Top Financial Advisors in Salem, OR

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With the most assets under management, Capstone Wealth Advisors is the No. 1 firm on our list. With no minimum account size, a vast majority of Capstone clients are individual without a high net worth. However, the firm does serve high-net-worth individuals and offers services to businesses. 

Advisors at Capstone Wealth Advisors may collect both fees from clients and commissions from third-party sources. This presents a potential conflict of interest, and makes the firm fee-based. That said, Capstone Wealth Advisors operates as a fiduciary and is legally obligated to put client interests before its own.

Capstone Wealth Advisors Background 

Capstone Wealth Advisors has been operating as a registered investment advisor (RIA) since 2017. It is owned by Ryan Skogstad and Rob Norton. 

Its team provides investment management and financial planning services covering the following topics: 

• Retirement planning/financial independence
• Capital needs analysis (goal funding)
• Debt reduction
• Income tax planning
• Estate planning
• College/education planning
• Risk management (life and disability insurance)
• Philanthropic planning
• Cash flow and net worth update

Capstone Wealth Advisors Investment Strategy

Capstone Wealth Advisors creates portfolios and manages existing investments on behalf of its clients. It considers the client’s overall goals, risk tolerance and time horizon before making investment decisions. When selecting investments, the firm uses fundamental analysis -- a method to determine whether a security's current price accurately reflects its value -- and Modern Portfolio Theory. 

The firm believes in a long-term, balanced approach to investing that is reliant on globally diverse portfolios holding stocks, bonds, real estate and cash. Capstone accesses these asset classes by investing in mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), as well as individual stocks sand bonds.

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Keudell Morrison Wealth Management provides access to discretionary portfolio management services to its clients. Its small investment advisory team features two certified financial planners (CFPs). 

To open and maintain account, you generally need a balance of $500,000. Despite the relatively high minimum, Keudell Morrison serves individuals who do not have a high net worth. It also works with high-net-worth investors, pension plans, businesses and non-profit organizations.

Some of the firm’s advisors are licensed insurance agents and can earn sales commissions from third parties, making the firm fee-based. That said, Keudell Morrison has a fiduciary responsibility to always provide advice in the best interests of its clients. 

Keudell Morrison Wealth Management Background

Keudell Morrison became a registered investment advisor (RIA) in 2018. It is owned by Larry Keudell, Michael Morrison, Stephanie Smith and Joel Blount. The team provides portfolio management through a wrap-fee program. It also offers financial planning that can cover: 

• Investment consulting
• Education funding
• Risk management
• Tax management
• Retirement planning
• Estate planning services
• Employee and executive benefits

Keudell Morrison Wealth Management Investment Strategy

Keudell Morrison Wealth Management tailors investment strategies to the unique financial goals and risk tolerance of its clients. These strategies are primarily driven by Modern Portfolio Theory, which posits that one can aim for returns while mitigating risk by diversifying portfolios across several different asset classes. The firm emphasizes the analysis of mutual funds, ETFs, and separately managed fund when selecting investments for its clients. Depending on the client’s unique profile, the firm may diversify portfolios with the some of the following types of securities: 

• Common stocks
• Corporate bonds
• Government bonds
• Commodities
• Real estate investment trusts (REITs)

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Capital Financial Planners, the sole fee-only financial advisor firm on this list, primarily works with individuals and high-net-worth individuals. It also offers services to trusts, estates, charities and corporations. Capital Financial Planners generally requires new clients have $1 million in investable assets to open an account, but it may waive this requirement in certain cases. 

The firm's small advisory team has two certified financial planners (CFPs) certifications and a certified trust and financial advisor (CTFA) designation. As a fee-only firm, Capital Financial Planners only charges client fees, not sales commissions. 

Capital Financial Planners Background

While the current business organization was formed in 2005, the firm was founded back in 1984 when Judith Heltzel began offering investment advisory services. While Heltzel retired from the industry in 2014, Barry Nelson and Chad Campbell are the current owners of Capital Financial Planners. The duo has a combined 40-plus years in the financial services industry. 

