Top Financial Advisors in Boise, ID

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Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers is the largest firm on this list in terms of assets under management (AUM). There is a small team financial advisors handling this money. This staff includes certified public accountants (CPAs), a certified financial planner (CFP) and chartered financial analysts (CFAs).

This fee-only firm calls for a minimum investment of $1 million for new clients, though this requirement may be waived under certain circumstances. Its client base consists of mostly high-net-worth individuals, though it also serves non-high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, corporations, government entities and charitable organizations as well.

Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers Background

Established in 1973, independently-owned Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers is the oldest firm on this list. Principals William "Bill" Palumbo and Bruce Reeder founded the firm and remain its owners to this day. The duo averages around 40 years' experience in finance.

In general, Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers deals with investment management and financial planning. At a deeper level, though, the firm is focused on asset allocation planning, performance reporting, coordination with legal and tax advisors, investor profile development and more.

Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers Strategy

Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers utilizes equities, fixed-income securities, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to flesh out their clients' portfolios. In order to select the investments best suited for your personal needs, the firm employs the following strategies for each investment type:

• Equities: The firm uses a "bottoms up" approach to select stocks. More specifically, this involves a fundamental analysis of the companies' finances and the market they reside in. Diversification across the entirety of a market is integral.
• Fixed-income: These investments consist of certificates of deposit (CDs), preferred stocks, U.S. bonds and corporate bonds that are used to balance the volatility of equities. The firm believes in a passive approach that looks to ladder these securities for the long-term.
• Mutual funds/ETFs: Mutual funds and ETFs are used to invest in the stock market without having to select individuals equities, which is a risky venture.

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Petso Financial Consultants is a fee-based financial advisor firm with a low account minimum of $25,000. The firm serves a few different client types, but individiuals without a high net worth are far and away the most common. Aside from individuals, Petso also handles the financial needs of a small number of charitable organizations.

The firm’s team includes several certified financial planners (CFPs). Advisors here are also insurance agents and broker-dealer representatives, and may earn commissions from the sale of these products. But because the firm is a fiduciary, advisors are legally required to put clients’ best interests first, despite this potential conflict of interest.

Petso Financial Consultants Background

Petso Financial Consultants has been in business since 2001 when it was created by David Petso. He has nearly 40 years of experience in wealth management. The rest of Petso’s wealth advisors average more than 20 years in the field.

The firm’s services include retirement income planning, tax management and mitigation, estate and wealth transfer, higher-education funding, charitable giving and employee benefits. Uniquely, the firm has partnerships with industry experts, who work with advisors. These experts’ areas of concentration include insurance, mortgages, long-term care and more.

Petso Financial Consultants Strategy

Petso Financial Consultants holds a steadfast belief in long-term investing, even when market trends change. The firm invests for the long term in an effort to combat volatility, using precise asset allocations to lead to greater, more consistent returns. Ultimately though, investments are chosen based on your risk tolerance and time horizon.

Diversification is the second segment of this equation, with an emphasis on international investing. Stocks, bonds and cash investments will make up a good portion of your portfolio, but the firm also uses alternative investments and real estate.

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RW Investment Management is the next firm on our Boise list. This firm works mainly with individuals both with and without a high net worth. Other clients include retirement plans, charities and other businesses. The firm provides clients with a range of advisory services and has no minimum account balance, but rather a $100 minimum annual fee per account, or a $5,000 minimum annual fee for clients who use both the firm's financial planning and investment management services.

Since some advisors at RW are insurance agents and can sell insurance products for a commission, the firm is considered fee-based. This potential conflict of interest is mitigated by the firm's fiduciary duty, which requires it to act in clients' best interests at all times.

RW Investment Management Background

RW Investment Management was founded in 2014 and is the result of a merger between Perpetua Group and Rathbone Warwick Investment Management. It is owned by Ryan Warwick, Raleigh Vachek, Kimberly Jaques and Melissa Jenkins. The firm employs several advisors who hold certifications, including certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified public accountant (CPA).

RW provides a variety of financial advisory services, including portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting and separately managed accounts. The vast majority of the firm's assets are managed on a discretionary basis.

RW Investment Management Investment Strategy

RW tailors its investment strategies to the individual wants and needs of all clients. In order to effectively do so, the firm's advisor meet extensively with clients to determine their tolerance for risk, desired investment plans, time horizon, need for liquidity and anything else deemed relevant.

Once the client and the advisor have agreed upon an investment plan, the firm typically invests a clients assets across exchange traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, stocks, bonds and other securities. Advisors use both technical and fundamental methods of analysis when it comes to selecting individual investments.

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Buffington Mohr McNeal is a fee-only firm located in central Boise. On staff, you'll find two certified financial planners (CFPs), one certified public accountant (CPA) and one chartered financial analyst (CFA).

This firm has almost twice as many non-high-net-worth individuals in its client base than their high-net-worth counterparts. However, the latter occupies the majority of the firm's AUM. Businesses, charitable organizations, government entities and retirement plans are also typical clients of the firm. There is no minimum investment requirement here.

