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Top Financial Advisors in The Woodlands, TX

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This review was produced by SmartAsset based on publicly available information. The named firm and its financial professionals have not reviewed, approved, or endorsed this review and are not responsible for its accuracy. Review content is produced by SmartAsset independently of any business relationships that might exist between SmartAsset and the named firm and its financial professionals, and firms and financial professionals having business relationships with SmartAsset receive no special treatment or consideration in SmartAsset’s reviews. This page contains links to SmartAsset’s financial advisor matching tool, which may or may not match you with the firm mentioned in this review or its financial professionals.

Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in The Woodlands, Texas

If you're looking for a financial advisor in The Woodlands, Texas, a Houston suburb, you have a lot of options to choose from. In an effort to make your decision easier, our experts created this list of the top firms in the city. We break down specific information about each of these firms, including their client bases, advisory services, financial certifications, staff sizes and more. To connect with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, try using SmartAsset's free matching tool.

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Rank Financial Advisor Assets Managed Minimum Assets Financial Services More Information
1 HFG Wealth Management, LLC HFG Wealth Management, LLC logo Find an Advisor

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$403,811,040 $1,000,000
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management

Minimum Assets

$1,000,000

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
2 Avion Wealth Avion Wealth logo Find an Advisor

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$687,761,277 $1,000,000
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management

Minimum Assets

$1,000,000

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
3 Engrave Wealth Partners, LLC Engrave Wealth Partners, LLC logo Find an Advisor

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$664,447,002 $1,500 minimum annual fee
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management

Minimum Assets

$1,500 minimum annual fee

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
4 Rhame & Gorrell Wealth Management, LLC Rhame & Gorrell Wealth Management, LLC logo Find an Advisor

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$514,040,572 $4,000 minimum annual fee
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management

Minimum Assets

$4,000 minimum annual fee

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
5 AWM Financial Services Inc. AWM Financial Services Inc. logo Find an Advisor

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$172,309,075 $100,000
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Pension consulting
  • Selection of other advisors

Minimum Assets

$100,000

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Pension consulting
  • Selection of other advisors
6 Waterway Wealth Management, LLC Waterway Wealth Management, LLC logo Find an Advisor

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$500,740,211 $1,000,000
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management

Minimum Assets

$1,000,000

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
7 Investment Advisory Services, Inc. Investment Advisory Services, Inc. logo Find an Advisor

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$383,356,445 $1,000,000
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Investment consultation for invidivuals

Minimum Assets

$1,000,000

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Investment consultation for invidivuals
8 Starfox Financial Services, LLC Starfox Financial Services, LLC logo Find an Advisor

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$195,253,867 $50,000
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Pension consulting services

Minimum Assets

$50,000

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Pension consulting services
9 The Sum The Sum logo Find an Advisor

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$140,306,671 No set account minimum
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management

Minimum Assets

No set account minimum

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
10 Wealth Management Consultants Colorado, LLC Find an Advisor

Read Review

$252,860,626 No set account minimum
  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Selection of other advisors

Minimum Assets

No set account minimum

Financial Services

  • Financial planning
  • Portfolio management
  • Selection of other advisors

What We Use in Our Methodology

To find the top financial advisors in The Woodlands, 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:

  • AUM
    Firms with more total assets under management are ranked higher.
  • Individual Client Count
    Firms who serve more individual clients (as opposed to institutional clients) are ranked higher.
  • Clients Per Advisor
    Firms with a lower ratio of clients per financial advisor are ranked higher.
  • Age of Firm
    Firms that have been in business longer are ranked higher.
  • Fee Structure
    Firms with a fee-only (as opposed to fee-based) compensation structure 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.

HFG Wealth Management

The first firm on our list is HFG Wealth Management. The firm's financial advisors manage this money for a client base consisting mostly of individuals (including both those with and without a high net worth). HFG also advises corporations, charitable organizations and retirement plans.

You'll need a minimum of $1 million in investable assets to open an account at this firm. HFG also institutes a $15,000 minimum annual fee.

