management, investment planning, estate planning, financial organization, financial decision-making and retirement planning.
Tucker Financial Group’s investment strategies are based on each client’s objectives and risk tolerance. Advisors may use asset allocation, dollar-cost averaging, technical analysis, long-term purchases and short-term purchases.
Depending on a client's investment goals, advisors may allocate assets across cash, stocks, mutual funds, bonds and annuities.
Southern Financial Group
Southern Financial Group is a fee-based firm that primarily works with individuals and high-net-worth individuals. Clients also include charitable organizations and corporations.
While the firm is a fiduciary, some advisors are representatives of a dealer/broker and can earn commissions on certain transactions. As a result, Southern Financial Group is considered a fee-based firm.
Southern Financial Group also charges asset-based fees, as most financial advisors do. The firm has a $50,000 account minimum.
Southern Financial Group’s investment strategy focuses on identifying an appropriate ratio of securities, fixed income and cash that most closely corresponds with a client’s financial goals.
In managing client portfolios, advisors will use long-term purchases, short-term purchases, trading, and on occasion, margin transactions.
The firm invests client assets in a combination of exchange-listed securities, securities traded over the counter, foreign issuers, warrants, corporate debt securities, commercial paper, municipal securities, variable life insurance, variable annuities, mutual funds and U.S. government securities.
Meld Financial
Meld Financial is a fee-only firm that works with high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as charities, government entities and businesses.
The firm offers comprehensive financial planning as a base service, as well as single-issue analysis and advisory services.
Meld advisors may also work with clients on a variety of topics, including estate planning, college funding, retirement funding, retirement plan distribution, executive employee compensation analysis and insurance needs, among others.
The firm's investing approach is informed by a combination of charting, technical analysis, fundamental analysis and cyclical analysis.
Meld generally provides investment advice on exchange-listed securities, mutual funds, over-the-counter equities, equities of foreign issuers, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), U.S. government securities, options, commercial paper, warrants, corporate debt securities and alternative investments, including hedge funds and real estate.
TrueWealth Advisors
TrueWealth Advisors, LLC is a fee-based firm that works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations and other business entities.
The firm does not generally require clients to maintain a minimum account balance.
As a fee-based firm, some advisors at TrueWealth Advisors may receive commissions from broker-dealer or insurance-related activities. While this can pose a potential conflict of interest, advisors must follow a fiduciary duty and put their clients’ interests first.
TrueWealth Advisors offers portfolio management, financial planning and consulting, selection of third-party money managers, pension consulting and SIMPLE IRA plan services. Its planning and consulting services may cover areas like education planning, asset allocation, debt management, distribution planning, tax planning, business succession planning, retirement planning, estate planning, budgeting and cash flow analysis.
The firm's investment strategies may include long-term and short-term purchases, ESG investing, strategic asset allocation, proprietary model portfolios and third-party model portfolios through the Orion platform. The firm also offers values-based and faith-aligned portfolio options.
TrueWealth Advisors uses a range of investment analysis methods, including charting, technical, fundamental, cyclical and Modern Portfolio Theory-based analysis.
Park Place Capital
Park Place Capital Corporation works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, small businesses, investment companies, pension plans and insurance companies.
The firm does not require clients to maintain a minimum account balance for its general advisory services or wrap fee program.
Park Place Capital Corporation offers asset management, mutual fund services, institutional consulting, retail financial planning, wrap fee program services and referrals to other investment advisers. Its financial planning services may include asset allocation, tax planning, risk management and retirement planning.
Park Place Capital Corporation’s investing approach may include fundamental analysis, technical analysis, return pattern and risk analysis, asset allocation and third-party sub-adviser or model-based portfolio strategies.
The firm generally provides investment advice on exchange-listed securities, securities traded over the counter, corporate debt securities, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, municipal securities, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), unit investment trusts, U.S. government securities and options.