The Top Financial Advisors in Columbus, OH

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Hamilton Capital leads off our list of Columbus, Ohio's top financial advisors. The fee-only firm's staff includes certified financial planners (CFPs), chartered financial analysts (CFAs), certified public accountants (CPAs) and a number of other, more sepcific financial certifications.

The firm has a $500,000 asset minimum, and it requires wealth and investment management clients to pay a minimum quarterly annual fee of $1,250. Fees are based on a percentage of assets under management.

Hamilton Capital Background

Robert “Matt” Hamilton, CFP, owns the majority of the firm. He’s the founder, chairman and CEO. In the past, Hamilton’s firm was named a best financial advisor for doctors by Medical Economics magazine and one of the nation’s best financial advisors for dentists by Dental Practice Management.

Jeffrey Loehnis, CFP and certified public accountant (CPA), owns a small percentage of Hamilton Capital. He serves as the president of the firm. 

This firm offers investment management, wealth management, services to fiduciaries and 401(k) plans.

Hamilton Capital Investment Strategy

The firm believes its process is what sets it apart from other financial advisors. The investment committee uses fundamental analysis to assess asset classes, not just individual securities, which is the common method. The company looks at a six-month to 24-month timeline and invests for the long term.

Hamilton Capital doesn’t use model portfolios and highlights that it is “distinct from quantitative programs that simply reduce investing to mathematical formulas.” The firm specializes in top-down portfolio management and selects outside management firms for bottom-up security selection. This helps each manager complement each other’s style.

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With billions in assets under management (AUM), Budros, Ruhlin & Roe follows in second place. This fee-only firm has numerous advisors on staff. The team includes includes such certifications as certified financial planner (CFP), certified public accountant (CPA) and chartered financial analyst (CFA).   

The firm’s minimum asset requirement is $1 million for investment management services, though this minimum may be waived. Wealth management services do not carry a minimum. Its clients include high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, foundations, endowments and businesses.

Budros, Ruhlin & Roe Background

Budros, Ruhlin & Roe was founded by James Budros, Peggy Ruhlin and Daniel Roe in 1979. Peggy Ruhlin, certified financial planner (CFP) and certified public accountant (CPA), is chairman of the board. This impressive advisor was named as one of the “20 Most Influential Women to Watch in 2016” by Investment News. Daniel Roe and John Schuman own the firm.

Services offered by the firm include wealth management, retirement plan services, investment management and specialized services. You’ll find the office on a peninsula in the Scioto River, just west of downtown Columbus.

Budros, Ruhlin & Roe Investment Strategy

As a client, your advisor will create an investment policy statement. The statement is based on your initial discussions with your advisor. You’ll cover factors such as your time horizon, risk tolerance, cash flow needs and spending policy. The firm uses the following asset classes: domestic equities, international equities, global fixed income, alternative investments, commodities and real estate. 

Generally, investment vehicles will include exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, individual securities, separately managed accounts and limited partnerships. Your portfolio will have a stated target allocation for each asset class. 

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Fee-only firm Summitt Financial Strategies manages a significant amount in AUM, and its team includes certified financial planners (CFP), chartered financial counselors (ChFC), certified public accountants (CPA), chartered financial analysts (CFA) and a number of other certifications, many of which are more specified.

There is no minimum account size requirement, but you are subject to a $2,500 minimum annual fee for investment advisory services. The minimum fee is $8,500 for wealth management services and $500 for eSummit (an automated portfolio management system, also know as a robo-advisor).

Summit Financial Strategies Background

Summit was founded in 1994. Ted Saneholtz is the founder of Summit Financial. He’s also a CFP and ChFC as well as a certified public accountant (CPA) and partner of the firm. 

Summit Financial offers wealth management (including financial planning) and investment advisory services.

Summit Financial Strategies Investment Strategy

Summit Financial believes that markets are generally efficient. Modern portfolio theory, the popular investment theory of the last several decades, establishes that sentiment. According to Summit’s investment philosophy deck, advisors also believe “expected returns will depend on portfolio asset allocation.” 

The ratio of cash, core bonds, marked diversifiers and equities is what helps or hurts your portfolio in the long run. To build your portfolio, your advisor will ask you about your risk tolerance, time horizon, tax bracket, family situation and cash-flow needs. Generally, your assets will be invested in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, cash equivalents, individual equity and fixed-income securities.

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Windsor Advisory Group is a fee-only firm serving individual and institutional clients. The majority of the firm’s individual clients are high-net-worth. Its institutional clients include pooled investment vehicles, retirement plans, charitable organizations, insurance companies and other corporations. Windsor's staff includes advisors with such certifications as chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified investment management analyst (CIMA) and certified public accountant (CPA).

