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Top Financial Advisors in Georgia

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This review was produced by SmartAsset based on publicly available information. The named firm and its financial professionals have not reviewed, approved, or endorsed this review and are not responsible for its accuracy. Review content is produced by SmartAsset independently of any business relationships that might exist between SmartAsset and the named firm and its financial professionals, and firms and financial professionals having business relationships with SmartAsset receive no special treatment or consideration in SmartAsset’s reviews. This page contains links to SmartAsset’s financial advisor matching tool, which may or may not match you with the firm mentioned in this review or its financial professionals.

Finding a Top Financial Advisor in Georgia

If you're looking for a financial advisor in the state of Georgia, we're here to help you find one. SmartAsset has compiled a list of the top advisors in the Peach State with details on the types of clients they work with, their investment strategies and more. But if you'd prefer that we find a potential financial advisor for you, SmartAsset's free matching tool can pair you with up to three vetted advisors who serve your area.

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Rank Financial Advisor Assets Managed Minimum Assets Financial Services More Information
1 Merit Financial Advisors Merit Financial Advisors logo Find an Advisor

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$7,252,133,507 Varies based on account type
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Pension consulting
  • Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)
  • Publication of periodicals or newsletters
  • Educational seminars/workshops

Minimum Assets

Varies based on account type

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Pension consulting
  • Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)
  • Publication of periodicals or newsletters
  • Educational seminars/workshops
2 Homrich Berg Homrich Berg logo Find an Advisor

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$15,199,304,130 $12,500 minimum annual fee
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management

Minimum Assets

$12,500 minimum annual fee

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
3 BT Family Office, LLC BT Family Office, LLC logo Find an Advisor

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$2,702,789,348 No set account minimum
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Selection of other advisors (including private fund managers)
  • Educational seminars/workshops

Minimum Assets

No set account minimum

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Selection of other advisors (including private fund managers)
  • Educational seminars/workshops

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4 Capital Investment Advisors, LLC Capital Investment Advisors, LLC logo Find an Advisor

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$5,260,660,983 $500,000
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Selection of other advisors (including private fund managers)
  • Pension consulting services

Minimum Assets

$500,000

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Selection of other advisors (including private fund managers)
  • Pension consulting services
5 SignatureFD, LLC SignatureFD, LLC logo Find an Advisor

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$7,245,750,124 $2,000,000
  • Financial planning services
  • Portfolio management
  • Pension consulting services
  • Selection of other advisors (including private fund managers)

Minimum Assets

$2,000,000

Financial Services

  • Financial planning services
  • Portfolio management
  • Pension consulting services
  • Selection of other advisors (including private fund managers)
6 Henssler Financial Henssler Financial logo Find an Advisor

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$3,005,733,305 Varies based on account type
  • Financial planning 
  • Portfolio management
  • Pension consulting
  • Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)

Minimum Assets

Varies based on account type

Financial Services

  • Financial planning 
  • Portfolio management
  • Pension consulting
  • Selection of other advisers (including private fund managers)
7 Edge Capital Group, LLC Edge Capital Group, LLC logo Find an Advisor

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$6,385,513,021 $5,000,000
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Selection of other advisors (including private fund managers)
  • Pension consulting services
  • Consulting services
  • Family office services
  • Insurance solutions

Minimum Assets

$5,000,000

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Selection of other advisors (including private fund managers)
  • Pension consulting services
  • Consulting services
  • Family office services
  • Insurance solutions
8 Nicholas Hoffman & Company, LLC Nicholas Hoffman & Company, LLC logo Find an Advisor

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$6,681,567,764 No set account minimum
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio managment
  • Pension consulting services
  • Selection of other advisors (including private fund managers)

Minimum Assets

No set account minimum

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio managment
  • Pension consulting services
  • Selection of other advisors (including private fund managers)
9 Balentine Balentine logo Find an Advisor

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$4,691,282,848 $5,000,000
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Selection of other advisors (including private fund managers)

Minimum Assets

$5,000,000

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Selection of other advisors (including private fund managers)
10 ZWJ Investment Counsel, Inc. ZWJ Investment Counsel, Inc. logo Find an Advisor

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$3,541,146,369 $1,000,000
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Selection of other advisors (including private fund managers)

Minimum Assets

$1,000,000

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Selection of other advisors (including private fund managers)

What We Use in Our Methodology

To find the top financial advisors in Georgia, we first identified all firms registered with the SEC in the state. 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:

  • AUM
    Firms with more total assets under management are ranked higher.
  • Individual Client Count
    Firms who serve more individual clients (as opposed to institutional clients) are ranked higher.
  • Clients Per Advisor
    Firms with a lower ratio of clients per financial advisor are ranked higher.
  • Age of Firm
    Firms that have been in business longer are ranked higher.
  • Fee Structure
    Firms with a fee-only (as opposed to fee-based) compensation structure 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.

