Top Financial Advisor Firms in Kentucky

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MCF Advisors is a large wealth management and institutional financial advisor firm that leads off our list of the top advisors in Kentucky. While the institutional side of its business serves retirement plans, endowments and more, its wealth management offerings are intended for individuals and their families, as well as business owners. 

There is no investment or account minimum at this fee-based firm.

MCF employs a number of advisors who hold advisory certifications, including chartered financial analysts (CFAs), Certified Financial Planners™ (CFP®), chartered retirement planning counselors (CRPCs), certified public accountants (CPAs) and more. However, some advisors on staff are licensed insurance agents who can earn commissions for selling policies. While this is a conflict of interest, the firm is legally required to act in clients' best interest as a fiduciary. 

MCF Advisors Background

Firm chairman Robert Sathe founded MCF Advisors in 2000 after working for several years at Cigna Financial Advisors. The firm was previously known as Mid Central Financial Advisors, Inc. Wealth management can be broken down into two main service types: wealth management and institutional services. 

Today, the firm is 100% employee-owned, with David L. Harris, Jr., the firm's CEO, maintaining majority ownership. In addition to its headquarters in Covington, MCF Advisors has offices in Lexington and Louisville. 

MCF Advisors Investment Strategy

Since clients can engage MCF Advisors with any amount of investable assets, investment strategies vary depending on the type of services that the firm determines are best for the client. Advisors use a tactical asset allocation approach when it comes to investing, but they still look to mold their strategies to the particular financial needs of the client. Clients are also permitted to impose some restrictions on how their assets are managed. 

Advisors here look to diversify client portfolios in order to mitigate risk and promote long-term growth and returns. The firm believes that risk management is central to investment success. The most common investments made by the firm include mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), equities and fixed-income securities.

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Headquartered in Lexington, Keystone Financial Group manages over $1.5 billion, mostly on a discretionary basis. With a $10,000 minimum investment requirement, this fee-based advisory firm primarily serves individuals who are not high-net-worth individuals. It also has banks and thrift institutions, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations and business entities as clients.

Keystone Financial Group has Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®) and accredited asset management specialists (AAMSs) on staff. 

Keystone Financial Group Background

Toby Jenkins, Mike Kretz and Tim Jenkins founded Keystone in 2008. The three are equal partners and work as advisors for the firm. 

The firm offers sponsors a wrap-fee and non-wrap-fee asset management program using LPL Financial Corporation’s Strategic Wealth Management platform. Keystone also provides access to a number of LPL’s model portfolios through its separate wrap-fee program.

Additionally, the firm offers financial planning and consulting, client education services, referral of third-party advisors and retirement plan services. For these services, Keystone charges fees, but advisors who are registered representatives of broker-dealers or insurance agents receive commissions in those capacities. This presents a potential conflict between the interests of the client and the interest of the advisor, but as a fiduciary Keystone is obligated to always put client interests first.

In addition to Lexington, the firm has offices throughout Kentucky in Ashland, Leitchfield, Mt. Sterling, Somerset and Louisville. 

Keystone Financial Group Investment Strategy

The practice uses charting, fundamental and technical methods of analysis. It states that “it is not our typical investment strategy to attempt to time the market, but we may increase cash holdings modestly as deemed appropriate based on your risk tolerance and our expectations of market behavior.”

It also notes that it does not primarily recommend one type of security. Instead, Keystone can provide investment advice on mutual funds, ETFs, individual equity securities, corporate debt securities, certificates of deposit, U.S. government securities, futures contracts, options and other assets. 

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Strategic Wealth Investment Group (SWIG) works primarily with non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. The firm also says it works with corporations and business entities. 

As a fee-based firm, some advisors could be licensed to sell insurance and could earn commissions on those transactions. While this is conflict of interest because advisors have a financial incentive to make certain recommendations over others, the firm has a fiduciary duty to put client interests first.

SWIG generally requires $25,000 minimum to engage in services. Clients are charged investment management fees that are based on a percentage of assets under management, ranging between 0.5% and 1.5%. The firm charges an hourly fee for financial planning. 

Strategic Wealth Investment Group Background

Headquartered in Louisville, SWIG was founded as a limited liability company in 2002 and formed as an investment advisory in 2012. The firm’s principal owners are Matthew J. Dicken, Dustin Stanley and Jordan Schwart. While the firm's headquarters are located in Louisville, SWIG also has branch offices in 17 other states. 

Strategic Wealth Investment Group Strategy

The firm manages and evaluates portfolios based on client goals and objectives. General financial planning and investment services include asset allocation, risk tolerance, asset selection and portfolio monitoring. 

SWIG's investment advice is typically limited to mutual funds, bonds, fixed-income assets, ETFs, real estate investment trusts (REITs), insurance products and government securities. 

