Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in Champaign, Illinois
To find the right financial advisor for you in Champaign, Illinois, you have to do some serious digging. You must search through government records, understand technical jargon and read the fine print. But don’t worry. We did the research for you to bring you the top financial advisors in Champaign. If you don’t have a financial advisor yet, finding one doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
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| Rank | Financial Advisor | Assets Managed | Minimum Assets | Financial Services | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Sterling Wealth Management, Inc.
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|
$239,090,393 | $1,000,000 |
|
Minimum Assets$1,000,000Financial Services
|
| 2 |
Ruedi Wealth Management, Inc.
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|
$334,110,804 | No set account minimum |
|
Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
| 3 |
Holder Wealth Management
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|
$190,672,000 | No set account minimum |
|
Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in Champaign, we first identified all firms registered with the SEC in the city. 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:
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AUMFirms with more total assets under management are ranked higher. -
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Individual Client CountFirms who serve more individual clients (as opposed to institutional clients) are ranked higher. -
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Clients Per AdvisorFirms with a lower ratio of clients per financial advisor are ranked higher. -
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Age of FirmFirms that have been in business longer are ranked higher.
All information is obtained through public records and is updated annually after the firms’ form ADV filing. This list may include firms that have a business relationship with SmartAsset, in which SmartAsset is compensated for lead referrals. Such relationships have no impact on our rankings, and firms are included and ranked based strictly on the above criteria. SmartAsset is not a client of the aforementioned firms, and did not receive compensation for including any of the firms on the aforementioned list.
Sterling Wealth Management
Sterling Wealth Management is a fee-only advisory firm. The advisory team holds multiple certifications, including certified financial planner (CFP) and certified trust and financial advisor (CTFA) designations.
To become a client, you generally need a minimum of $1 million to open an investment account. Sterling Wealth may waive this requirement at its discretion though, which may explain how nearly half of the firm’s individual clients are non-high-net-worth individuals. The firm also serves pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations.
Sterling Wealth Management Background
President and CEO Sharon C. Allen and COO Martin Allen launched the practice in 2004. They are married and remain its owners. Sharon has more than two decades of experience in the financial services industry.
The family shop divides its services into two categories: wealth management and asset management. The former includes ongoing investment consulting, asset management, financial planning, relationship management and concierge services. The latter, which can be provided to qualified retirement plans, includes ongoing investment consulting, asset management, relationship management and limited financial planning.
Sterling Wealth Management Investing Strategy
Asset allocation strategies drive Sterling's investing decisions. It generally diversifies client portfolios across various asset classes, takes a long-term view and minimizes investing costs. Its securities analysis is primarily fundamental. The firm looks to tailor its investment strategies and investment management decisions according to the needs of each of its clients individually.
Ruedi Wealth Management
The advisory team at Ruedi Wealth Management (RWM) holds multiple advisory certifications, including certified financial planner (CFP), retirement income professional (RICP) and MBA designations.
To open an investment account, you may need a minimum or $250,000 depending on the type of account you want. Other accounts do not have a minimum. The fee-only firm primarily works with non-high-net-worth individuals, but also serves those who do have a high net worth, pension and profit-sharing plans and corporations.
Ruedi Wealth Management Background
RWM has been offering investment advisory services since September 2014. Founder and CEO Paul A. Ruedi is the majority owner. His three sons and the fifth advisor on staff have small stakes.
The firm is primarily in the business of providing investment management services. Its investment business breaks down into two parts. One is its traditional, in-person investment advisory model. This service involves a CFP who can create a diversified investment portfolio to help a client meet defined investment goals. It requires a minimum investment of $500,000.
RWM Co-Pilot, the second model, involves an automated investment platform through Betterment for Advisors. Clients of this program also have access to a firm CFP via phone and video conferencing. It has no minimum account balance.
Additionally, RWM offers financial planning tailored to an individual client’s needs. Financial plans may touch upon:
- Retirement funding
- Insurance
- Estate planning
- Education funding
- Tax funding
Financial planning services are offered to investment advisory clients at no extra charge, according to documents the firm recently filed with the SEC. In some cases, the firm may provide stand-alone financial planning services for specific fees.
Ruedi Wealth Management Investing Strategy
RWM generally focuses on a buy-and-hold investment strategy utilizing passively managed mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). It designs portfolios that aim for strong long-term returns and risk mitigation by offering exposure to various asset classes and industry sectors. These can include stocks from companies of varying size and real estate securities. RWM advisors overall seek to minimize expenses, trading costs and tax burdens when making investment decisions.
Holder Wealth Management
Holder Wealth Management is a fee-only firm with an advisory staff multiple certifications, including certified public accountant (CPA) and certified financial planner (CFP) designations.
Of its clients, the vast majority are non-high-net-worth individuals. The firm also serves high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans and corporations.
Holder Wealth has no minimum investment account size.
Holder Wealth Management Background
Virginia B. Holder founded her namesake firm in 2014. She is the majority owner, though she does not work at the firm. Instead, Daniel Holder and Charles Holder serve as advisors.
The boutique family shop generally provides investment advisory services on a discretionary basis. It also offers investment consulting and financial planning that may cover such areas as investment strategy and estate planning.
Holder Wealth Management Investing Strategy
Holder Wealth generally employs a long-term, buy-and-hold strategy utilizing index funds through Dimensional Fund Advisors. The firm also relies heavily on DFA's research when making investment decisions. However, Holder doesn’t receive any cash payments for recommending DFA funds. The firm and its advisors also work with clients to determine their financial goals so that they can best provide tailored asset management services and investment strategies to clients.