Merit Financial Advisors

Merit Financial Group is a fee-based firm headquartered in Alpharetta. Merit also has branch locations across the country.

Its team holds multiple certifications, including the Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®)chartered financial consultant (ChFC), accredited estate planner (AEP) and accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) designations. 

The firm serves both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations and charitable organizations.

The firm says it may impose an account minimum, depending on the type of services that a client requires. And Merit may also allocate client assets to portfolios offered through LPL Financial, which could require a minimum account size ranging from $1,000 to $100,000, depending on the investment advisory program.

As a fee-based firm, some on-staff advisors can earn commissions from insurance or securities sales. Despite this, the firm abides by fiduciary duty, legally binding it to act in your best interest.

Merit Financial Advisors Background

CEO Rick Kent, who has spent decades working in financial services, founded Merit Financial in 2007. Merit Intermediate Holdings, LLC owns the firm. In addition to investment advisory services, the practice offers a number of financial consulting programs, including for employees, employers and companies with retirement plans.

It also offers the services of brokers and insurance agents in the office, plus access to LPL Financial advisory programs.

Fees for portfolio management services are a percentage based on the client’s assets under management (AUM), ranging up to 2.50%.

The firm also charges an all-inclusive fee for participants in Merit Financial’s wrap fee program. Financial planning services are provided for a flat fee or at an hourly rate.

Merit Financial Advisors Investment Strategy

Merit Financial primarily uses a long-term, diversified investment strategy. Applying mainly fundamental analysis, it generally invests in mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), individual stocks and bonds, as well as variable annuities.

Individual portfolios are designed according to the client's specific needs and goals. This involves reviewing their risk tolerance, time horizon, long- and short-term goals and income needs. Clients can impose some restrictions on the management of their money. Merit also offers access to LPL Financial model portfolios. 

Homrich Berg

Homrich Berg is a fee-only firm headquartered in Atlanta. It serves both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as other investment companies, pooled investment vehicles, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, state or municipal governments and corporations.

As a fee-only advisor, Homrich Berg does not earn commissions or any other hidden form of compensation. 

Clients may enroll in both financial planning and investment management, or can opt solely for investment management. While the firm charges an annual 1.25% fee on a client's first $1 million under management, the fee schedule varies by the services provided. Homrich Berg does not require an account minimum but does generally impose a $12,500 minimum annual fee. 

Homrich Berg’s staff holds multiple certifications, including Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®), certified public accountants, chartered financial analysts and many other designations. 

Homrich Berg Background

Andy Berg and David Homrich founded the firm in 1989. Berg, who serves as CEO, is one of the principal owners of the company, although multiple others also own stakes in the firm. 

The firm maintains five offices throughout the greater Atlanta area. Homrich Berg forms and manages its own private investment funds, but can also recommend private investment funds that are not affiliated with the firm. 

Homrich Berg Investment Strategy

Homrich Berg provides advice on a variety of securities including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), exchange-traded notes, stocks, bonds, hedge funds, private equity funds and real estate funds.

The firm uses quantitative analysis to evaluate mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, hedge funds and private equity partnerships, and focuses on performance and risk statistics, concentration, market-cap weightings and the liquidity of a fund's securities. When evaluating individual bonds, Homrich Berg analyzes the underlying rating of those securities, the bond structure, and how they compare versus similarly rated bonds. 

BT Family Office

BT Family Office is a fee-only firm headquartered in Atlanta that works exclusively with high-net-worth individuals.

As a fee-only advisor, BT Family Office does not collect commissions or other hidden forms of compensation. The firm does not have a required account size.

BT Family Office Background

Founded in 2019, BT Family Office is owned by Bennett Thrasher, LLP, an Atlanta-based accouting and advisory company, and managed by Steven Nowak, who previously led Goldman Sachs' wealth management division in the Southeast and Washington D.C. regions. 

The firm offers clients wealth management services, family and legacy planning, business consulting, risk management, administration support and lifestyle management. 

BT Family Office Investment Strategy

BT Family Office typically employs an investment strategy that relies on long-term purchases, short-term purchsaes, margins transactions and option writing. Client assets are allocated across a variety of securities, including equity stocks, fixed-income, mutual funds, ETFs and private funds. 

The firm may also recommend third-party asset managers for clients and acts as a supervisor for those portfolios. In this supervisory role, BT Family Office evaluates the managers' investment methodologies, risk management systems and other factors on an ongoing basis for its clients.  

Capital Investment Advisors

Capital Investment Advisors is a fee-only financial advisor firm located in Atlanta. Clients have a $500,000 account minimum. The firm's advisory team includes certified financial planners (CFPs), chartered retirement planning counselors (CRPCs), and other accredited professionals. 