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KPP Advisory Services, known as Kentucky Planning Partners, is a fee-based firm located in Louisville. KPP works with thousands of clients, all of whom are individuals and high-net-worth individuals. KPP offers investment advisory services via programs that are sponsored by LPL Financial. Clients enrolled in those programs are subject to the following account minimums:

• Optimum Market Portfolios Program (OMP): $10,000
• Personal Wealth Portfolios Program (PWP): $250,000
• Model Wealth Portfolios Program (MWP): $25,000
• Manager Access Select Program: $100,000
• Strategic Wealth Management (SWM): No minimum account requirement
• Separate Account Network (SAN): Depends on portfolio manager

The KPP team includes advisors with various professional credentials, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC) and chartered retirement plans specialist (CRPS) designations. However, advisors may earn sale commissions in addition to client-paid fees for selling insurance. Despite KPP being a fiduciary, this form of compensation is a conflict of interest. Sales commissions may incentivize advisors to make certain recommendations over others to generate this additional compensation.  

KPP Advisory Services Background

KPP Advisory Services was founded in 2005 by CEO Robert Davenport and president Ken O'Neil. Davenport and O'Neil remain 50/50 ownership partners. In addition to its headquarters in Louisville, KPP operates branch offices in Somerset, Bowling Green, Lexington and Clarksville, Tennessee.

KPP offers investment management, financial planning, wealth management and retirement plan consultation services. Financial planning may encompass tax and cash flow planning, insurance needs, retirement planning, estate planning, business planning and other areas of a client's financial lives. 

KPP Advisory Services Investment Strategy

KPP’s investment strategy focuses on achieving long-term objectives through a combination of fundamental analysis, asset allocation, mutual fund/ETF analysis and long-term purchases. Fundamental analysis evaluates economic factors without attempting to predict market movements, which poses the risk of market volatility affecting security prices.

KPP also employs asset allocation, balancing securities, fixed income, and cash to align with client goals, though this may limit exposure to rapid market gains. Mutual fund and ETF analysis assesses fund managers and underlying assets to avoid portfolio overlap, while long-term purchases target undervalued securities or desired asset classes, though these may miss short-term gains or experience value declines.

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Started by four men who worked at a firm together, Legacy Financial Advisors manages over a billion in assets on a discretionary basis only. 

Based in Covington, Legacy has advisors on staff with the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) desigation, as well as the certified public accountant (CPA), wealth management specialist (WMS) and registered financial consultant (RFC) credentials.

Clients include both non-high-net worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and savings plans and charitable organizations. There is $500,000 minimum for clients open an investment account. 

In addition to client-paid fees, some advisors on staff may receive additional compensation when selling insurance products, which is a conflict of interest. But as a fiduciary, the firm is legally required to act in clients' best interests.

Legacy Financial Advisors Background

Of the four advisors who started the firm in 2006, three – Michael Maisel, Paul Sartori and Trent Lucas – remain as principal owners. 

Legacy Financial specializes in investment management, estate planning, insurance, and risk management services. 

Legacy Financial Advisors Investment Strategy

Legacy’s investment strategy is centered on diversification and a mandate-driven approach, with a strong emphasis on managing risk through asset allocation. Their portfolio construction balances clients' ability and willingness to take on risk, using diversification and tax management to enhance returns. Legacy tailors its strategy to individual client goals, focusing on capital preservation, growth equity, and alternative investments.

Portfolios are constructed based on the client’s risk tolerance and return objectives, incorporating assets like fixed income, domestic and international equities, REITs, commodities and other alternatives. Their long-term approach emphasizes a strategy of advancing and protecting investments.

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Fee-based firm Journey Advisory Group has a client base of individuals, high-net-worth individuals, charities, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans. All clients must meet a minimum account size requirement of $50,000, and the firm charges asset-based fees, hourly fees and fixed fees.

The firm has advisors on staff who hold a range of professional credentials, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified trust and financial advisor (CTFA), chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified public accountant (CPA) and certified private wealth advisor (CPWA) designations. 

The firm owns an insurance company called Journey Risk Solutions (JRS), so Journey Advisory Group has a financial incentive to recommend that advisory clients buy insurance from JRS, which is a conflict of interest. 

Journey Advisory Group Background

Founded in 2014 and principally owned by Tyler S. Lang and Stephan Lang, Journey offers a wide selection of advisory services, including individual portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting and educational seminars. 

While based in Covington, the firm has officies in Blue Ash, Ohio, and Dayton, Ohio.  

Journey Advisory Group Investment Strategy 

Journey generally takes a long-term approach to investing, and designs portfolios with clients' income needs, financial goals and tax situations in mind. 

Journey typically invests in exchange-listed securities, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), securities traded over the counter, foreign issuer, option contracts on securities, warrants, corporate debt securities (other than commercial paper), commercial paper, certificates of deposit (CDs), municipal securities, U.S. government securities and other securities.

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Barlow Wealth Partners in Louisville is a fee-only advisory firm that works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, family offices, charitable organizations, corporations and businesses.

Notably, Barlow Wealth Partners does not require a minimum account size to engage their services. The firm charges an asset-based fee for asset management, which may also cover financial planning services for some clients. However, financial planning fees may also billed separately, either at an hourly or flat rate.   

