Top 10 Financial Advisors in Raleigh, NC

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CAPTRUST is not just the top-rated financial advisory firm in Raleigh, it's also the No. 1 firm on SmartAsset's list of the top 10 advisors in United States. 

The advisory team holds multiple certifications, including Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered financial analyst (CFA), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), certified public accountant (CPA) and chartered retirement plan specialist (CRPS).

You’ll need at least $50,000 to be a client, although the firm may waive this minimum. CAPTRUST works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as banking institutions, investment companies, retirement plans, charities, government entities, insurance companies and businesses.

At CAPTRUST, some in-house advisors have the potential to earn commissions from selling insurance. Although this could lead to a conflict of interest, the firm is obligated by a fiduciary duty to prioritize your best interests.

CAPTRUST Background

CAPTRUST was first registered with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2003. It’s almost 100% owned by CapFinancial Group, LLC, which is in turn owned by CapFinancial Holdings, Inc. and Halftime Holdings LLC. And, according to the firm's brochure, GTCR Fund XII B owns more than 25% of CAPTRUST indirectly through its ownership of Halftime Holdings, LLC.

For individual clients, the firm provides investment advisory services, financial planning services and estate planning services. The firm offers a wide range of services to institutional clients, primarily retirement plans. 

CAPTRUST Investment Strategy

CAPTRUST begins formulating its investment strategies with the goals of its clients, making sure to factor in each client’s investment objectives and risk tolerance.

Then, the firm develops an asset allocation based on equities, fixed income, strategic opportunities, commodities and real estate with a risk profile that’s appropriate to the client. For security analysis, the firm uses fundamental, technical, quantitative and qualitiative analysis. As a client, you may receive a custom asset allocation or see your assets invested in a pre-built model portfolio. 

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Founders Financial Alliance (FFA) is a fee-based firm that serves many clients, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations and businesses. 

The firm itself does not impose any minimum account requirements on clients.

FFA has affiliations with a broker-dealer and representatives of the firm may be insurance agents or brokers, and select members of the firm who are registered representatives of these affiliates may receive commissions for the sale of products. This is a conflict of interest, but the firm is still a fiduciary and must legally act in the best interest of the client.

Founders Financial Alliance Background

Founders Financial Alliance, is a registered investment advisor (RIA). Tom W. Porter, Jr. is the firm's founding member and formed the company in August 2014. He is full owner of the firm.

Headquartered in Raleigh, the firm operates in other locations across North Carolina under various "doing business as" (DBA) names, including Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Greenville, Hickory, Locust, Pinehurst and Wilmington. Advisors in Albuquerque, New Mexico, St. Petersburg, Florida, and Wheeling, West Virginia, also do business under the Founders Financial Alliance umbrella. 

In addition to asset management, financial planning and on-going wealth management consulting, the firm offers what it calls its FlatFeeCIO program, which is a "family office style service" provided for a flat fee. FlatFeeCIO includes investment management and financial planning services, insurance review, risk analysis, tax review, as well as coordination among the various fiduciaries, agents and trustees working on behalf of a client.

Founders Financial Alliance Investment Strategy

FFA provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to clients based on various factors such as individual goals, objectives, time horizon, needs and risk tolerance. Investment strategies and recommendations by investment advisor representatives (IARs) are tailored to the individual needs of each client.

The firm emphasizes regular account supervision. Portfolios consist of individual stocks or bonds, exchange traded funds (ETFs), options, mutual funds and other public and private securities or investments. It uses hard evidence and resarch to create tailored portfolios. Analysis methods include fundamental analysis, technical analysis and cyclical analysis, as well as modern portfolio theory and third-party manager analysis.

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Financial Symmetry is a fee-only firm with the second-most assets under management on this list after CAPTRUST. The firm has several several Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®) on its staff, as well as other certified professionals. Financial Symmetry has no strict minimum account size, but it does have a minimum annual fee, which varies by account type. 

