Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in San Antonio, Texas
It can be challenging to find the right financial advisor because there are so many vying for your business. That’s why SmartAsset has put in the work to help you find the top financial firms in San Antonio. This list of the top San Antonio financial advisor firms lays out our findings about these firms and what differentiates them from each other. If you would like more guidance in your search, SmartAsset’s financial advisor matching tool can pair you with an advisor who serves an area near you.
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We match nearly 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frost Investment Services Find an Advisor | $3,671,190,351 | Varies based on account types |
| Minimum AssetsVaries based on account typesFinancial Services
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| 2 | Sendero Wealth Management Find an Advisor | $6,508,711,754 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 3 | Titleist Asset Management, LLC Find an Advisor | $2,655,190,231 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 4 | Teamwork Financial Advisors, LLC Find an Advisor | $1,013,528,875 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 5 | 1900 Wealth Find an Advisor | $3,071,004,999 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 6 | PAX Financial Group Find an Advisor | $747,082,147 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 7 | TLWM Financial Find an Advisor | $605,405,861 | Varies based on account type |
| Minimum AssetsVaries based on account typeFinancial Services
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| 8 | Best Invest Find an Advisor | $296,378,147 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 9 | Secure Financial Management Find an Advisor | $399,765,022 | Varies based on account type |
| Minimum AssetsVaries based on account typeFinancial Services
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| 10 | Wela Financial Advisory Find an Advisor | $657,087,013 | $300,000 |
| Minimum Assets$300,000Financial Services
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What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in San Antonio, 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:
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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.
Frost Investment Services
Frost Investment Services leads off our list of the top financial advisors in San Antonio. The firm works with individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations and other business entities. Its broader client base may also include institutional clients, family offices, investment firms and affiliates of its parent company, Frost Bank.
Frost Investment Services generally requires a minimum of $25,000 for its Fund Strategist Portfolio Program and Optimum Asset Allocation Strategy. The Advisor Model Management Program and Unified Managed Accounts Program generally require a minimum of $250,000, though certain investment managers may impose higher minimums.
Keep in mind that advisors are also registered representatives of a broker/dealer who can receive additional compensation on certain transactions, making Frost a fee-based advisor. While this compensation model represents a conflict of interest, the firm has a fiduciary duty to always act in clients' best interests.
The firm's planning services may address estate and wealth transfer planning, charitable giving, business succession, investment and risk management, retirement income, education planning, cash flow, long-term care and coordination with a client’s tax and legal advisors.
According to its firm brochure, Frost Investment Services primarily uses risk-rated asset allocation models, separately managed accounts and personalized investor portfolios. Portfolios may include mutual funds, ETFs, exchange-traded products, individual equities, fixed-income securities and registered alternative mutual funds. The firm uses technical, fundamental and cyclical analysis, and its programs may include models from affiliated Frost Investment Advisors, LLC or unaffiliated investment managers.
Sendero Wealth Management
Sendero Wealth Management has more assets under management (AUM) than any other firm on our list. This fee-based firm has a wide range of advisors serving high-net-worth individuals, non-high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations, families and endowments.
For its advisory services, the firm mainly charges asset-based fees and fixed fees. Sendero Wealth, which does not have a minimum account size requirement, currently offers portfolio management, financial planning, selection of other advisors and educational seminars/workshops.
Sendero says on its firm brochure that it combines a holistic approach to wealth with an investment policy directive to determine the best asset allocations for each client. The firm’s portfolios typically include traditional equity and fixed income securities, alternative investments, real estate and private equity.
In constructing portfolios, Sendero makes asset allocation and diversification key priorities, and looks to use both active and passive techniques, as well as alternative investments. Advisors typically blend investments, spreading client assets across stability assets, growth assets and diversified assets.
Titleist Asset Management
Titleist Asset Management has no account minimum and the majority of its clients are individuals. However, it also serves high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, corporate retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations and businesses. Titleist provides financial planning and advisory services to help clients manage their investments. The firm also partners with other financial institutions to allow clients to trade a range of securities.
The firm is fee-based, so individual advisors may receive a commission for selling certain securities and insurance products. The firm is still a fiduciary so it has to put its clients’ best interests before its own.
Titleist Asset Management says on its website that it's "style agnostic" when it comes to investment strategy. The firm does not place an emphasis on choosing value stocks over growth stocks, and vice versa. Titleist uses both active and passive management strategies. Instead of adhering to one particular investing style, the firm simply tries to choose stocks that it believes have the best risk-adjusted return profile.
The firm uses several common research methods to evaluate investments, including fundamental, technical and quantitative analysis. Fundamental analysis looks at factors such as a company's financial condition, business model and broader economic environment. Technical analysis focuses on market trends and trading patterns, while quantitative analysis uses financial data and mathematical models to evaluate potential investments. These methods can help the firm assess risk and opportunity, though they do not eliminate investment risk.
Teamwork Financial Advisors
Teamwork Financial Advisors is a fee-based firm primarily serving individuals and high-net-worth individuals. The firm's other client types include pensions and profit sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations and corporations.
Teamwork specializes in financial planning, consulting, portfolio management and advisor selection services. In addition, Teamwork clients can also take advantage of the firm’s retirement income strategies, life insurance, long-term care, charitable giving, estate planning and tax planning services.
This firm formulates its investment advice using several analytical methods, including fundamental analysis, technical analysis, charting analysis and cyclical analysis. Its key investment strategies include long-term purchases, short-term purchases, frequent trading, short sales, margin transactions and option writing, according to its firm brochure. Teamwork mainly invests in individual equity securities and U.S. Treasury securities.