As a fee-only advisor, Barlow Wealth Partners and its advisors do not sell financial products or insurance for commissions.  

Barlow Wealth Partners Background

Founded in 2021, the firm is solely owned and operated by Barry O. Barlow. Barlow Wealth Partners offers investment management services, ERISA services, as well as financial planning and consulting.

When it comes to financial planning, the firm can help clients with cash flow analysis, investment planning and retirement planning. Additionally, the firm provides estate planning, personal savings strategies and educational savings plans. 

Barlow Wealth Partners Investment Strategy

The firm prides itself on its flexibility to invest in companies of various sizes and types, unrestricted by company size, style or geographic location, focusing primarily on the growth and cash generation capabilities of these companies rather than on short-term trading strategies. Typical investments include equity securities of individual companies, bonds and options.

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The Gleason Group, which is located in Prospect, is a fee-based firm that works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, as well as corporations and businesses.

The Gleason Group has an annual minimum fee of $10,000 and requires a minimum account balance of $1 million. As a result, it may not be the best fit for people who are just starting their wealth-building journey. 

The advisory team includes the following professional credentials: Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified public accountant (CPA), certified plan fiduciary advisor (CFPA) and certified student loan professional (CSLP).

The Gleason Group Background

Founded in 2015 by owner Gavin T. Gleason, The Gleason Group was also helped by Raymond James with asistance for the initial setup with equipment and buildout costs.

The firm's core services are investment management, financial planning and consulting, as well as wealth management. Specifically, the firm can help clients with retirement planning, education planning, estate planning, beneficiary coordination and risk management.

Other services include:

• Insurance analysis
• Debt analysis 
• Lending solutions 
• Charitable strategies 
• Advisory team coordination 
• Social Security and Medicare guidance

The Gleason Group Investment Strategy 

The Gleason Group primarily follows a long-term, buy-and-hold investment strategy, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a diversified portfolio. They recognize that each client has unique goals, objectives, and risk preferences. In managing investments, they also consider potential tax implications and aim to recommend low-cost funds to optimize the client's holdings.

The company mainly invests client assets in various mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, index funds and individual debt and equity securities.

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Reliant Wealth Planning, another Louisville-based advisor, works primarily with non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. While the fee-based firm has one charitable organization as a client, its business is mainly geared toward individuals. 

While Reliant's advisors do not sell insurance or securities for commissions or other third-party compensation, the firm earns an asset-based fee from an affiliated broker-dealer who sells financial products. 

Reliant does not require a minimum account balance to engage in services. Clients, however, are charged investment management fees based on a percentage of assets under management, ranging between 0.7% and 1.38%.

The advisor team holds multiple credentials, which include the certified estate planner (CEP), Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), retirement income certified professional (RICP), chartered financial analyst (CFA), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC), chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and accredited estate planner (AEP) designations, among others. 

Reliant Wealth Planning Background

Headquartered in Louisville, Reliant was founded as a limited liability company in 2017 by Shaun Chelf and Laura Clark. 

Reliant Wealth Planning offers financial planning and discretionary wealth management through a wrap fee program. Their financial planning services encompass cash flow analysis, insurance consulting, investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, education funding and charitable giving. Meanwhile, the firm's discretionary wealth management combines investment management and transaction fees into a single fee, with portfolios customized using multiple strategy layers based on client objectives. They also provide ongoing portfolio rebalancing and adjustments as needed.

Additionally, Reliant assists clients with estate planning, acting as a liaison with attorneys to ensure estate plans align with client goals, all at no extra cost.

Reliant Wealth Planning Investment Strategy

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Atlas Brown in Louisville is a fee-based that does not require a minimum account size. While most clients are individuals without a high net worth, the firm also serves high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations, corporations and other businesses. 

The firm primarily charges asset-based fees but in some limited cases, it will charge fixed fees for consulting and/or family office services. At least one advisor on staff sells insurance for commissions in addition to client-paid fees, which is a conflict of interest. However, as a fiduciary, the firm is legally required to act in clients’ best interests.

Atlas Brown Background

Atlas Brown was founded in 2004. The firm is currently under the ownership of multiple partners. Chairman William Hancock III and Mary Hancock own the largest interests in the business. 

Atlas Brown provides comprehensive family wealth management services, combining investment management with family office solutions tailored to individual needs. The firm emphasizes personalized service, addressing financial and non-financial aspects of wealth management, such as estate and retirement planning, financial reporting and consulting on trusts, insurance and business transactions. 

Additionally, the firm assists with IRA rollovers and provides broad family office services, all designed to align with client goals.

Atlas Brown Investment Strategy

Atlas Brown adopts a comprehensive investment strategy that incorporates a variety of asset classes and styles. The firm leverages external managers and integrates alternatives with individual securities to tailor unique investment strategies for each client. 

The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, allocating client assets across securities, options, mutual funds, ETFs, and, for accredited investors, private placements.