Buffington Mohr McNeal Background

Co-founders Bruce Mohr, Carey McNeal and M. Dean Buffington opened Buffington Mohr McNeal in 1998. Buffington, who passed away in 2020, sold his personal shares of the firm in 2014, leaving McNeal and Mohr as the firm's primary owners.

In regards to investment-specific services, Buffington Mohr McNeal can offer individual discretionary portfolio management and separate investment consulting. The firm does also provide a plethora of financial planning services, such as retirement planning, tax management, insurance review, estate planning, cash flow planning and more.

Buffington Mohr McNeal Strategy

Buffington Mohr McNeal has designed two distinct asset allocations: one based on a core of equities and the other based on a core of fixed-income securities. Rather than contain solely equities or fixed-income, the firm looks to build a mix of investments to ensure that the asset allocation is both well diversified and in line with your risk tolerance. Should you prefer either one of these core strategies, the firm will let you dictate which you want. If not, your portfolio will be created on a discretionary basis based on your risk tolerance, time horizon and income needs.

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You won't need to meet a minimum account balance requirement to work with Aspen Capital Management, a fee-only advisory firm. Almost all of the firm's clients are individuals with a high net worth. The firm also maintains relationships with charitable organizations, non-high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts and estates.

The team of advisors at Aspen Capital Management boasts one chartered alternative investment analyst (CAIA) designation.

Aspen Capital Management Background

Lead financial advisor Mike Mers founded Aspen Capital Management in 2002. Today he owns just half of the firm's shares, as his wife, Lori Mers, holds claim to the latter half. Lori Mers does not appear to hold a position at Aspen.

What makes Aspen Capital Management a bit more unique than your typical financial advisor firm is its ability to provide general services that are then customized to fit the needs of each client. For example, the firm has investment supervisory, financial planning and asset management services. Some financial topics it has experience with are estate planning, tax management and minimization and more.

Aspen Capital Management Strategy

At its core, Aspen Capital Management concentrates on international investing and diversification to create client portfolios. For the most part, Aspen takes a passive global equity and global real estate investment trust (REIT) approach. Rather than invest directly in a number of stocks, though, Aspen does so through mutual funds and ETFs. This is done to help mitigate risk, as these funds are inherently diversified and, in the case of mutual funds, are professionally managed.

Your portfolio's asset allocation is based on a few considerations that Aspen compiles together in a document aptly titled an investment policy statement (IPS). This details your ability to stomach risk, your time horizon and your ultimate investment objectives.

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Perspective Wealth Partners, a fee-only firm, works almost entirely with individual clients. About two-thirds of them are high-net-worth individuals, while the rest of non-high-net-worth individuals. The firm's small institutional client base consists of a handful of charitable organizations.

There is no specific account minimum at Perspective Wealth for new clients. The firm's advisory team includes one chartered financial analyst (CFA) and one certified public accountant (CPA).

Perspective Wealth Partners Background

Perspective Wealth Partners was established in 2006 by president, CEO and founder James Bailey. Bailey is the principal owner of the firm, along with chief financial officer (CFO) Travis Schatt and chief investment officer (CIO) Rubin Miller as minority owners.

There are a variety of investment and general financial services available through this firm. These include investment analysis, budgeting, risk management, insurance planning, retirement planning, stock option planning, education fund planning and more.

Perspective Wealth Partners Investing Strategy

Perspective Wealth Partners' investment philosophy is based on the idea that it focuses on your comprehensive situation as a client. This involves working with you to formulate an investment policy statement that detail everything your financial plan and investment portfolio should account for. For example, that involves your risk tolerance, time horizon, income needs and long-term financial goals.

As your portfolio ages, your advisor will consistently review your returns and how they affect your portfolios' overall asset allocation. Depending on how things shake out, your portfolio may be rebalanced.

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The Helmstar Group has a higher account minimum than most of the other firms on this list. The firm requires an initial account balance of at least $500,000. In certain situations, though, the firm may be willing to accept clients who have less than that. It currently works with more non-high-net-worth individuals than their high-net-worth counterparts. Other clients include charities and government entities.

The firm also boasts a solid number of advisor certifications, featuring certified financial planners (CFPs), a certified public accountant (CPA) and a chartered financial consultant (ChFC). As a fee-based firm, some of these advisors can sell insurance products on a commission basis. While this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm's fiduciary duty binds it to act in clients' best interests.

The Helmstar Group Background

The Helmstar Group was established by co-founders Ben Boettcher and Tom Steelman in 2007. The duo remains the principal owners of the firm, and they share over 30 years of combined experience in financial services.

