Top Financial Advisors in Indianapolis, IN

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Valeo Financial Advisors tops our Indianapolis list as having the most assets under management at $2.4 billion. It also has the highest number of advisors (38) and has over 1,100 clients.

This substantial firm has no minimum account size, but if you have a net worth under $1.5 million, you’ll pay more than the 0.40% standard annual fee. Valeo is a fee-only company, which means your advisor will not sell you any products to earn a commission - this is a higher standard to meet within the financial advisor world.

The firm offers advisory services in conjunction with income tax and cash flow planning, risk management, estate planning, education funding and retirement planning all for one fee.

Valeo Financial Advisors Background

The company was founded in in 2003 as a fee-only, client-first firm. Valeo has offices in both Indianapolis and Ann Arbor, Michigan, and serves clients in over 40 states.

John Trott and John Wortman, who have worked in the financial industry since the 90s, are the primary owners and serve as advisors on the team. Two other advisors, Phillip Evans and Timothy Ginn, each own less than 10% of the company. All four primary owners are certified financial planners (CFPs). Ginn is also a non-practicing certified public accountant (CPA).

Valeo Financial Advisors Investment Philosophy

Your portfolio will be built based on your stated objectives. This includes risk tolerance, cash planning and more. The allocation of your assets is guided by your initial advisor consultations.

The overarching strategy at Valeo is strategic asset allocation with tactical asset-class adjustments. This means when there’s an opportunity to underweight or overweight a certain asset class, your advisor will deviate from a neutral allocation to take advantage of the situation.

The company generally invests in no-load mutual funds. No-load means that no commissions or sales charges are incurred when shares are sold. This saves you money.

Each portfolio will have a different makeup as each is tailored to specific client goals and needs. This means your assets could be invested in equity, fixed income, commodities, hedge funds, managed futures, margin transactions, master limited partnership, pooled investment vehicles, short sale, timber venture capital, real estate partnerships and options purchasing.

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This fee-based firm has the most clients of any firm on our list with over 1,200 accounts. The company has three certified financial planners (CFPs), one certified public accountant (CPA) and one chartered financial analyst (CFA).

Sheaff Brock will take you on as a client as long as you have at least $500,000 for your portfolio. The company offers portfolio management and financial planning mainly to individuals and high-net-worth individuals.

Sheaff Brock Investment Advisors Background

The company was formed in 2001 and is owned by David Gilreath and Ronald Brock, the two founding principals. Gilreath has over 25 years in financial services and serves as the company’s managing director and chief investment officer. He has earned his certified financial planner (CFP) credentials since 1984. Brock is the company’s second managing director and helps set investment policy, asset allocation and security selection for managed accounts. He has more than 20 years of experience in the industry.

Sheaff Brock is affiliated with three other companies: Salzinger Sheaff Brock, a portfolio management company, SBAuer Funds, a mutual funds company and Sheff Brock Institutional Group, a money management firm for registered investment advisories and financial institutions.

Sheaff Brock Investment Advisors Investment Philosophy

The company uses various analyses when considering different securities including fundamental analysis, technical analysis, quantitative analysis, mutual fund/ETF analysis and asset allocation. Overall, the company looks for the best securities to buy to meet your portfolio’s goals.

The company favors long-term purchases rather than short term to save on brokerage and transaction fees as well as market fluctuations. You’ll want to keep in mind that the company doesn’t invest for tax efficiency. If that’s a major consideration of yours, you’ll need to consult a tax professional as per Sheaff Brocks’ brochure.

As a client at Sheaff Brock, your assets would be invested into a portfolio that fits your financial goals. The company offers a number of options:

• Growth portfolios
• Growth-and-income portfolios
• Income portfolios
• Alternative portfolios
• Option overlays

Each portfolio type has several sub-types that correspond to your risk tolerance, investment timeline and cash needs.

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Bedel Financial Consulting is the only firm on our list founded by a woman. It’s one of the top 25 women-owned registered investment advisors in the U.S. according to wealthmanagement.com.

There isn’t a hard minimum for assets required to become a client, but there is a $5,000 minimum annual fee and a caveat for accounts under $500,000. If your account is lower than that amount, you’ll likely be charged a higher annual fee rate than 1.05%, the standard for accounts $500,000 to $1 million at Bedel.

With 12 advisors at the firm, the fee-only company is medium in size and has been operating longer than four companies on this list. The company is also the only firm on the list to feature a program exclusively for 20-40 year olds focused on wealth accumulation.

