Top Financial Advisors in Chattanooga, TN

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HHM Wealth Advisors is the No. 1 firm on our list of the top financial advisors in Chattanooga. HHM's team includes advisors with several types of financial certifications, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and certified public accountant (CPA) designations. To gain access to these advisors, however, you will need a minimum of $250,000 in investable assets. The firm also charges a minimum annual fee of $3,000.

The majority of this firm's current client base consists of non-high-net-worth individuals. HHM also manages assets for high-net-worth individuals, businesses, pensions, profit-sharing plans and charitable organizations.

As a client of this fee-based firm, you may be offered insurance by your advisor, which may result in commissions for the advisor. While this is a conflict of interest, the firm is an SEC-registered fiduciary, so it's required to act in your best interest.

HHM Wealth Advisors offers individualized services to its clients, including financial planning, investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, tax minimization, insurance analysis, 401(k) consulting and transition planning.

Before you even discuss the specifics of your financial situation, HHM Wealth Advisors prefers to have a personal meeting during which you and your prospective advisor will get to know each other. Following this meeting, you’ll clarify your current and future financial goals and priorities, as well as your risk tolerance. The firm determines this information through communication with you and a deep analysis of your financial documents.

The firm will then come up with a plan, implement it and begin monitoring your portfolio for any necessary rebalancing. HHM uses a wide variety of investments in client portfolios. These include individual corporate domestic and international securities, municipal securities, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), real estate investment trusts (REITs), master limited partnerships (MLPs), certificates of deposit (CDs) and alternative investments.

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Patton, Albertson & Miller Group (PAM Group) is a fee-only firm primarily serving those with a high net worth, but it also works with individual clients below the high-net-worth threshold, as well as corporations and charitable organizations. PAM Group doesn't have a stated minimum investment to begin a relationship, but there is a minimum annual fee of $10,000.

PAM Group boasts several financial certifications, including the CFP®, chartered financial analyst (CFA) and financial paraplanner qualified professional (FPQP) designations. As a fee-only practice, neither the PAM Group as a firm nor its advisors earn sales commissions.

PAM Group offers a variety of services, depending on what you’re most in need of in your current financial situation. Its services include investment management, estate planning, cash flow management, risk management, tax planning, trust and fiduciary services, merger and acquisition and business succession planning. 

PAM Group commonly invests its clients' assets in mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks and individual bonds. For some clients, the firm may invest in hedge funds, private equity funds, real estate investments and structured notes. 

Because this firm tends to focus on a long-term approach, it reviews its clients’ portfolios on an annual basis. During this evaluation, the firm may change your investment plan and/or the investment types in your portfolio, rebalance your account or use some combination of the above.

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AM Investment Strategies is a fee-based advisory firm that has been in business since 2012. The firm, which does not have a minimum account size requirement, works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans and business entities. 

AM Investment Strategies has a small advisory team that includes a CFP® professional. However, as a fee-based firm, certain advisors at AM Investment Strategies may earn commissions from the sale of insurance products. While this creates a potential conflict of interest, the firm is a fiduciary and is required to act in clients' best interests.

AM Investment Strategies offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, limited financial planning, retirement advice, reporting and account administration services. Its planning and consulting services may include cash flow planning, retirement planning, insurance analysis and retirement plan advisory services.

The firm primarily uses fundamental analysis, reviewing factors such as financial condition, management capabilities, earnings, new products or services and competitive position. AM Investment Strategies typically uses individual stocks, money market funds, individual bonds, alternative investments, institutional mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and cash positions. For eligible investors, the firm may also use private placements, sub-advisors or margin, when appropriate and authorized.

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The Patten Group is a fee-only financial advisory firm founded in 2014. The firm offers investment management, wealth management, financial planning and consulting, reporting only services and retirement plan advisory services. There is no set account minimum at The Patten Group, but the firm generally charges a minimum annual management fee of $2,000 per relationship, which may be reduced at the advisor's discretion.