The firm works almost exclusively with individual clients who are both above and below the high-net-worth threshold. However, the firm also has at least one charitable organization as a client, as well. 

As a fee-only firm, Financial Symmetry's revenue comes solely from the fees that advisory clients pay. Its advisors do not earn third-party compensation for recommending certain products and services, which would constitute a conflict of interest.

Financial Symmetry Inc. Background

Financial Symmetry Inc. was founded in 2001 by Bill Ramsay, who remains a partner at the firm. Ramsay owns the firm with Chad Smith, Allison Berger, Will Holt, Mike Eklund, Heather Gudac, Cameron Hendricks, Grace Kvantas, Grayson Blazek, Haley Modlin, Angela Keeley-White, Darian Billingsley and Colton Tickle. All major strategic and administrative decisions for the firm are made by its executive team, which comprises these 13 owners. 

Alongside financial planning and investment management, Financial Symmetry also offers retirement planning, tax planning, Social Security analysis, college planning and other services.

Financial Symmetry Inc. Investment Strategy

Financial Symmetry Inc. has an investment committee that meets monthly to evaluate the firm’s long-term investment outlook. The investment committee aims in its research to find any broad mispricings that it may be able to use to its clients’ benefit. 

The firm applies a long-term approach to its investment process. The firm primarily recommends mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for its clients, and it says it chooses asset classes according to each client's risk tolerance and risk capacity. 

Financial Symmetry Inc. has a good offering of client resources. Its blog is updated weekly, with posts on company news and financial how-tos. In another section, Client Stories, the firm gives readers a look at how its services have helped clients deal with financial challenges, from getting ready to retirement to starting a family.

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Cardinal Capital Management is a fee-based advisory firm that serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as charities and corporations.

The firm charges an annual investment advisory fee based on a percentage of assets under management. While the firm does not impose a minimum account size requirement, clients engaging in investment advisory services will get charged a minimum annual fee of $2,500.

Also, keep in mind that members of Cardinal Capital’s advisory team can receive commissions for the sale of financial products. While this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm’s fiduciary duty requires them to act in the clients’ best interests.

Cardinal Capital Management Background

Headquartered in Raleigh, Cardinal Capital was established in 1992. The firm is registered as an investment advisor with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Cardinal Capital is principally owned by Glenn C. Andrews, the firm’s president and chief investment officer.

The firm primarily offers investment advisory services, however, it may provide financial planning and non-investment consulting services if the client requests it. 

Cardinal Capital Management Investment Strategy

Cardinal Capital offers both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services.

On its website, the firm states that its investment approach is rooted in a bottom-up strategy, leveraging a unique statistical model designed to pinpoint stocks that are either undervalued or overvalued compared to their usual price-value correlations. Unlike strategies that try to predict market timings, Cardinal Capital maintains a fully invested stance, committing to assets they deem attractively priced regardless of market conditions.

The firm offers four distinct portfolios: U.S. large cap equities, non-U.S. equities, U.S. small cap equities, and a balanced portfolio that combines U.S. large cap equities with individual bonds. 

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Capital Investment Counsel is a fee-based firm that has a minimum account size requirement of $100,000, but it retains the right to waive this minimum. The firm works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as retirement plans and corporations.

As a fee-based firm, Capital Investment Counsel advisors may earn a commission from recommending certain investments. Despite this potential conflict of interest, the firm is still a fiduciary and must legally act in the best interests of its clients.

Capital Investment Counsel Background

Capital Investment Counsel was founded in 1984 by Richard K. Bryant and E.O. "Bobby" Edgerton Jr. The firm is owned by R. Bryant Family Partners, Ltd., a partnership controlled by Bryant. The firm is a part of Capital Investment Companies, a group of companies founded by Richard Bryant that provide a wide range of financial services.

Capital Investment Counsel specializes in individually tailored portfolios of equities and fixed-income securities, and it also provides financial planning services.