Typical clients of this firm include individuals, pension and/or profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, small businesses and corporations. The following services are available for any of those clients:

• Investment management
• Financial independence modeling
• Retirement and distribution planning
• Estate planning and wealth transfer strategies
• Asset allocation and custom portfolio design
• Risk management and asset protection strategies
• Tax minimization strategies and tax efficient portfolio design
• Philanthropic planning strategies and enhancement

The Helmstar Group Strategy

Five concepts make up the core of what The Helmstar Group believes will result in a well-performing portfolio: asset allocation, portfolio structure, tax management, multiple specialist managers and continuous portfolio management. The firm says that it most often invests its clients’ assets in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Your advisor will further tailor your account to meet your liquidity needs, so you can see returns in the near future if necessary. This short-term ideology is paired with a long-term mindset to ensure sustained growth. The balance between these opposing notions varies, however, depending on your time horizon.

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Berkeley, Inc. is a fee-only firm with a team of financial advisors that includes certified financial planners (CFPs) and one chartered financial analyst (CFA).

Rather than impose a minimum investment stipulation, Berkeley has chosen to implement a minimum annual fee of $2,500. Based on the information available in its Form ADV, the firm's entire client base is made up of individuals with and without a high net worth. Berkeley has no institutional clients.

Berkeley, Inc. Background

Berkeley, Inc. was founded in 1996 by principal Michael Ling, who has about 25 years of experience in financial planning, retirement planning, asset management and investment management. The firm's other owner, Stephen White, splits the firm's shares with Ling.

At Berkeley, there are two main tenets to its advisory services: financial planning and investment management. Here are some of the firm's offerings:

• Cash flow management
• Strategic tax planning
• Retirement planning
• Estate planning
• Education funding planning
• Consulting
• Asset management

Berkeley, Inc. Strategy

In an effort to combine the benefits of multiple investment philosophies, Berkeley, Inc. principally invests in both passively- and actively-managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and index funds. This helps balance the overall risk profile of your portfolio, while increasing the return potential within the confines of that risk tolerance.

To further diversify your portfolio, Berkeley may include global securities to ensure that the success of your investments isn't overly attached to a specific area of the market. For portfolios smaller than $250,000, Berkeley avoids investing in equities altogether.

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Wood Tarver Financial is the second-to-last firm on our list. This small company works primarily with individual clients. Of those individuals, 80% are individuals with less than a high net worth. The firm also works with a select group of charitable organizations. It provides a variety of financial advisory services to clients, and does not require any minimum account size for new or existing clients.

As a fee-only firm, Wood Tarver does not receive commissions from any third parties. This prevents a potential conflict of interest. A fee-based firm, which would accept commissions from the sale of certain financial products, may be subject to situation like that.

Wood Tarver Financial Background

Wood Tarver Financial was founded in 2011 by Kelly Wood. Unfortunately, Wood has since passed away. Eric Tarver is the firm's other on-staff financial advisor, and he has been with the firm since 2018. Tarver previously worked for KPMG.

Wood Tarver provides its client with a slew of financial advisory services, all through their comprehensive portfolio management wrap fee program. The firm only provides these services on a wrap fee basis, which is uncommon for a financial advisory firm. All assets at Wood Tarver are managed on a discretionary basis.  

Wood Tarver Financial Investment Strategy

Wood Tarver Financial's investment strategies vary depending on the financial goals of each individual client. Advisors create a financial plan along with each client, properly determining their tolerance for risk, financial objectives, investment history, and any other relevant information to crafting an effective investment strategy. 

Advisors at Wood Tarver use a combination of stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options, mutual funds and other investments to help drive growth in client portfolios. Portfolios are then continuously monitored to make sure that client goals are being met.

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Tumwater Wealth Management rounds out our list of Boise's top advisory firms. This firm has one of the smallest advisory teams of any firm on our list, but still manages to work with a diverse client base. Clients of Tumwater include individuals both with and without a high net worth, retirement plans, charities, insurance companies and businesses. It's not hard to qualify as a client with Tumwater, as the firm's family minimum account size requirement is just $5,000.

As a fee-only firm, Tumwater does not receive third-party commissions. A fee-based firm, on the other hand, does receive third-party commissions and is therefore subject to a potential conflict of interest. Tumwater, due to its status as a fee-only firm, is not subject to this same situation.

Tumwater Wealth Management Background

Founded in 2018, Tumwater is one of the youngest firms on our Boise list. The firm is principally owned by founder Benjamin C. Warren and Kirsten A. Warren. Ben Warren is the firm's sole financial advisor and is a chartered financial analyst (CFA). He has been working as a financial advisor since 2004.

Tumwater offers a variety of services to clients, including portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, pension consulting and advice on specific investments. While the firm manages both discretionary and non-discretionary assets, the majority of its assets are managed on a discretionary basis.

Tumwater Wealth Management Investment Strategy

Tumwater looks to tailor its investment advice to the wants and needs of each individual client. Each client relationship begins with an interview or series of meetings to properly determine their investment needs and requirements. This information is then used to develop an investment plan. This plan takes into account financial goals, time horizons, desired returns, investment history, income source analysis and more.

The firm may use model allocations to help develop a client's portfolio. The firm relies on fundamental, quantitative and technical analysis to help them inform complicated investment decisions. It also relies heavily on modern portfolio theory and takes a long-term, buy and hold approach to investing.