Capital Investment Advisors Background

Founded in 1996, Capital Investment Advisors is principally owned by Mitchell Reiner, Matthew Reiner and Wesley Moss -- all of whom remain members of the senior advisory team. 

The firm focuses on financial planning, portfolio management, pension consulting and selection of other advisors. 

Capital Investment Advisors Investment Strategy

Asset allocation and portfolio design will be tailored to your financial goals and risk tolerance. Capital Investment Advisors typically spreads a client's assets across growth and income investments. Growth portfolios generally comprise ETFs and individual securities, while income portfolios may be composed of bond mutual funds, bond ETFs, individual bonds and closed end funds. 

In evaluating investments, the firm uses fundamental analysis to asses a comapny's value based on its sales, assets, earnings and other measurables. Capital Investments Advisors factors both proprietary and third-party research into its analysis. 

SignatureFD

SignatureFD has a large advisory team that includes Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®), certified public accountants (CPAs), chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and other accredited professionals.

Based in Atlanta, SignatureFD requires a $2 million account minimum.

Because representatives of the firm sell insurance and can earn commissions on those sales, SignatureFD is considered a fee-based advisor. Despite this potential conflict of interest, its advisors have a fiduciary responsibility to act in their clients' best interests. 

The firm works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pooled investment vehicles, pension and profit-sharing plans and charitable plans.

SignatureFD Background

Founded in 1997, SignatureFD offers wealth management services, financial planning and consulting, as well as miscellaneous services that include standalone investment management. Heather Robertson Fortner serves as a partner and CEO of the firm. 

SignatureFD also owns private investment funds that it makes available to certain qualified clients. These funds generally invest in private equity and private assets. 

SignatureFD Investment Strategy

The advisory team at SignatureFD uses charting, fundamental analysis, technical analysis and cyclical analysis to evaluate securities for clients. The firm's primary investment strategies are long-term purchases, short-term purchases and trading, however advisors may also utilize short sales, options and margins transactions from time to time. 

Henssler Financial

Led by finance professor and radio talk show host "Dr. Gene" Henssler, Henssler Financial is a fee-based firm that works with a variety of clients. These include both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as other investment companies, pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, state or municipal entities and corporations. 

As a fee-based firm, some of its advisors may earn a commission from selling insurance products. But Henssler Financial has a fiduciary duty to act in clients' best interests at all times.

The Henssler Financial team holds multiple certifications, including certified financial planner (CFP), certified public accountant (CPA) and certified wealth strategist (CWS) designations, among others.

Account minimums vary depending the type of account. 

Henssler Financial Background

Though Henssler founded the firm in 1987, it wasn’t until 1991 that he took on his first “managed client,” when Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. started offering a program where it would be the custodian of assets for financial advisors, formerly called Schwab Institutional. 

Henssler is owned by Dr. Gene and William G. Lako, Jr., the firm's managing director and principal.

Dr. Gene is still delivering his no-nonsense advice on Saturdays, from 10 to 11 a.m., on Talk 920 WGKA Atlanta. Other employees own minority interests in the advisory business. 

Henssler Financial Investment Strategy

Henssler Financial bases its asset allocation on what it calls the “10 Year Rule.” The firm believes that “any money a client needs within 10 years should be invested in fixed income securities, and any money not needed within 10 years should be invested in high-quality, individual common stocks or mutual funds that invest in common stocks.”

To determine liquidity needs (or how much should be in bonds and cash equivalents), the firm runs cash flow projections using client savings goals, desired future spending and expected retirement date. Based on that data, advisors will then recommend fixed income securities with maturity dates and amounts that correspond to these needs, with one year’s worth of expenses going into a money market fund or another cash equivalent. It will recommend stocks and mutual funds that meet its guidelines for the rest of a client’s portfolio.

Edge Capital Group

Edge Capital Group, a fee-only advisory firm based in Atlanta. High-net-worth individuals comprise a vast majority of the firm’s clientele. However, Edge Capital Group also works with a varied list of institutional clients, including investment companies, pooled investment vehicles, charitable organizations, other investment advisors and corporations.

The firm’s advisory and strategy teams hold multiple certifications as certified financial planners (CFPs), certified public accountants (CPAs) and chartered financial analysts (CFAs).

As a fee-only firm, Edge Capital Group advisors do not earn commissions on client transactions. Instead, the firm is compensated through advisory fees, performance-based fees and other fixed fees. 

Edge requires a $5 million account minimum, the largest minimum of any firm on our list. 

Edge Capital Group Background

Edge Capital Group -- formerly known as Edge Advisors -- has been managing client’s investments since April 2007. Focus Financial Partners Inc., a public company traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, owns the firm through a series of subsidiaries. Edge is managed by Henry Jones, Bert Rayle, Will Skeean, Dennis Sabo and Elizabeth Mackie. 

