The Top Financial Advisors in Arlington, TX

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Arlington's top-rated financial advisor, Baker Financial Services, is a fee-based firm whose client base primarily consists of individuals and high-net-worth individuals. BFS also works with pensions, profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charities and business entities.  There is no set minimum for opening or maintaining an account with BFS.

The firm is fee-based because, in addition to portfolio management fees, advisors collect transaction-based brokerage fees and commissions from selling insurance and financial products. That said, BFS has a fiduciary duty to work in clients' best interests.

Two members the BFS advisory staff hold the certified financial planner (CFP) designation. Additionally, there is one chartered life underwriter (CLU) and one chartered financial consultant (ChFC). (Advisors may have more than one credential.)

Baker Financial Services Background

BFS, which is also known as Gerald Baker Financial Group, LLC, became an SEC-registered investment advisory firm in 1999. The company's president, Gerald Baker, remains its sole owner.

BFS provides clients with portfolio management services, financial planning services and consultation services. Portfolio management is available only to clients, but non-clients can receive investment advice on a limited basis for a fee. Financial planning includes everything from personal budgeting to managing a 401(k) to following a retirement plan. Consultation services include many of the same planning services that are available to clients.

Baker Financial Services Investment Strategy

BFS's investment philosophy revolves around preserving a client’s capital, taking a long-term view and using a passive investing approach over an active investing approach.

Advisors create client portfolios to be diversified across multiple asset classes. The classes commonly include large-, mid- and small-capitalization domestic stocks, international stocks, real estate and commodities, as well as mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

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Parkstone Wealth Management is a fee-only financial advisor firm that primarily serves professional athletes. PWM, rated No. 2 in Arlington, also works with other individuals, as well as trusts, estates, charitable organizations and businesses.

A minimum annual fee of $25,000 is required to open and maintain an account with PWM.

Parkstone Wealth Management Background

PWM was founded in 2013 by managing directors Cheryl F. Quisenberry and Chester A. Straily. Together, they own the firm. PWM offers clients a number of financial planning services, including help with cash flow and budgeting, education funding, mortgages, charitable planning, estate planning, retirement planning and business planning.

Parkstone Wealth Management Investing Strategy

PWM creates client portfolios that are tailored to the specific goals and circumstances of each individual client. However, regardless of the client, the firm focuses on asset allocation and on diversification across multiple asset classes. Parkstone Wealth Management bases its investment philosophy on the idea that a diversified portfolio will help reduce risk.

Portfolio management is conducted on a discretionary basis -- advisors have the authority to make trades and other management decisions without first consulting the client. Advisors primarily allocate client assets among independent investment managers, mutual funds, ETFs and individual bonds. 

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Paladini Financial Advisors, also known as Paladini Financial Management, is a fee-only firm that mainly serves high-net-worth indidivuals. Non-high-net-worth investors are also among Paladini's client base, as well as retirement plans and charitable organizations. Paladini calls for a minimum annual fee of $5,000. 

Two members of the Paladini staff hold the certified financial planner (CFP) designation, while another is a certified public accountant (CPA). As a fee-only firm, Paladini's advisors do not sell financial products or insurance and do not earn commissions. Instead, they are compensated through asset-based client fees and fixed charges.

Paladini Financial Advisors Background

Prior to its transformation in 2015, Paladini Financial Advisors operated under the name Paladini Financial Management, Inc. since 2006. Matthew Paladini, the lead advisor, founded both firms and remains Paladini's principal owner with Wendy Kelly.

Personal financial planning and investment/wealth management are Paladini's core advisory offerings. These cover retirement planning, income tax planning, risk management, estate planning and more. Rather uniquely, Paladini has business planning and transition services specifically for dental practices.

Paladini Financial Advisors Investment Strategy

Paladini hands each new client an investment questionnaire to help determine his or her investor characteristics. Ultimately, this series of questions will show you and your advisor your exact risk tolerance, time horizon, income needs and investment goals.

Based on these factors, the firm constructs a portfolio plan that will look to maximize your return potential for your risk level. There are a number of different investments that your money could end up in, like large- and small-cap domestic stock funds, international stock funds, bond funds, commodity funds, money market funds, ETFs and mutual funds.

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Trinity Fiduciary Partners, the fourth-rated firm in Arlington, has a small advisory team that features one certified financial planner (CFP). There is no minimum account size requirement to join this firm. Trinity's clients include individuals, high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations and business entities. 

Trinity's most distinctive quality is its introduction of religion into investing. This firm looks to "meet the faith and social concerns" of its clients and has "expertise investing with faith-based and social concerns."

As a fee-only firm, Trinity's advisors do not work for commissions or sell financial products. Instead, the firm makes it money from client fees. 

Trinity Fiduciary Partners Background

Trinity CEO Sam Saladino founded the firm in 2005 after working at Ameriprise Financial Planning for nine years. Saladino remains its majority owner, while four other individuals own minority stakes in the business. 

Rather than approach client relationships with both financial planning and investing services, Trinity is fully focused on investment management. However, the firm uses the creation and management of your portfolio to help you reach your stated financial goals.

Trinity Fiduciary Partners Investment Strategy

A new client's introduction to Trinity will be a one-on-one meeting with an advisor to determine their risk tolerance, personal financial goals and cash flow needs. These characteristics are then condensed into a succinct investment policy statement (IPS) that will guide the firm in the creation stage of their portfolio. Trinity manages its own mutual fund strategies that will be considered during this process.

The firm will manage your portfolio on either a discretionary or non-discretionary basis, depending on what you prefer. As your investments age, you'll receive quarterly performance reports and have annual meetings to make sure your portfolio is up to date and progressing.

When it comes to specific asset allocations, Trinity has produced five separate, risk-adjusted strategies: FFV Income, FFV Conservative, FFV Balanced, FFV Growth and FFV Aggressive.