Bedel Financial Consulting Background

Elaine Kops-Bedel started the company in 1989 and has served as the owner, CEO and president since its inception. She has a mathematics degree and an MBA and is a certified financial planner (CFP). Kops-Bedel has worked in the financial planning industry since 1979. In 2017, Kops-Bedel stepped away from daily operations at the firm to serve as the president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), a company with a mission to elevate the economic health of the state.

Evan Bedel, CFP and graduate of Wittenberg University and Texas Tech, is the firm’s director of finance and strategy.

The company has six employees who are CFPs, more than any other firm on this list except the top company Valeo, and two employees who are chartered financial analysts (CFA).

Bedel Financial Consulting Investment Philosophy

At Bedel, your advisor will help you determine what focus you want to aim for with your portfolio. This could mean that you’re retirement-focused, investing to help fund your child’s education or you’re a young person trying to accumulate wealth. Whatever your focus is, your advisor at Bedel will help you clarify the details to achieve your financial goals.

The company uses three common types of analysis when evaluating securities: fundamental, technical and quantitative. This means the firm researches what to invest in by analyzing annual reports and prospectuses, financial publications, third-party due diligence platforms, press releases and more. Bedel Financial Consulting generally recommends mutual funds for your investment account.

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This is another company that has no established minimum account size; however, minimum fees do apply here as well. That said, the company has the least amount of high-net-worth clients out of the list, with only 11% - 25% of all accounts in that category.

Windsor Group is the fourth-oldest company on our list and has over 100 years of total experience across its staff. It has the third-most client relationships of any company on our list with over 790.

The company has five certified financial planners (CFPs) and four chartered financial analysts (CFAs).

Windsor Group Background

Randall Clark and Channing Mitzell formed the company over 30 years ago and retain ownership of the firm. Mitzell serves as the president of the firm and is a CFP. His co-founder, Clark, is also a CFP, serves as a financial advisor and is a managing principal of the company.

The company is part of the National Advisors Trust, an organization that provides clients with standards of excellence in trust and custodial services. Windsor Group created the network with 150 of the top independently owned financial advisory firms.

Windsor Group Portfolio Management

As a client of Windsor Group’s portfolio management team, you’ll be walked through a process that the company uses for most clients. The first phase is policy review and counseling. You’ll work with financial advisors and planners to create your personal investment statement that aligns with your goals.

Next, is investment management. This is where your advisors create a strategy with multiple funds in order to reduce your risk and capitalize on gains. Your portfolio is monitored and new opportunities are sought out to keep your portfolio on the path to reach your investment goals.

Phase three is monitoring and reporting. This is the evaluation process that helps set benchmarks to measure your performance against. You’ll receive custom reports to keep you abreast of the situation. Phase four is rebalancing. This is the ongoing process of adjusting your portfolio to maximize success.

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With $1 million as the minimum to open an account, Column Capital Advisors tops Indianapolis’ advisor list for highest minimum, tied with Wallington Asset Management (no. 7 on this list). That means it’s no surprise that the fee-only company has the highest percentage of high-net-worth clients out of the nine other firms we reviewed with 75% to 99% of all accounts falling in this category. Column Capital generally works with those with a net worth of $2 to $25 million.

The company has the fourth-highest number of advisors with 18 on staff, and only about 300 accounts, which is much less than any of the companies preceding.

Column Capital Advisors Background

Column Capital is the second-newest company on the list having formed in 2005. It is owned by Column Capital Group holding company, which is owned by Brian Upchurch, president of the firm, Kevin Sweet, chief investment officer and Jeffrey Yu, the chief compliance officer.

Upchurch has worked in the industry since 1987 and has a law degree. He’s a certified public accountant (CPA) and is a member of the chartered institute of management accountants (CIMA).

Sweet is a CFP, member of CIMA and has worked in the industry since 1995. Yu is a CFP, CPA and has worked in the industry since 1985.

With all the CPA experience, it makes sense that this firm highlights tax services as one of its client offerings. Column Family Office, part of the firm, provides tax services to high-net-worth individuals and families.  

Column Capital Advisors Investing Philosophy

The advisors at Column Capital use the Nobel Prize-winning investment strategy called “modern portfolio theory.” This theory helps investors classify, estimate and control risk and return. Most robo-advisors such as Wealthfront and Betterment use this theory when creating investment algorithms.

Column Capital will diversify your assets to lower risk and will generally use mutual funds and ETFs to build your portfolio. The company invests for the long term and tries to minimize portfolio turnover and trading/transaction costs. However, your portfolio will be managed in alignment with your financial goals and objectives, which means short-term purchases are on the table if the investment meets one of your financial objectives.

