Top Financial Advisor Firms in Kentucky

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ARGI Investment Services leads the way, managing billions in assets on a discretionary basis only. With headquarters in Louisville, the firm has branch offices in Elizabethtown and Bowling Green, Kentucky; Cincinnati, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Grand Rapids, Missouri; Norwalk, Connecticut; and other major cities across the U.S. Of the team in Louisville, 38 are certified financial planners (CFPs), 23 are certified public accountants (CPAs), four are chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and one is a chartered financial consultants (ChFC).  

The fee-only firm has a $100,000 minimum asset requirement.

ARGI Investment Services Background 

ARGI was originally founded in 1995 as a franchise of American Express Financial Advisors. In 2003, the firm separated from American Express, and in 2010, the firm officially became an SEC-registered investment advisor. CEO Patrick “Joe” Reeves, President Neil Quinlan and ARGI’s employee stock ownership plan own the firm.

The firm offers investment management services for a fee based on a percentage of client assets and through a wrap fee program, where management and brokerage costs are bundled into one fee. (The account minimum in the first case is $50,000, and it’s $100,000 in the latter.) ARGI also offers a non-managed account program, financial planning, family wealth services, retirement plan consulting and sub-advising to other investment advisor firms.

ARGI Investment Services Investment Strategy 

ARGI designs and offers proprietary investment portfolios that it can customize by maintaining an individual stock position or purchasing a customized security. Each of the models are globally diversified and are formulated based on risk. 

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MCF Advisors is a large wealth management and institutional financial advisor firm. While the institutional side of its business serves retirement plans, endowments, cash balance plans 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.

However, for clients who are eligible to participate in Schwab Institutional Intelligent Portfolios Platform, the minimum investment required to open or convert an account in the Program is $5,000. The minimum account balance to enroll in the tax-loss harvesting feature is $50,000.

The firm employs a number of advisors who hold advisory certifications. These include chartered financial analysts (CFAs), certified financial planners (CFPs) , financial paraplanner qualified professionals (FPQPs) certified public accountants (CPAs) and more. You can see the staff's full list of designations on the firm's website. 

MCF Advisors Background

Firm chairman Robert Sathe founded MCF Advisors in 2000 after working for several years at Cigna Financial Advisors. Wealth management can be broken down into two main service types: wealth management and institutional services. The firm also participates in Schwab's robo-advisor platform.

Today, the firm is 100% employee-owned, with David L. Harris, Jr., the firm's CEO, maintaining majority ownership.

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 hundreds of millions in assets, mostly on a discretionary basis. Its three other offices are in Somerset, Leitchfield and Mt. Sterling. The Lexington office has multiple financial advisors, including two accredited asset management specialists (AAMSs) and two certified financial planners (CFPs).  

With a $10,000 minimum investment requirement, fee-based Keystone 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 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.

The minimum investment required to open an account is $10,000.

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. 

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Started by four men who worked at a firm together, Legacy Financial Advisors manages millions in assets on a discretionary basis only. The fee-based firm located in Covington, with a branch office recently opened in Sarasota. The Covington team includes four certified financial planners (CFPs), two certified public accountants (CPAs), one chartered financial analyst (CFA), one chartered retirement plans specialist (CRPS) and one chartered life underwriter (CLU). (Advisors may have multiple accreditations.)

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, but that does not apply to those who digitally use the Fidelity Automated Managed Platform (“AMP”).

Legacy Financial Advisors Background

Of the four advisors who started the firm in 2006, three - Michael Maisel, Paul Sartori and Trent Lucas - remain and own the firm. Two other employees have small stakes, according to SEC data.

Legacy Financial specializes in investment management, estate planning, insurance, and risk management services. Advisors who are registered representatives of broker-dealers or insurance agents receive commissions in their other capacities.

Legacy Financial Advisors Investment Strategy

Employing strategic and tactical allocations, Legacy Financial follows what it calls “an advance and protect strategy.” It does this by placing client assets in a “capital preservation portfolio” (the protect part of the strategy) and a “growth portfolio” (the advance part), where securities are intended to provide long-term capital appreciation potential and diversification. 

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Strategic Wealth Investment Group, LLC 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 investment products, and could earn commissions on those transactions. However, the firm has a fiduciary duty to put client interests first.

Strategic Wealth 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%.

Strategic Wealth Investment Group Background

Headquartered in Louisville, Strategic Wealth was founded as a limited liability company in 2002 and formed as an investment advisory in 2012. The firm’s principal owners include Matthew J. Dicken, Dustin Stanley and Jordan Schwart.

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. 

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Alexander Investment Services is No.6 on our list and is based in Louiville. The fee-based firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals as well as pension and profit sharing plans.

Alexander Investment Services is in the business of offering stocks, mutual and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), corporate and Federal government/agency bonds, as well as certificates of deposit (CDs), separately managed accounts (SMAs) and other financial products to its advisory clients.