Capital Investment Counsel Investment Strategy

Capital Investment Counsel relies on a five-part investment philosophy: emphasizing financially strong, cash-rich companies selling at discounts historically; reinvesting dividends and interest; emphasizing additional contribution to the portfolio; striving to minimize tax liability; and “multiplying” positions in companies that have grown significantly beyond their value.

The firm offers four general types of portfolios – growth, growth and income, balanced, and income – that can be customized to meet a client's investment objectives. 

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Cook Wealth is a fee-only firm that works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pensions and profit-sharing plans.

The firm's small advisory team includes advisors with the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and certified public accountant/personal financial specialist (CPA/PFS) designations.

Cook Wealth says that it generally does not impose a minimum account size requirement. For investment management services, the firm charges a fee that's based on a percentage of assets under management. However, clients who receive financial planning services will typically pay an initial or ongoing retainer fee. 

Cook Wealth Background

Based in Raleigh, Cook Wealth was organized as a limited liability company (LLC) in 2004. According to the firm’s brochure, the “advisory practice was initially formed in 1984 as an independent advisory practice and became a registered investment advisor in 2014.”

Cook Wealth is owned and operated by Brian J. Cook, a managing partner at the firm. Cook Wealth says in its brochure that it offers investment management services, financial planning services and retirement plan advisory services.

Cook Wealth Investment Strategy

As with other firms, Cook Wealth works with clients to develop a portfolio strategy that is based on their investment goals and objectives, risk tolerance and financial situation. The firm primarily relies on a long-term investment strategy, but in some cases, it may buy, sell or rebalance positions that have been held for less than a year. 

The firm builds client portfolios with mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Cook Wealth's advisory team may also include individual stocks and bonds to meet client needs.

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Collegiate Capital Management (CCM) is a fee-based firm with a focus on serving people who work in higher education. CCM does not have a set an account minimum. But the firm’s brochure points out that portfolio management services likely won’t be beneficial for clients with less than $100,000 in investable assets.

CCM works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. Institutional clients also include retirement plans and corporations.

Members of CCM’s advisory team are investment advisor representatives (IARs) who can receive commissions for the sale of financial products.

Collegiate Capital Management Background

Collegiate Capital Management was established in 1994. It is headquarters are in Raleigh, but has branch office locations in Decatur, Georgia; Charlottesville, Virginia; and Austin, Texas.

The firm is owned by Tony Sigmon. He is the founder, corporate president, chief compliance officer and investment advisor representative.

CCM says in its brochure that it offers guidance across a wide variety of financial-related areas that include:

• Financial Planning
• Charitable giving
• Estate planning
• Insurance planning
• Investment Risk Management
• Portfolio management
• Retirement Income Planning
• Social Security Analysis
• Tax Planning for investments

Collegiate Capital Management Investment Strategy

The firm invests client assets in mutual funds, exchange-traded stocks (ETFs), U.S. government securities, stocks, U.S. corporate debt, money market funds, municipal securities and certificates of deposit (CDs), among other financial investments.

The firm’s IARs continuously update their knowledge base through a mix of purchased and publicly available financial data, tracking global events, economic trends, and market conditions. Their decisions are informed by both internal discussions and external research, with a focus on evaluating mutual funds, particularly for employer-sponsored retirement accounts. 

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Oak Harbor Wealth Partners is a fee-only firm that serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as charities and businesses.

For clients engaging in portfolio management, advisors may impose a flat fee based on a percentage of assets under management that will not exceed 1.50%. Institutional clients, however, are required to have a minimum account balance of $2 million with a maximum fee of 1%.

The Oak Harbor advisory team features several credentialed professionals, including accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs) and Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®). 

Oak Harbor Wealth Partners Background

Headquartered in Raleigh, Oak Harbor has been serving clients as a limited liability company in North Carolina since 2021.

The firm also does business as Sporting Wealth Partners. The principal owners are Paul B. Elam, Chris B. Harrell and William R. Hesmer, Jr.

Oak Harbor provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services, institutional consulting services, and financial planning and consulting services to its clients.