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This fee-only company ties with Column Capital Advisors and Spectrum Management Group as having the highest minimum to open an account, at $1 million per client. However, unlike Column Capital, the firm’s percentage of high-net-worth clients is in the 51% to 75% range, rather than 75% to 99%. This means the majority of clients are high-net-worth, but not the entire client base. 

The company has just seven advisors compared to Column Capital’s 18, but has about the same number of accounts, in the 300s. 

Wallington Asset Management offers services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations and corporations. 

Wallington Asset Management Background

In 1988, Terence Weiss founded the company. Wallington has provided investment advisory services since, and in 2007, the company became a limited liability company (LLC). Weiss is still the principal owner of the firm as serves as the president and managing director of the firm. He has an MBA from Indiana University and over 40 years of experience in the financial industry. 

Jeffrey Dowden is the vice president of the firm and senior portfolio manager. He has a chartered financial analyst (CFA) certification and has worked in the financial industry since 1989.

Certifications across the company include two certified public accountants (CPAs), one certified financial planner (CFP) and two chartered financial analysts (CFAs). 

Wallington Asset Management Investing Philosophy

Each client can expect a tailored investment plan based on the financial goals and needs discussing during initial consultation. That means your cash flow needs, expected rates of return, risk tolerance and time horizon are taken into account when developing your portfolio’s allocations. 

Generally, your advisor will diversify across asset classes such as equities and fixed income, and adjust as necessary to meet your goals. The company aims to achieve a return that exceeds your benchmark through a long-term investment approach in high-quality securities, Wallington Asset uses a variety of analysis types when evaluating securities, including fundamental, cyclical, technical and charting. 

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Deerfield Financial Advisors is another Indianapolis-based fee-only advisory firm with no hard minimum asset requirement. That said, a majority of the firm’s clients are high-net-worth individuals, which generally means a net worth of about $1.5 million or more. 

The firm has just five advisors, which tie it with no. 10 on our list, SBC Wealth Management for smallest size. However, Deerfield does have over 300 clients, putting it in the same range as Column Capital Advisors and Wallington Asset Management, no. 6 and no. 7 on our Indianapolis advisor list.  

Individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts and estates and corporations or business entities are the typical types clients that work with this company. 

Deerfield Financial Advisors Background

The company was founded by Dick Bellmer, certified financial planner (CFP) in 1985. He now serves on the board of directors. 

The company is now owned by three of the employees: Susan Steel, director, president and chief compliance officer; Bradley Cougill, director, vice president and chief investment officer, and Benjamin Hockema, director and vice president. Steel has had ownership since 1993, which is the longest out of the three while Hockema is the newest part-owner, acquiring in 2017.  

Deerfield has two offices: one in Indianapolis and the other in Park Ridge, Illinois. The company serves clients in 26 states.  

Deerfield Financial Advisors  Advisors Investing Philosophy

The company uses an internal investment committee to perform analysis and to review investment performance. The main method that Deerfield uses is fundamental analysis. This type of analysis looks at the intrinsic value of investments by examining aspects such as economic, financial and qualitative/quantitative factors to help determine the actual value of the security. Fundamental analysis is holistic and generally considered the opposite of technical analysis, which looks at past market activity such as prices and volume. 

Your portfolio’s construction is based on your financial goals and long-term investing. Most accounts will have ETFs and mutual funds and your advisor will minimize transaction fees and tax ramifications when possible. The company bases its philosophy of the assumption that markets work and that diversifying across asset classes will help maximize returns and minimize risk. 

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Formed in 2010, Spectrum Management Group, also known as SMG is the newest firm on the list. The company joins Wallington Asset Management and Column Capital as requiring that you have at least $1 million to become a client. 

The company has six advisors and the smallest number of accounts out of any of the other firms on our top 10 list at around 200 clients. Robert Phillips and Leslie Thompson are the principal owners of the firm with the former serving as the CEO and the latter as the CFO and CCO. 

SMG offers wealth management, including services such as cash flow and strategic tax planning; investment advisory services, which includes investment policy design and tactical asset allocation and trust and family office services, which includes intergenerational wealth transfer strategies and strategic philanthropic planning. 

Spectrum Management Group Process

As a client of SMG, you’d use the firm’s proprietary process called LifeSpectrum Planning^TM. This planning process starts with discovery, meaning that your team at SMG will discuss your financial goals, values and vision with you. That first step helps the team develop priorities for managing your financial future.

The next step is analyzing and evaluating solutions to find the best fit for your financial objectives. The outcome of this step is a road map and strategy that will guide how your assets are managed and that you’re making progress toward your specified goals. You’ll receive reports and meet with your advisors regularly. 