Certain employees of HFG Wealth Management are licensed to sell insurance products for a commission, making this a fee-based firm. Despite the potential conflict of interest this creates, the firm is bound by fiduciary duty to act in your best interest.

HFG Wealth Management Background

Larry A. Harvey founded HFG Wealth Management in 2008. He is currently the CEO of the firm and its principal owner. Harvey holds a chartered financial consultant (ChFC) designation.

HFG provides comprehensive wealth management services to its clients. While each client relationship is comprehensive in nature and generally involves both financial consulting and investment advising, each are available on their own. Invested assets are managed on a discretionary basis.

HFG Wealth Management Investment Strategy

HFG Wealth Management places your financial needs and objectives at the center of your client-advisor relationship. By conducting several meetings with you and thoroughly gathering information, advisors craft custom investment and financial plans that help address every facet of your long- and short-term goals.

Using information from SEC annual reports, press releases, financial publications and other research materials, HFG develops detailed investment strategies using long- and short-term purchases. Portfolios are primarily built using a mix of ETFs, exchange-traded notes (ETNs) and mutual funds. Advisors may also incorporate individual stocks and bonds where appropriate.

Avion Wealth

The second firm on our list is Avion Wealth, which only serves individual clients, with most of them being above the high-net-worth threshold. There's a minimum account size of $1 million here, though this requirement is waivable. Several of the firm's advisors hold a certified financial planner (CFP) designation.

As a fee-only firm, Avion only takes fees directly from clients. This is different from a fee-based firm, which may also earn third-party commissions for selling certain products to clients.

Avion Wealth Background

Avion Wealth has been in business since 2005. The firm's principal owner is Paul James Carroll, who also serves as managing member, chief compliance officer (CCO) and CEO.

Avion Wealth offers financial planning and investment advisory services to its clients, and it specializes in retirement planning for aviation industry workers. It also serves many workers in the Texas energy industry, as well as business owners.

When it comes to investment management, the firm provides portfolio monitoring and asset allocation services.

Avion Wealth Investment Strategy

Avion Wealth tailors its investment strategies to the needs and long-term objectives of each individual client. This specifically applies to clients' risk tolerance, liquidity needs, time horizon and more. That being said, the firm tends to pursue a buy-and-hold approach instead of making short-term trades. Advisors do not attempt to implement market-timing strategies. The firm also abides by modern portfolio theory (MPT) to maximize returns for your given level of risk.

While the firm will select any investment that it believes will benefit you, advisors tend to stick with equities, certificates of deposit (CDs), municipal securities and options contracts. While the firm does not engage in short-term trading, short-term purchases may be utilized on occasion.

Engrave Wealth Partners

Engrave Wealth Partners takes the top spot on our list. The firm works entirely with individuals, with a mostly even split between high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals. There is no set minimum required to become a client of the firm.

This is a fee-based firm, so some of its advisors may earn a commission if you buy an insurance product through them. While this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm has a fiduciary duty to act in clients’ best interests at all times. Engrave Wealth advisory staff includes two certified financial planners (CFP) and one previously-chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC).

Engrave Wealth Partners Background

Engrave Wealth Partners is a relatively young firm that's been in business since 2017. Managing partner Gregory Parker, senior family wealth advisor Felix Pacheco and family wealth advisor Taylor Parker are the firm's principal owners.

This firm offers financial planning and investment management services to its clients. All assets are managed on a discretionary basis.

Engrave Wealth Partners Investment Strategy

Engrave Wealth Partners works with each of its clients to develop an investment plan that's suitable for their ultimate financial goals. As a result, the firm is open to a plethora of investment strategies, including long- and short-term purchases and option writing. Investments typically include equities, ETFs, certificates of deposit (CDs), loans, government securities and others. Advisors might also use alternative investments, like partnerships and hedge funds.

In order to effectively evaluate investments for clients, Engrave Wealth Partners uses charting, fundamental, technical and cyclical methods of analysis. The firm takes into account several sources to gather investment information, such as Morningstar reports, financial publications and prepared research materials.