1900 Wealth
1900 Wealth is a fee-only advisory practice that works with individuals above and below the high-net-worth threshold. The firm also serves banking institutions, pooled investment vehicles, corporations and other businesses. 1900 Wealth was previously known as Monticello Wealth Management and legally changed its name in 2021.
1900 Wealth offers a range of financial planning services such as cash-flow forecasting, insurance planning, retirement planning, trust and estate planning. However, these planning services are only available in conjunction with investment portfolio management. The firm offers all of these services together in one comprehensive management plan.
The 1900 Wealth team includes advisors who hold the CFP®, CFA and CPA designations.
1900 Wealth's investment strategies center on the use of low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds. The firm chooses funds that represent domestic and foreign markets across a range of asset classes. According to 1900 Wealth, "academic research indicates the asset allocation mix is the primary determinant of portfolio returns over time." The firm prefers to work with clients who have a long-term investing focus. The firm says that its clients usually have an investment horizon of five to 10 years, or longer.
PAX Financial Group
PAX Financial Group is a fee-based advisor with no account minimum. PAX primarily works with non-high-net-worth individuals, but its client base also includes individuals with high net worths.
PAX offers a number of services to individuals. That could mean planning for retirement, choosing life insurance, planning charitable giving or analyzing college costs. The firm also offers a number of services that are tailored specifically to businesses and employers. For example, it helps with 401(k)s, pension plans and payroll deduction taxes. As an insurance agency, PAX also specifically offers help with health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance and Medicare programs for both individuals and groups.
PAX Financial Group creates portfolios for clients based on their individual goals and financial situations. However, portfolio decisions are not made by any one financial advisor. PAX has what it calls an investment committee, a group of financial advisors who work together when deciding how to manage a client’s assets.
Overall, PAX’s investment focus is on long-term gains. It actively manages portfolios but does not try to time or beat the market. An individual portfolio could consist of domestic and foreign stocks, mutual funds and bonds.
The PAX team holds a range of professional credentials, including the CFP®, certified private wealth advisor (CPWA), chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA), among others. Keep in mind that advisors may receive additional compensation for selling insurance products, which represents a conflict of interest. However, the firm has a fiduciary duty to act in its clients' best interests.
TLWM, LLC
TLWM Financial serves mostly individuals, though high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations and businesses are clients as well. Account minimums for investment management services (through LPL Financial) generally range from $15,000 to $250,000, depending on the plan a client chooses.
As a fee-based financial advisor, TLWM Financial does accept commissions for selling securities and insurance products. At the same time, it is required to put its clients’ best interests before its own because it is a fiduciary. The's firm's team includes advisors who hold the CFP® and CFA designations.
TLWM Financial's services center on asset management, pension consulting for employer plan sponsors, financial planning and consulting. The firm offers a few different investing programs, which allow clients to invest in different types of securities.
The firm employs several different investment strategies, including long-term purchasing, short-term purchasing and trading. TLWM Financial primarily invests in individual stocks or bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds and other securities. When choosing which equities to recommend and invest in, TLWM Financial uses analytical techniques like fundamental analysis, technical analysis, charting and cyclical analysis.
Best Invest
Best Invest, which is legally registered as Fearless Solutions, LLC, is a fee-only firm that does not require a minimum investment or account size. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth individuals, families, small businesses, corporations and participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans.
The firm provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, consulting and retirement plan participant asset management. Its planning services may cover investment planning, income tax planning, college education funding, business succession planning, retirement planning, risk management, business planning and wealth transfer. As a fee-only firm, Best Invest may charge advisory fees but not commissions.
Best Invest creates portfolios based on a client's objectives, risk tolerance and circumstances. The firm uses fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory and technical analysis when developing portfolios.
Its investment strategies may include long-term purchases, short-term purchases, trading, income-producing strategies, margin transactions, options and leveraged ETFs, depending on the client.
Secure Financial Management
Secure Financial Management is a fee-based financial advisory firm that operates under the legal name Kirkwood Financial Services, LLC. The firm was founded in 2011 and has been a registered investment advisor since 2014. Secure Financial Management works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, retirement accounts and business entities.
Secure Financial Management generally requires a $250,000 minimum to open an account, though household accounts may be aggregated to meet this minimum. For its advisory services, the firm mainly charges asset-based fees. It provides asset management, retirement planning, financial planning and consulting, 401(k) administration, retirement plan rollover recommendations and ancillary consulting services.
The firm is fee-based, so it may receive insurance-related compensation through affiliated insurance activities. Being a fee-based advisor does not change the fact that the firm is a fiduciary, however, and must put the client's best interest first.
According to its firm brochure, Secure Financial Management uses several investment strategies, including long-term purchases, value-oriented investing, tactical asset allocation and strategic asset allocation. The firm's analysis may include fundamental analysis, technical analysis and charting. Portfolios are managed on a discretionary basis and may be rebalanced periodically based on target allocations and market conditions.
Wela Financial Advisory
Brent Forrest & Associates, which does business as Wela Financial Advisory, wraps up our list of the top advisors in San Antonio. The firm mostly serves individual clients and requires a $300,000 account minimum. Wela is a fee-based firm, so it may accept commissions for selling insurance products. Being a fee-based advisor does not change the fact that the firm is a fiduciary, however, and must put the client's best interest first.
Wela's services include assessing a client's overall financial situation, planning for retirement, planning an estate, determining life insurance needs and minimizing tax obligations. The small team at Wela includes advisors who hold the CFP®, CRPC and CRPS designations.
When investing a client's money, Wela believes that asset allocation is one of the key factors that affect the long-term rate of return on an investment portfolio. It looks to create client portfolios that are diversified across multiple asset classes, including both domestic and foreign securities, and a balance of growth and value stocks.
Wela actively manages its clients' portfolios. The firm explains on its website that it takes an active approach to portfolio management but does not engage in market timing.