Oak Harbor Wealth Partners Investment Strategy

Oak Harbor's investment strategy starts by establishing a strategic asset allocation tailored to each client's specific circumstances, objectives, and risk tolerance. The allocation covers various asset classes, including equity, fixed income, alternative investments and cash equivalents. Once the allocation is set, the firm selects specific investments to meet these targets.

The firm evaluates investments primarily using fundamental analysis, which examines a company's financial health to determine its value, utilizing sources like annual reports and SEC filings. This approach acknowledges that the realization of value may take time as market prices adjust to reflect the company's intrinsic value. To complement this, Oak Harbor also incorporates technical analysis to understand short-term market trends and determine optimal investment timings and transaction points, such as when to buy or sell.

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Townsend Asset Management has a staff of advisors with a range of professional certifications, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified public accountant/personal financial specialist (CPA/PFS) and chartered financial analyst (CFA).

Townsend Asset Management does not have a set account minimum.

This fee-based firm primarily serves non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension plans, charitable organizations and corporations. However, some employees can earn third-party compensation when a client purchases insurance or annuities through them. This is a conflict of interest because these employees have a financial incentive to recommend certain products and services over others. However, the firm has a fiduciary duty to act in its clients' best interests. 

Townsend Asset Management Background 

Founded in 1982 by Gerald and Katrina Townsend, Townsend Asset Management remains under the pair's ownership.

As for services, the firm offers clients investment managemnet, financial planning, tax preparation and planning, as well as consulting. Townsend's wealth management service combines and delivers all four of those services for one fee. The firm can also help clients with retirement plan rollovers.

Townsend Asset Management Investment Strategy

The firm may invest client assets in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, certificates of deposit (CDs), options and alternative investments.

Townsend Asset Management normally makes long-term purchases but also does short-term. Its primary analysis methods are fundamental and technical analysis. The firm builds portfolios using asset allocation, which spreads the client's investments across different asset classes, including cash equivalents, bonds of varying durations, small- or large-cap stocks, foreign stocks and bonds, mutual funds and other assets. 

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Our list of the top financial advisors in Raleigh concludes with Lewis Financial Management, a fee-based practice that works with individuals, couples, widows, retirees and small business owners.

For those seeking “Comprehensive Financial Planning” services, a minimum account size of $2 million is typically required, although this can be adjusted under specific circumstances. For “Continuing Financial Advisory Consultations,” the firm imposes no minimum account size. For both services, the firm charges a percentage of assets under management. For the former, this fee ranges from 0.5% to 1% of investable assets, and between 0.15% to 0.38% for the latter.

Additionally, Lewis provides hourly financial advisory consultations at $250 per hour, requiring a minimum engagement of two hours. Just keep in mind that advisors on staff may receive sales commissions and 12b-1 fees, which are both considered a conflict of interest. However, the firm has a fiduciary duty to always act in your best interests. 

Lewis Financial Management Background

Lewis Financial Management was founded in 1984 by Douglas J. Lewis. Lewis, who holds the title of Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), owns the firm with Linda P. Lewis, who is also a CFP® professional.

The firm’s services encompass investment advice, tax and estate advice, as well as insurance recommendations. Advisors may offer cash-flow advice, financial plan documentation and, and various types of analysis including financial statement, estate and tax analysis reports. Investment-related services include portfolio recommendations, analysis, rebalancing and design.

Lewis Financial Management Investment Strategy

Lewis Financial Management employs a strategic approach to asset allocation using the uniform unit size method and adheres to a long-term "buy and hold" investment strategy. The firm primarily invests in mutual funds and alternative pooled investments.

Lewis tailors its financial advisory services by considering a comprehensive range of client-specific factors including personal data, goals and objectives, as well as identified issues and problems. A client’s financial statements, cash flow, taxes, insurance, investments and estate planning needs also influence the firm’s investment strategy. This holistic view is designed to ensure that each client's portfolio is aligned with their unique financial landscape and long-term objectives.