Spectrum Management Group Investment Strategy

The company has its own proprietary investment strategies: dynamic core, SMG all cap and SMG dividend growth. Dynamic core adds exposure to risk assets such as equities and commodities during times of high probability of growth potential. The company uses cash as a hedge when there are periods of high probability of decline potential. If your portfolio is subject to this strategy, your assets may be concentrated in specific asset classes rather than diversified.  

SMG all cap is based on investing in around 30 high quality U.S. stocks. These stocks generally have a market cap greater than $1 billion and are projected to have strong sales and earnings growth. SMG uses technical analysis to determine which companies to invest in with a focus on relative strength.  

SMG dividend growth strategy includes a diverse exposure to U.S. dividend paying stocks. Your advisor may choose this strategy if income is your financial focus. The objective is to increase annual income by choosing stocks with a favorable combination of valuation, profitability and technical merics. 

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SBC Wealth Management is one of three fee-based firms on this list. Fee-based means that the company can make money from recommending insurance or other products, rather than only from a flat fee. Fee-only is the higher standard to meet among investment advisors. However, SBC still adheres to fiduciary standards, which means that your interests are required to come first, despite the conflict of interest. 

You’ll need at least $500,000 to become a wealth management client, but financial planning clients do not have a minimum amount to meet. The company offers personal financial planning, investment advisory services, retirement and distribution planning and estate and legacy planning.  

SBC Wealth Management Background

Scott Holley founded the business in 1983. Today, he still serves as CEO of the firm and has worked in the financial industry for more than 40 years. Patrick Morrow serves as the president and COO of the firm. He’s worked for SBC Wealth since 1987 and is part-owner of the company. 

The staff does not hold any certifications, such as chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified financial planner (CFP) or certified public accountant (CPA), which makes it the only firm on Indianapolis’ top 10 without any. The company has just five advisors for over 500 accounts, which is more clients than five other firms on this list. 

SBC Wealth Management Process

The firm uses a six-step process to create your financial strategy. First, you’ll define your objectives and lifestyle goals This means your time horizon (including your projected retirement date), your family’s needs and the level of risk you’re willing to take with your assets.

Step two is discovery. Your advisor will comb through your tax returns, assets, liabilities and other relevant financial material in order to become familiar with your financial situation. Next is the analysis of your objectives. Your advisor will help you create consistent and realistic financial goals. Step four is the creation of primary and contingency plans for each of your objectives. This includes considering taxes, timing and risk. When you reach step five, your plan will be implemented. Lastly, step six is periodic reviews: your plan will be reevaluated periodically to ensure that it stays on course. 

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Meridian Investment Advisors, Inc., the final firm on our list of the top Indianapolis financial advisor firms, has $333.67 million in assets under management. The firm has three financial advisors on staff. Its wealth management consultant is a certified public accountant (CPA), but aside from that the firm’s staff does not hold any other advanced certifications, such as a certified financial planner (CFP) designation.

Meridian Investment Advisors mainly works with individuals, primarily non-high-net-worth investors. It serves just a small percentage of high-net-worth individuals. In addition, the firm can work with pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations. Meridian generally requires a minimum portfolio size of $100,000.

This is a fee-based firm. Though its staff is primarily compensated through a salary and bonus structure, certain staff members are also registered representatives of a broker-dealer. They may earn sales, service or administrative fees from selling mutual funds or insurance products related to securities. However, because the firm is a fiduciary, it’s required to put its clients’ best interests before its own. 

Meridian Investment Advisors, Inc. Background

Meridian Investment Advisors, Inc. was incorporated in 1984. The firm’s principal shareholders are president, CEO and director Patrick Burley and vice president, investment consultant and chief compliance officer Michael Burley.

Meridian Investment Advisors' advisory services include individual portfolio management, pension consulting services and financial planning. The firm's financial planning services may encompass a broad range of areas, such as budgeting, family records, personal liability, estate planning, tax and cash flow issues, death and disability needs, retirement planning and investment review

Meridian Investment Advisors, Inc. Investing Approach

Meridian Investment Advisors says it develops its investing strategies based on each client's needs and objectives. To provide comprehensive wealth management, the firm includes clients' accountants, attorneys and any other relevant professionals in the process.

Meridian Investment Advisors' investment philosophy is based on a combination of four key components: asset allocation, portfolio structure, specialist management and portfolio management. The firm’s primary method of analyzing investments is modern portfolio theory, which states that investors can reduce their portfolio's riskiness through diversification. The firm places an emphasis on keeping a portfolio's risk in line with specific benchmarks. Client assets are primarily allocated among independent managers.