Edge offers clients financial planning, comprehensive wealth management, outsourced chief investment officer services to family offices and institutional investors, as well as consulting and other services. 

Edge Capital Group Investment Strategy

Edge typically allocates assets of comprehensive wealth management clients among mutual funds or third-party managers, ETFs, and private investment funds. The firm also maintains an internal asset management division called Blue Current, which offers a “niche focus on income strategies,” according to Edge’s website. A nine-member strategy team crafts and guide’s Edge’s investment approach.

Nicholas Hoffman & Company

Nicholas Hoffman & Company (NHCO) is a fee-only firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. It serves non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations.

The firm says it "may impose a minimum portfolio value eligible for conventional investment advisory services and/or a minimum fee," though it does not specify the amount on its brochure.

As a fee-only firm, financial professionals at NHCO do not earn any type of commissions from product sales or revenue from securities.

Nicholas Hoffman & Company Background

NHCO was founded in 2007 by Nicolas J. Hoffman. The firm is a multi-family office that provides financial planning and portfolio management services.

The advisory staff holds multiple certifications as chartered financial analysts (CFAs).

Nicholas Hoffman & Company Resources

NHCO invests primarily in ETFs, mutual funds, managed accounts, stock and bonds, as well as hedge funds, real estate, private equity and private debt.

Financial strategies are based on an investment plan that has been developed for the specific goals and needs of the client, and it will combine both long-term and short-term purchases.

Balentine

 

Balentine is a fee-only advisory firm that caters to a diverse clientele including high-net-worth individuals, families, foundations, endowments, non-profit organizations, trusts, estates, various retirement plans and state or municipal government entities. Balentine typically requires a minimum investment of $5 million, though this threshold may be adjusted at the firm's discretion.

These services include financial planning, tax planning, and insurance planning. Estate planning and coordination of external advisors ensure a holistic approach to wealth management. 

Balentine Background

Balentine was founded in 2009. The firm is primarily controlled by Robert M. Balentine and his family trust, which owns more than 25% but less than a majority of the firm. Additionally, eight other officers or employees of Balentine also hold ownership stakes. Today, the firm manages more than $4.5 billion in assets under management (AUM) across its 24 advisors. 

Balentine Investment Strategy

The firm employs a comprehensive investment strategy that incorporates a holistic, risk-aware approach to categorizing assets, alongside Global Tactical Asset Allocation (GTAA) to adapt to changing market conditions. The firm also emphasizes diversification and the use of hedged strategies to manage risk, while integrating both active and passive investment solutions to optimize returns.?

ZWJ Investment Counsel

 

ZWJ Investment Counsel is a fee-only firm that caters to a diverse clientele including individual persons, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm primarily serves individual clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm maintains a minimum investment threshold of $1,000,000, which can be flexible based on the client's association with existing clients or other specific circumstances

ZEJ Investment Counsel Background

ZEJ Investment Counsel was founded in 1974. The firm is collectively managed by multiple owners, including Charles Abney, Casey Flanagan, and Clay Jackson. The firm today manages more than $3.5 billion in assets under management (AUM) across its 13 advisors. 

ZWJ Investment Counsel Resources

 

The firm employs strategies that include both long-term purchases, where securities are held for a year or more, and short-term purchases, for securities held less than a year. Their investment portfolio typically comprises equity securities, including those listed on exchanges and those traded over-the-counter, as well as foreign issues. Additionally, they invest in corporate debt securities, certificates of deposit, municipal securities and government securities.

 

How Long $1mm Lasts in Retirement

SmartAsset's interactive map highlights places where $1 million will last the longest in retirement. Zoom between states and the national map to see the top spots in each region. Also, scroll over any city to learn about the cost of living in retirement for that location.

Least
Most
Rank City Housing Expenses Food Expenses Healthcare Expenses Utilities Expenses Transportation Expenses

Methodology We analyzed data on average expenditures for seniors, cost of living and investment returns to determine how many years of retirement a $1 million nest egg would cover in cities across America.

First, we looked at data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on the average annual expenditures of seniors. We then applied cost of living data from the Council for Community and Economic Research to adjust those national average spending levels based on the costs of each expense category (housing, food, healthcare, utilities, transportation and other) in each city. Using this data, SmartAsset calculated the average cost of living for retirees in the largest U.S. cities.

We assumed the $1 million would grow at a real return (interest minus inflation) of 2%. Then, we divided $1 million by the sum of each of those annual numbers to determine how long $1 million would cover retirement expenses in each of the cities in our study. Cities where $1 million lasted the longest ranked the highest in the study.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Council for Community and Economic Research