However, Alexander Investment Services isn't compensated by and doesn't receive economic benefit from financial providers in connection to providing advisory clients with investment advice. Alexander Investment Services bills directly for its investment advice by debiting the accounts of its advisory clients. 

Alexander Investment Services has no minimum investment.

Alexander Investment Services' Background

Founded in 1965 by Roy Alexander, the company's ownership is led by the following:

• Leo Andrew Hanlein is a 50% shareholder
• Richard Lynn Fox is a 20% shareholder
• Gerald Andrew Wells is a 20% shareholder
• Thomas Craig Wilson is a 10% shareholder

Alexander Investment Services' Strategy 

Alexander Investment Services' investment strategy for clients is determined by a review of their financial objectives and life situation as discussed during meetings, telephone calls, and/or electronic communications. An in-depth client review meeting is recommended at lease once per annum. Every client portfolio is intended to reflect specific financial objectives and investment suitability based on age, risk tolerance, net worth, family status, health and more. Clients may alter their objectives at any time. 

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Fee-only firm Journey Advisory Group, LLC has a client base of individuals, high-net-worth individuals, and 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.

Although Journey Advisory Group is technically a fee-only firm, it is closely affiliated with an insurance company called Journey Risk Solutions, LLC (JRS). Should clients of Journey Advisory Group purchase any insurance products offered through JRS, commissions will be paid to JRS.

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, automated portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting and educational seminars. 

Journey also has locations in Ohio, California and Texas.

Journey Advisory Group Investment Strategy 

Journey says on its website that it focuses on disciplined portfolio construction by providing exposure to a suitable mix of assets. The firm also says it takes a long-term approach to investing, and it employs diversification within each asset class across industries, sectors and countries. 

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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No.8 on our list is The Gleason Group, which is located in Prospect. The fee-only firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans as well as businesses.

The primary clients TGG serves are those in need with financial planning, 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

TGG has an annual minimum fee of $10,000 but doesn't have a minimum account balance requirement.

The Gleason Group Background

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

The current team consists of several certified financial planners a certified public accountant. Besides the president and chief executive officer, there is one chief compliance and financial officer, two financial advisors, one director of client services, one director of operations, one chief creative officer and one director of client experiences.

The Gleason Group Investment Strategy 

TGG manages client assets on a discretionary and non-discretionary basis, and the company primarily allocates client assets among various mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, index funds and individual debt and equity securities in accordance with their stated investment objectives.

TGG primarily focuses on goal-based planning to support recommendations provided to clients, and the company meets clients face-to-face or remotely to determine the details of the client’s personal situation or a business situation.

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Reliant Wealth Planning, LLC works primarily with non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. The firm also serves pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and sovereign wealth funds and foreign official institutions.

As a fee-based firm, some advisors could be licensed to sell insurance and investment products, and could earn commissions on those transactions. However, the firm has a fiduciary duty to put client interests first.

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%.

Reliant Wealth Planning Background

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

The advisor team holds multiple designations, including three certified estate planners (CEPs), two certified financial planners (CFPs), two retirement income certified professionals (RICPs), one chartered financial analyst (CFA), one chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC) one chartered financial consultant (ChFC), accredited estate planner (AEP) and one certificate in investment performance measurement (CIPM). 

Reliant Wealth Planning Investment Strategy

The firm manages and evaluates portfolios based on client goals and objectives. Services include: 

• Retirement planning
• Investment management
• Cash flow management
• Estate planning
• Charitable gifting
• Risk management

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Located in Ft. Wright, Alphamark Advisors manage millions in assets on a discretionary basis only. Its team includes one certified financial planner (CFP), one chartered financial analyst (CFA), one certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA), one certified public accountant (CPA) and one chartered life underwriter (CLU). Advisors may have multiple certifications.

The fee-only firm provides services to investment companies, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations. Additionally, it serves as the investment advisor to the AlphaMark Large Cap Growth Fund, a series of the AlphaMark Investment Trust, and the AlphaMark Actively Managed Small Cap ETF, a part of the ETF Series Solutions ETF Trust. 

There is no minimum investment requirement.

Alphamark Advisors Background

The firm has been in business since 1999. Today, its principal shareholder is President Michael Simon. Christian Lucas is also a managing partner. A handful of current and former partners of VonLehman CPA and Advisory Firm also have small stakes.

Alphamark primarily offers investment management and advisory services. It also can provide financial guidance during a divorce, help with college planning and advise on other financial matters. 

Alphamark Advisors Investment Strategy

The firm generally allocates investment management assets of its separately managed accounts among individual debt and equity securities and various mutual fund classes. When appropriate, it may also recommend the mutual fund or ETF that AlphaMark manages. It notes that “to reduce volatility in a client’s portfolio, we diversify by market capitalization (large and small) and geography (domestic and international).”