Rhame & Gorrell Wealth Management

Rhame & Gorrell Wealth Management is the fourth highest-rated firm in The Woodlands. The firm's entire client base are individuals, with the majority of them falling below the high-net-worth threshold. There is no minimum investment requirement for new clients of the firm, although its does impose a $1,000 minimum quarterly fee. Rhame & Gorrell's advisory staff includes six certified financial planners (CFPs), one accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) and two certified investment management analysts (CIMAs). 

Rhame & Gorrell is a fee-based firm. This means that in addition to receiving fees directly from clients, some advisors also earn commissions for selling insurance products. While this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm is still bound by fiduciary duty to act in clients' best interests.

Rhame & Gorrell Wealth Management Background

Rhame & Gorrell Wealth Management opened for business in 2016, founded by managing direction Jeffrey Rhame and Michael Gorrell. Michael has since retired and the firm is now owned by Jeffrey Rhame. 

The firm provides a range of wealth management services, from financial planning and consulting to investment and portfolio management. The firm's financial planning services typically entail help with estate planning, retirement planning, insurance planning, charitable giving, tax planning and more. It manages all assets on a discretionary basis.

Rhame & Gorrell Wealth Management Investment Strategy

Rhame & Gorrell Wealth Management provides tailored asset management services to clients based upon their individual needs and financial goals. Everything from time horizon to risk tolerance and liquidity needs are taken into account when crafting a portfolio plan for you. Additionally, the firm and its advisors make sure to assess your changing needs on an ongoing basis. Proper asset allocation planning is fundamental to the firm's investment philosophy.

The firm primarily uses charting, fundamental analysis, technical analysis and cyclical analysis to evaluate potential investments. Advisors at the firm often invest in mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), debt securities and options to construct client portfolios. Such investments are implemented on both a long- and short-term basis.

AWM Financial Services Inc.

AWM Financial Services is new to the list this year and ranks seventh. The firm and its team of financial advisors oversee assets for a client based comprised exclusively of individuals, most of whom are not high net worth. The firm imposes a minimum of $100,000 to open an account for new clients. 

This is a fee-based firm, meaning that its advisors may receive a commission if you purchase an insurance product through them. While this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm has a fiduciary duty to act in clients’ best interests at all times. 

AWM Financial Services Background

Ryan Wheless founded AWM Financial Services in 2007, and he remains CEO and principal owner to this day. 

AWM provides retirement and investment planning, as well as portfolio management services to clients. This includes the creation, implementation and monitoring of financial plans and investment strategies. The firm manages assets on both a discretionary and non-discretionary basis.

AWM Financial Services Investment Strategy

AWM focuses on providing investment strategies that are tailored to the objectives of each of its clients. Factors that influence these investment decisions include their financial goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. AWM may use a model portfolio developed by the firm or fully customize a portfolio from scratch. 

While the firm tends to stick to insurance products, fixed-income securities, equities and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), it sometimes turns to other investments to help diversify certain portfolios when necessary. Advisors at AWM use a combination of technical and fundamental analysis to inform their investment decisions. They generally implement strategies using a long-term horizon.

Waterway Wealth Management

Waterway Wealth Management takes the sixth spot on our list. This firm's financial advisory staff works almost entirely with individuals both with and without a high net worth. It also works with pensions and profit-sharing plans.

There is no set minimum investment requirement to work with Waterway, but the firm does generally prefer a minimum family investment of $1,000,000. As a fee-only firm, Waterway earns compensation solely from the fees that clients pay. The firm's small staff of advisors includes two certified financial planners (CFPs), two chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and one chartered financial consultant (ChFC).

Waterway Wealth Management Background

Daniel Michalk, the president and principal owner of Waterway, established the firm in 2012. Michalk, who has been working in the financial planning sector since 1994, is a certified financial planner, chartered financial analyst and a chartered financial consultant.

Waterway, which also has an office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, offers boths financial planning services and investment advisory services to clients, typically bundled together under the umbrella of "wealth management." The firm strongly believes that financial planning is an important part of wealth management and that it should go hand in hand with portfolio management and other investment services. The firm uses a wrap fee program and manages all assets on a discretionary basis.

