Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in Mercer Island, Washington
It can be challenging to find the best financial advisor for your needs. That’s why we’ve identified the top advisory firms in the Mercer Island area. Our list compares each firm’s fee structure, advisory services, investment strategies, assets under management (AUM) and more. You can also use SmartAsset’s free financial advisor matching service to connect with up to three vetted advisors who serve your area.
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We match more than 50,000 people with financial advisors per month. Get connected to an advisor that serves your area today.Rank | Financial Advisor | Assets Managed | Minimum Assets | Financial Services | More Information |
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1 | Northwest Asset Management ![]() | $3,027,418,741 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
2 | S.R. Schill and Associates Inc. ![]() | $211,333,018 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
3 | The Fauser Group, LLC ![]() | $138,230,305 | $500,000 |
| Minimum Assets$500,000Financial Services
|
4 | The Planner's Edge LLC ![]() | $128,514,707 | No required minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo required minimumFinancial Services
|
What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in Mercer Island, we first identified all firms registered with the SEC in the city. 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:
- AUMFirms with more total assets under management are ranked higher.
- Individual Client CountFirms who serve more individual clients (as opposed to institutional clients) are ranked higher.
- Clients Per AdvisorFirms with a lower ratio of clients per financial advisor are ranked higher.
- Age of FirmFirms that have been in business longer 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.
Northwest Asset Management
Northwest Asset Management leads our list with a large staff of advisors managing billions in AUM. The firm serves more than 6,000 clients, which include non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations. Northwest Asset charges its clients asset-based, fixed, hourly and transaction-based fees.
The firm’s fee structure is fee-based, so advisors can gain commission-based compensation from the sale of insurance products. This can create a conflict of interest if advisors favor such products over client needs, but the firm’s fiduciary obligation prevents this.
Northwest Asset’s advisors offer an array of specialties, including the certified financial planner (CFP), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) and certified public accountant (CPA) designations. The firm has no set account minimum.
Northwest Asset Management Background
Founded in 2008, Northwest Asset functions as a private wealth management firm offering portfolio management, financial planning and consulting, pension consulting and educational seminar services.
The firm has a widespread presence throughout the country, with more than 10 offices located in Washington, Texas, California, Arizona and Minnesota. Northwest Asset’s managing partner and chief compliance officer (CCO) are Gregory Headrick, and Nelly O. Mubashi acts as the firm’s chief operating officer.
Northwest Asset Management Investment Strategy
Northwest Asset employs a range of investment methods when evaluating securities and studying market conditions. The firm utilizes fundamental and technical analysis, and advisors also use modern portfolio theory (MPT), asset allocations and portfolio rebalancing.
The firm generally invests in individual securities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds. Northwest also describes on its website that its investment process includes defining goals, assessing risk, developing a strategy, employing the strategy and monitoring progress.
S.R. Schill & Associates
S.R. Schill & Associates provides a range of wealth advisory services to more than 500 clients on a fee-only basis. The firm’s clients are mainly non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, but advisors also serve pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations. S.R. Schill has millions in AUM.
The firm has a small staff of advisors, whose qualifications include the certified financial planner (CFP) and financial paraplanner qualified professional (FPQP) designations.
S.R. Schill doesn’t have a set account minimum, and it charges clients asset-based and fixed fees.
S.R. Schill & Associates Background
S.R. Schill has provided portfolio management, financial planning and pension consulting services since 1987. The family-run firm also offers retirement planning, education planning, insurance needs analysis, tax planning, estate planning, cash flow planning and business succession planning.
S.R. Schill & Associates Investment Strategy
S.R. Schill says it employs a long-term approach to portfolio management, and the firm utilizes low-cost ETFs to reduce client expenses and increase returns. Advisors also use fundamental, cyclical, charting and technical analysis to evaluate securities.
The firm also explains on its website that it diversifies client portfolios across nine sectors of the economy. S.R. Schill also allocates assets among U.S. stocks, international stocks, bonds and natural resources.
The Fauser Group
The Fauser Group is a fee-only firm that manages millions in client assets. New clients must meet a minimum account size requirement of $500,000, and the firm charges asset-based fees, hourly fees and fixed fees as part of its compensation arrangements.
The Fauser Group serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals.
The Fauser Group Background
Founded in 2016, The Fauser Group mainly provides investment advisory, asset management and financial planning and consulting services. The firm’s financial planning services also include the following:
- Retirement planning
- Investment planning
- Income tax planning
- Estate planning
- Education planning
- Risk management
The Fauser Group Investment Strategy
The Fauser Group says on its website that its long-term investment strategy focuses on the principles behind modern portfolio theory (MPT) and academic research that has shown that markets are efficient over long periods of time. The firm also says it mainly uses individual stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) when employing its long-term strategies.
The Fauser Group additionally utilizes short-term purchasing strategies, margin transactions, trading and option writing.
The Planner's Edge
The Planner's Edge is a fee-only advisory firm with no minimum account size requirement to open an account. The firm offers portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth individuals, those with pension and profit-sharing plans as well as trusts, primarily. As a fee-only firm, no advisors will receive commissions or additional compensation due to the sale of specific securities.
The Planner's Edge Background
The firm was founded in 2018 by Jeffrey Ross, who created the serious money approach. This approach is practiced by the firm and Jeffrey has written a book about how it works. He has obtained both his JD as well as his certified financial planner (CFP) certification.
The Planner's Edge Investment Strategy
In addition to the serious money approach, The Planner's Edge practices a variety of analysis methods to help them select the right investments for each client's individual portfolio. These methods include fundamental and technical analysis methods. The firm believes in a diverse asset allocation approach that includes not just diversification but also routine rebalancing. Some of the types of investments often used in client accounts include mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), stocks, bonds and more.