Top Financial Advisors in Augusta, GA

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Richard Young Associates, Ltd. is the first firm on our list, and it’s also the oldest. The firm has grown to serve more than 1,000 clients since its founding almost 50 years ago. All but around 150 of these clients are individuals without a high net worth; the other clients include high-net-worth individuals, pension/profit sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations. In order to be a client of the firm, you need to have at least $50,000 invested among all of your accounts.

The firm employs a small team of advisors. Among them are certifications including four certified financial planners (CFPs) and one certified public accountant (CPA). Richard Young Associates is a fee-only firm, which means that it avoids the conflicts of interest found at a fee-based firm. 

Richard Young Associates Background

Richard Young Associates was founded back in 1974. However, it wasn't until 1996 that the firm became a registered investment advisor (RIA). Firm president Walter S. Marbert and special projects manager Kathryn O. Marbert act as principal shareholders.

Portfolio management and financial planning are the firm’s core service offerings. The former typically comes in the form of the creation and implementation of an asset allocation strategy, while the latter usually involves retirement and tax planning.

Richard Young Associates Investment Philosophy

Richard Young Associates conducts its investments according to modern portfolio theory (MPT), a Nobel-prize winning framework that concerns the relationship between risk and return in investing. In practice, this typically takes the form of portfolios which consist of no-load institutional mutual funds that represent 8 to 12 asset classes in several different markets. This is done to minimize volatility in both the short- and long-term. On average, portfolios tend to include more small and international stocks than other categories.

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Firethorn Wealth Partners, LLC doesn’t impose any sort of account minimum, which is likely why non-high-net-worth individuals make up the largest portion of its client base. The firm also works with a number high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, charities and businesses.

This firm's advisory staff includes two certified financial planners (CFPs), one accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) and one certified investment management analyst (CIMA).

Firethorn is a fee-based firm, as its advisors may be licensed to sell insurance products or securities for a commission. While this has the potential to be a conflict of interest, the firm's fiduciary duty requires it to act in your best interest.

Firethorn Wealth Partners Background

Firethorn Wealth Partners is owned by its three co-founders and managing members: Scott Benjamin, Kevin Sweeney and Gerald Rogers.

Firethorn Wealth Partners provides its clients with investment management services, along with financial planning and general consulting. The latter can touch on whatever areas are most pertinent to the client's situation, including business planning, cash flow forecasting, estate planning, financial reporting, investment consulting, insurance planning, retirement planning, risk management, charitable giving, tax planning and distribution planning. 

Firethorn Wealth Partners Investment Philosophy

For most clients, Firethorn Wealth Partners' advisors will construct a portfolio out of some combination of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), individual equities, debt securities and options. The firm may also utilize independent money managers. If the client’s circumstances are appropriate, the firm may also recommend structured products or private placements, such as investments in pooled investment vehicles.

Asset allocation is a crucial element of the firm’s approach to investing. The firm believes the right asset allocation is essential to eliminating unnecessary risk and volatility from a portfolio. As such, it will build a personalized asset allocation for you based on your risk tolerance, time horizon, income needs and more.

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AP Wealth Management, founded in 2011, is the most exclusive firm on this list, with a stated minimum account size of $1 million. Like many firms, though, it may waive this minimum under certain circumstances - which it apparently does quite often, as its client base is mostly made up of non-high-net-worth individuals. The firm also works with high-net-worth individuals, pension plans and charitable organizations.

Despite a staff of just a few advisors, the firm isn’t short on certifications. In fact, several of its advisors are certified financial planners (CFPs) and/or certified public accountants (CPAs). AP is a fee-only firm.

AP Wealth Management Background

AP Wealth Management was founded in 2011 and equally owned by Eugene Francis McManus, William Patrick Fair, Tom O’Gorman, and Clayton Quamme.

The firm provides three primary services to clients. First, the firm offers financial planning to affluent individuals and families via a process it calls "Lifetime Financial Solutions." The firm also provides ongoing investment management services and develops model portfolios for retirement and profit-sharing plans.

AP Wealth Management Investment Philosophy

AP Wealth Management begins each investment process by sitting down with the client and establishing key information, like their overall investing goals, risk tolerance and time until retirement. From there, the firm will work to come up with an asset allocation that best fits these needs. The firm may rebalance clients' assets periodically to keep their intended asset allocation plan intact.

When investing money for clients, AP typically uses open- and closed-end mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), individual stocks and bonds, structured notes and non-publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs). In order to ensure your investments aren't too concentrated in one area of the market, the firm will diversify your assets across various market sectors and capitalizations.

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Calvary Wealth, LLC exclusively serves individuals, including those with and without a high net worth. 

The firm has no stated account minimum, and main advisor is both a certified financial planner (CFP) and a certified public accountant (CPA). Calvary is a fee-only firm, meaning all of its compensation comes from the advisory fees that clients pay.

The minimum annual fee is generally $10,000 per year or $2,500 per quarter.

Calvary Wealth Background

Calvary Wealth was founded in 2004 by partner B. William Cleveland III. Cleveland is the firm's principal owner to this day. Prior to his time at Calvary, Cleveland worked as an accountant at Pricewaterhouse Cooper and as an advisor at Homrich Berg, a large fee-only firm based in Atlanta.

The firm has three key service offerings: financial planning, portfolio management and general consulting. In addition, the firm may advise defined contribution plan sponsors, which may include developing model portfolios.

Calvary Wealth Investment Philosophy

Calvary Wealth determines the asset allocation of each client portfolio based on the client's personal risk tolerance, income needs and time horizon. Based on these characteristics, the firm seeks to ensure your portfolio is diversified across multiple asset classes. This is done to keep your returns from being overly reliant on a specific type of security or market sector.

When it comes time to actually invest your funds, the firm will typically invest in a mix of no-load mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), individual fixed-income securities, index funds and individual equity securities. This selection of investments may change if your ultimate financial goals change down the line.