Fees at Windsor may be based on a percentage of assets under management, a fixed rate or some combination of the two. Advisors do not make commissions for selling securities or financial products. The firm generally wants clients with a net worth of at least $10 million, but it has the discretion to lower this threshold.

Windsor Advisory GroupBackground

Windsor Advisory Group was founded in 2002. The firm is principally owned by Harry M. Dye, III (Trey) and Jonathon S. Eesley. Both three work as principals and advisors at the firm.

Windsor's services include:

• Advisory services
• Portfolio management
• Private investment fund

Windsor Advisory Group Investment Strategy

Advisors at Windsor put together an individual investment plan for each client. Asset classes that may be used include:

• Cash
• Debt
• Equities
• Real estate
• Private equity
• Private debt
• Commodities
• Mutual funds
• Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)

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WealthStone Advisors offers a number of services and has a $500,000 minimum account size requirement. It has multiple advisors on staff. The firm's fees are based on a percentage of assets under management. WealthStone’s compensation model is fee-based, which means certain advisors can receive extra commissions for the sale of some financial products. Despite this, the firm must act in clients' best interests due to their fiduciary duty.

The team includes certified public accountants (CPAs), certified financial planners (CFPs), chartered financial analysts (CFAs), among a few other certifications.

Wealthstone Background

James Wyland started Professional Planning Consultants, the predecessor of WealthStone, in 1977, with a goal-oriented planning approach that continues to this day. In addition to a financial planning team, the company has tax, insurance, investment and real estate development teams that cover the whole financial spectrum. Wyland still serves as president and owns the majority of the firm. He is a chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and certified life underwriter (CLU). 

WealthStone Investment Strategy

WealthStone uses fundamental economic data, trend and technical market indicators and investment manager relative value when making investment recommendations. The firm also uses multiple methods of analysis to evaluate securities before building your portfolio. As a client, a WealthStone advisor will build a model portfolio for you. Depending on what you prefer, your portfolio will or will not consider your outside assets. Your portfolio will be in line with your financial objectives, time horizon, cash needs and risk tolerance.

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Gryphon Financial Partners is a fee-only financial advisor firm managing billions in client assets under management (AUM). The majority of the firm’s individual clients are high-net-worth, though it also manages money for non-high-net-worth clients. The firm also has a small institutional business managing money for pension and profit-sharing plans.

Gryphon's staff includes a couple of certified financial planners (CFPs). Fees for services may be based on a percentage of assets under management, a fixed fee or an hourly fee. There is no minimum fee at Gryphon, but some services won’t be beneficial for those with less than $1 million.

Gryphon Financial Partners Background

Gryphon was founded in 2014 and registered with the SEC in 2017. The managing members are Joel J. Guth and Catherine Z. Cory, who are also the firm's founders.

Services that Gryphon offers to clients include:

• Investment management
• Non-discretionary investment consulting
• Financial planning
• Estate planning
• Retirement planning
• Tax planning
• Wrap fee programs

Gryphon Financial Partners Investment Strategy

Gryphon Financial Partners uses a number of types of analysis to come up with investment strategies for its clients. This includes fundamental analysis, charting and asset allocation. After coming up with a strategy, the following types of strategies may be used:

• Long-term purchases
• Short-term purchases
• Margin transactions
• Options trading
• Exchange-traded funds (ETF) investments

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Up next on our list of the top financial advisors in Columbus, Ohio is John E. Sestina and Company, a large firm that currently works exclusively with individual clients. Of these individuals, about 80% are non-high-net-worth individuals. The remaining 20% have a high net worth, and the majority of the firm's assets under management come from these high-net-worth clients.

Financial planning services at the firm carry a minimum $3,000 annual fee. Portfolio management services, on the other hand, carry a minimum investment requirement of $100,000. John E. Sestina and Company is a fee-only firm.

John E. Sestina and Company Background

John E. Sestina and Company was founded in 1970, making it the oldest firm on our Columbus list. MTBW, LLC is the sole shareholder of the firm. MTBW, LLC is in turn owned by four entities: Lukan Enterprises, LLC (owned by Stephen A. Lukan), Int2Own, LLC (owned by Tyler V. Cook), Hilde, LLC (owned by Anthony W. Payne) and Constantinovich, LLC (owned by Craig A. Constantinovich). Each of the listed individuals are financial advisors at John E. Sestina and Company.

John E. Sestina and Company provides clients with full service financial planning, portfolio management and financially educational seminars. It may provide multiple services at the same time.