Today, Capital Financial Planners offers wealth management, financial planning, estate planning and tax planning. 

Capital Financial Planners Investment Strategy

Capital Financial Planners prides itself on an investment approach that is "collaborative, disciplined, effective and explainable," according to the firm's website. More specifically, it adheres to Modern Portfolio Theory.

Capital Financial Partners primarily assumes a long-term, passive investment strategy focused on buying and holding. As a result, the firm invests client assets in mutual funds and ETFs, which it evaluates based on the track record of their managers, their past performance, and the expected market conditions. However, the firm may also recommend the short-term purchase of securities, which are typically held for less than a year. 

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Green Newton Jamison comes next on our list of Salem's top financial advisor firm. GNJ's investment advisory team includes four certified public accountants (CPAs) as well as a certified financial planner (CFP) and a chartered global management accountant (CGMA). 

To establish an account with the firm, you generally need a minimum investment of $500,000. Green Newton Jamison’s clients include individuals, qualified retirement plans, trusts, charitable and non-profit organizations and small businesses.

Advisors may be affiliated with various financial services companies such as insurance firms. As a result, they may receive a commission for selling particular products -- on top of the fees they collect from clients -- which presents a conflict of interest. That said, this fee-based firm has a fiduciary responsibility to work in the best interests of its clients.  

Green Newton Jamison Background 

Green Newton Jamison has been offering investment advice since 2006. It is owned by Steven Jamison and Kenneth Newton. Both are also partners at affiliated accounting firm, Green Newton Jamison LLP. 

The firm specializes in financial planning and asset management. Depending on your needs, advisors may offer guidance on: 

• Tax and cash flow
• Death and disability needs
• Retirement savings
• Education funding through college savings plans  
• Divorce planning

Green Newton Jamison Investment Strategy  

Green Newton Jamison tailors a portfolio’s asset allocation to the client’s particular circumstances. The firm takes into account factors such as risk tolerance and time horizon. But it generally invests client assets among broadly traded, open end mutual funds or conservative fixed-income securities.

The firm has a long-term investment approach based on the principles of Modern Portfolio Theory. "Our investment approach is firmly rooted in the belief that markets are 'efficient' over periods of time and that investors' long-term returns are determined principally by asset allocation decisions, rather than market timing or stock picking."

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Clearview Wealth Advisors is the fifth and final firm on our list of Salem's top financial advisory firms. This small outfit serves individuals both with and without a high net worth, charities and businesses. There is no set account minimum listed on the firm's Form ADV brochure. Clearview Wealth Advisors does not list any financial certifications on its website. 

As a fee-based firm, some advisors at Clearview Wealth Advisors may receive commissions from selling insurance products to clients, creating a potential conflict of interest. However, this possible conflict is mitigated by the firm's status as a fiduciary that is legally obligated to act in the best interests of clients at all times.

Clearview Wealth Advisors Background

Clearview Wealth Advisors, the youngest firms on our Salem list, was founded in 2019. The firm employs a small team of financial advisors. It is principally owned by Michael Coursey, Ron Boucher and Benny Won through a trio of professional corporations. 

The firm provides its client base with investment portfolio management, financial planning and other financial consulting services. Assets are mainly managed on a discretionary basis, meaning advisors have full authority to manage clients assets without consulting them on individual trades. 

Clearview Wealth Advisors Investment Strategy

Investment strategies at Clearview Wealth Advisors depend on the wants, needs and objectives of the firm's clients. Advisors have personal discussions with clients to determine their overall financial profile, taking note of risk tolerance, liquidity needs and any other relevant information so that they can best craft tailored approaches to investment.

The firm does not limit their advice to any particular asset class or type of investment, choosing to use whatever investments they see fit for a given client. It may recommend third-party managers. Those investments may include:

• Exchange-listed securities
• Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
• Securities traded over-the-counter
• Options and warrants
• Corporate debt securities (other than commercial paper)
• Certificates of deposit
• Municipal securities
• Variable life insurance
• Variable annuities
• Mutual funds
• United States government securities
• Interests in partnerships investing in real estate