The Patten Group has advisors on staff who hold the CFA designation. The firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, estates, retirement plans, endowments, foundations, charitable organizations, corporations and small businesses.

As a fee-only practice, The Patten Group is compensated solely by clients and does not receive commissions or third-party compensation.

The firm's services include customized portfolio management, held-away asset management, comprehensive wealth management, estate planning review, risk management review, college funding planning, charitable giving and philanthropy planning, debt-related consulting, retirement planning, cash flow planning, budgeting and education savings planning. The firm also provides consolidated reporting for outside assets and retirement plan advisory services, including vendor analysis, participant education, investment policy statement preparation, benchmarking, performance reporting and ongoing investment recommendations.

The Patten Group primarily uses a long-term, buy-and-hold investment approach. The firm may also use short-term trading when needed for rebalancing, tax management or client cash needs. Portfolios may incorporate strategic and tactical asset allocation, model-based investing, diversification management, tax-loss and tax-gain harvesting and cash positioning.

For some clients, the firm may provide advice on REITs, digital asset ETFs held at qualified custodians and private placement limited partnerships. The firm may rebalance accounts when needed as part of its portfolio management process.

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Apex Strategic Wealth is a fee-based firm that requires clients to meet a minimum annual fee of $2,000. Some investment programs have their own minimum account sizes ranging from $5,000 to $250,000. The firm's client base almost exclusively comprises individuals, with most of whom fall below the high-net-worth threshold. Apex also works with charities and government entities.

As a fee-based firm, certain advisors at Apex Strategic Wealth can sell insurance products on a commission basis. While this creates a potential conflict of interest, the firm's fiduciary duty requires it to act in clients' best interests at all times.

Apex Strategic Wealth offers investment management on an individual basis and through model portfolios offered by LPL Financial. The firm also has a selection of financial planning services, like retirement planning, death and disability planning, estate planning and insurance review. 

Apex Strategic Wealth works with clients to build an investment strategy that works for them. This involves accounting for their risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, short- and long-term goals and more. Prior investment history and family composition may also be accounted for in this plan.

The specific assets that comprise your portfolio will vary depending on which LPL Financial advisory program you're enrolled in. However, you can typically expect your assets to be invested in a variety of mutual funds and/or ETFs.  

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Evergreen Advisors is a fee-based firm with advisors on staff who hold the CFP® and CPA designations. Many of the firm's clients are individuals, and it primarily serves non-high-net-worth individuals. However, the firm also works with high-net-worth individuals, pensions and profit-sharing plans. There is not a set account minimum at Evergreen, but there is a minimum annual fee of $2,000.

when investing your assets. However, how the firm divides your money. But keep in mind, like all the firms on this list, Evergreen is a registered fiduciary that is legally obligated to act in your best interests.

The services that Evergreen has available for its clients are categorized into the following overarching groups:

• Personal: budgeting, liability, financial goals
• Tax & cash flow: planning for the future
• Investing: alternative investments for client portfolios
• Retirement: various strategies for retirement goals
• Estate: living trusts, wills, power of attorney, asset protection, nursing homes
• Insurance: life, health, disability, long-term care
• Death & disability: income needs for surviving dependents, disability income

Evergreen Advisors primarily uses equities, fixed income and cash when investing your assets. However, how the firm divides your money among these asset classes depends on your time horizon, targeted return level and risk tolerance. The firm chooses specific money managers and investment strategies depending on how it thinks it can best help you achieve your financial goals. You may be offered insurance or securities if you work with this firm, and its advisors may earn commissions from sales.

The process isn’t complete after your funds have been invested. The firm evaluates your portfolio often, measuring its progress against benchmarks that reveal how well it’s performing. Some clients may see their assets allocated to one of the firm's model portfolios.

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Guardian Wealth Management has one of the smallest advisory teams on this list. But despite its small size, the fee-only firm has employees who hold several certifications, including the CPA and CFP® designations, among several other niche certifications.