John E. Sestina and Company Investment Strategy

John E. Sestina and Company tailors its advisory services to the financial needs and investment objectives of its clients. It does so on a client-by-client basis, so it's rare that two investment strategies are exactly the same. Advisors primarily use mutual funds to invest client assets, but may also use fixed-income securities, real estate funds, insurance products, equities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), bonds, commodities, venture capital funds and more.

Advisors at John E. Sestina and Company heavily rely on modern portfolio theory to inform their investment decisions. It primarily trades investments on a long-term basis.

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The Joseph Group Capital Management has a $500,000 minimum asset requirement. The firm is fee-only. The firm's staff includes certifications such as certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial analyst (CFA), chartered advisor in philanthropy (CAP), chartered alternative investment analyst (CAIA), qualified kingdom advisor (QKA), certified public accountant (CPA), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC), certificate in investment performance management (CIPM), chartered retirement plans specialist (CRPS) and chartered financial counselor (ChFC).

Fees are based on a percentage of assets under management.

The Joseph Group Capital Management Background

Twin brothers, Mark and Matt Palmer, founded The Joseph Group Capital Management in 1999. They remain the majority owners of the firm. Mark, the chairman, has a law degree and Matt, the CEO, is a chartered advisor in philanthropy (CAP).

Services offered by the firm include investment management, retirement plan services and wealth advisory services. 

The Joseph Group Capital Management Investment Strategy

Working with The Joseph Group Capital Management means your portfolio will use a set strategy developed by the firm’s advisors. The five strategies are: the conservation strategy, the provision strategy, the harvest strategy, the abundance strategy and the home grown stock portfolio. Each strategy corresponds with a risk level (volatility) and objective. If you have a smaller account, the firm has the provision seed strategy, the harvest seed strategy and the abundance seed strategy. 

The firm developed the strategies based on the idea that clients have one of four common goals for their money: to protect principal and maintain liquidity, to sustain a certain lifestyle over an extended period of time, to grow assets toward a long-term goal or to get to a higher level of wealth by growing capital.

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Waller Financial Planning Group (WFPG) is a fee-only firm managing millions in client assets. The firm's clients include individuals and high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations and pension and profit sharing plans. For advisory services, clients either pay asset-based fees, hourly fees and/or fixed fees. 

Some of WFPG’s advisors’ industry credentials feature the certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial consultant (ChFC), accredited estate planner (AEP), chartered financial analyst (CFA),  financial paraplanner qualified professional (FPQP) and chartered advisor in philanthropy (CAP) designations.

The firm does not have a minimum account size requirement.

Waller Financial Planning Group Background

WFPG began its operations in 1985. Founded by Larry Waller, the firm is also equally owned by Charles A. Kerwood, III, Jason A. Eliason, Jason E. Farris and Christopher O. Olsgard. WFPG’s primary advisory services include portfolio management and financial planning.

The firm also participates in a wrap fee program, and it offers periodicals and newsletters. 

Waller Financial Planning Group Investment Strategy 

WFPG mainly uses economic analysis to determine market trends, and the firm relies on other data sources for mutual fund research, according to its firm brochure. The firm’s portfolio construction process consists of asset-allocation, sub-asset allocation, active and/or passive allocations, asset location and manager selection. 

The firm largely invests in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds.

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TCP Asset Management, LLC is the final firm on our list of the top financial advisory firms in Columbus, Ohio. This firm works with just one type of client: non-high-net-worth individuals. While their services may be available to other types of clients, such as high-net-worth individuals or institutional clients, it doesn't currently have any listed on its Form ADV.

TCP doesn't have a minimum account size requirement. It is, however, a fee-based firm. Advisors at the firm can sell insurance and securities to clients in exchange for commissions, and this is a potential conflict of interest. Despite this potential conflict, the firm is still a fiduciary. This makes it legally obligated to act in the best interests of clients at all times.

TCP Asset Management Background

Founded in November of 2016, TCP Asset Management is one of the youngest firms on our Columbus list. It became an SEC-registered investment advisor one year later, in 2017. The firm is princiaplly owned by Phillip J Susi, Joshua Richard Allen, Philip Hunter Bervig and Branda Rhae Allen.

TCP provides clients with financial planning and portfolio management services. It also provides access to model portfolios to help clients achieve their financial goals.

TCP Asset Management Investment Strategy

As is the case with most financial advisory firms, TCP Asset Management works with clients to determine their overall financial profile and objectives so that they can tailor their advisory services to each client. This process involves meeting with clients and gathering such information as a client's risk tolerance, tax levels and income.

Advisors at TCP Asset Management use both fundamental and technical methods of analysis to help inform investment decisions. Advisors trade investment on a long-term basis.