This fee-only firm requires a $500,000 account minimum and charges a minimum annual fee of $5,000. The firm primarily manages individual accounts, the majority of which belong to non-high-net-worth individuals. The firm also manages money for pension and profit-sharing plans, as well as corporations.

Guardian Wealth Management offers a range of client service, including retirement planning, charitable giving, estate planning, investment planning, corporate and personal tax mitigation, business and personal financial planning, corporate structure analysis, insurance analysis, real estate analysis and mortgage/debt analysis.

Guardian Wealth Management typically uses exchange-traded funds (ETFs), index funds and mutual funds in its client portfolios. However, clients’ exact asset allocations are determined based on their financial objectives and risk tolerance.

Once a portfolio plan has been implemented, it’s reviewed a minimum of four times a year to determine whether the original strategy is still on track. If it isn’t, the firm will rebalance the portfolio.

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Acumen Wealth Advisors is an SEC-registered firm that provides financial planning and technology-driven portfolio management services to its clients. According to SEC records, the firm works mostly with individuals and high-net-worth individuals. However, it's one of the smaller firms on this list in terms of individual client base goes. Acumen also serves pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations and at least one pooled investment vehicle.

The minimum account size is $500,000. This fee-based firm has a variety of credentialed professionals, including advisors with the CFP®, CFA, investment advisor certified compliance professional (IACCP) and certified trust and financial advisor (CTFA) designations.

However, certain advisors on staff may earn commissions when selling insurance policies to clients in their separate roles as insurance agents. These payments from third parties are in addition to the fees that advisory clients pay. This is a conflict of interest, but the firm's fiduciary duty compels it to act in clients' best interests.

The firm's services range from investment management and financial planning to active tax and business advisory services. The firm also offers retirement planning, philanthropic planning and real estate advice. 

When it comes to building portfolios, the firm invests in a combination of common stock, mutual funds, ETFs, fixed income instruments and alternative investments.

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Wealth Preservation Advisors does not require a set account minimum to start an account, though it primarily serves high-net-worth individuals. More specifically, its individual clients include business owners, corporate executives, healthcare professionals, retirees and their families. It also serves trusts, estates, 401(k) plans, SIMPLE and SEP IRA plans.

If you choose to become a client of this fee-based firm, you may be offered insurance in conjunction with your advisory account. Sales could result in commissions for your advisor, which creates a conflict of interest. However, the firm is a fiduciary and therefore is required to act in your best interest.

There is no minimum account size requirement at Wealth Preservation Advisors.

The firm offers portfolio management in combination with financial planning. The latter portion may include education planning, portfolio management, retirement planning, fixed-income services, estate and trust creation, charitable gift planning, education planning, banking and lending solutions and alternative investment opportunities.

Wealth Preservation Advisors' first step in beginning a relationship with a new client is determining your risk tolerance, time horizon and liquidity needs. Based on its proprietary research and market analysis, the firm will then implement a plan that it believes will enable you to achieve your financial objectives. 

Typically, Wealth Preservation Advisors invests client assets in individual stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), bonds, mutual funds, options and a mix of public and private securities. The firm regularly evaluates portfolio progress and identifies whether to rebalance. 

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Barnett & Co. wraps up our list of the top advisory firms in Chattanooga. Founded in 1983, it is the oldest practice on this list. The firm, which has a $500,000 account minimum, primarily serves individuals and high-net-worth individuals, as well as charities and businesses. 

The small team at Barnett & Co. features the CFP® and CFA designations. As a fee-only firm, Barnett & Co. does not offer insurance policies and sales products that could result in commissions. Instead, the firm makes its money solely from the asset-based fees, hourly charges and fixed fees that advisory clients pay.

Barnett & Co.'s services are broad in nature, as it lists portfolio management and financial planning as the basis of its service offerings. 

Barnett & Co.'s philosophy is to find investments that investors will want to own in the future, as opposed to investments that are popular in the present. The firm believes that by following this principle, it can achieve long-term growth, which fits into its overall style of long-term investing.