Waterway Wealth Management Investment Strategy

Waterway provides tailored investment management services to clients. More specifically, portfolio plans are adjusted according to each client's individual time horizon, liquidity needs, current investments and risk tolerance. Advisors typically use individual debt and equity securities, mutual funds, index funds, ETFs and options to put together client portfolios.

Investment Advisory Services

Investment Advisory Services (IAS), the next firm on our list of top advisors in The Woodlands, works primarily with individual investors. Clients include high-net-worth individuals and investors without high net worths, however the firm does require a minimum of $1 million in investable assets. 

As a fee-only advisor, IAS does not charge commissions or other hidden forms of compensation. Instead, the firm is compensated exclusively through client fees. There is one certified financial planner (CFP) and one certified public accountant (CPA) on staff. 

Investment Advisory Services Background

Established in 1994, IAS remains under the ownership of its founder John Lester Haynes. Haynes spent 15 years in the banking and financial services industry before opening IAS.

In addition to financial planning and discretionary asset management, the firm provides clients periodic rebalancing, tax optimization, tax loss harvesting (when applicable), collaboration with a certified public accountant (CPA), among other services. 

Investment Advisory Services Investment Strategy

IAS relies on a team-based investment committee that maintains a select list of investments for client portfolios. Portfolios typically include equity securities, equity mutual funds, ETFs and individual fixed income securities. 

The firm bases its investment strategies on the needs of individual clients, taking into account their objectives, risk tolerance and time horizon. The firm seeks to manage risk by diversifying portfolios with equity securities, fixed income securities and cash. IAS typically looks to hold positions for a year or longer and avoids both short-term purchases (holding an asset for less than a year) and trading (selling an asset within 30 days of purchasing it).

Starfox Financial Services

Starfox Financial Services, a fee-based firm, comes in eighth on our list of the top financial advisors in The Woodlands. Starfox Financial works with individual investors - both with and without high net worths - trusts, estates, charities, pensions, profit-sharing plans and corporations. The firm requires a minimum account balance of $50,000 for asset management services. 

Starfox Financial is considered a fee-based advisor because a principal of the firm, William Friebel, is a licensed insurance agent who can earn commissions on sales to advisory clients. However, the firm is a fiduciary and must act in its clients' best interests despite this potential conflict of interest. 

Bill Friebel, partner and wealth advisor for the firm, is a certified financial planner, chartered advisor in philanthropy, chartered retirement planning counselor and certified divorce financial analyst.

Starfox Financial Services Background

Founded by Jose Palafox, Starfox Financial has been in business since 2007. Palafox and Friebel are principal owners of the firm and share a combined 40-plus years in the financial services industry. 

Starfox Financial offers clients asset management, financial planning and consulting, as well as retirement plan consulting. The firm manages client assets on a discretionary and non-discretionary basis.

Starfox Financial Services Investment Strategy

Starfox Financial offers individual investment advice to clients, tailoring portfolios to their clients' specific financial needs and goals. Asset management clients will typically see their advisor build a portfolio for them using individual stocks, bonds, ETFs, options, mutual funds and other public securities. 

"Our investment philosophy is based on five (5) basic rules and an understanding that risks and opportunities associated with various asset classes change constantly based on changes in market and economic conditions," the firm states in its Form ADV brochure. The five investing rules the firm adheres to are:

  • Diversify
  • Buy low, sell high
  • Identify and reduce risk
  • Control costs
  • Have a personalized plan

The Sum

The Sum and its team of financial advisors oversee assets for a client base comprised solely of individuals. The firm does not impose a minimum asset requirement for new clients.

This is a fee-only firm, meaning it receives income solely from client-paid fees. A fee-based firm operates differently, receiving commissions and other forms of third-party compensation in addition to standard charges.

The Sum Background

The Sum was founded in March 2018 on the belief that a small group of financial advisors could offer a more client-friendly experience than many out there. Paul Michael Rahn, Jr. is the principal owner, and all four advisors on its team are certified financial planners (CFPs). 

The Sum provides comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management services to clients. This includes the creation, implementation and continuous monitoring of all financial plans and investment strategies. The firm does not manage any assets on a non-discretionary basis.

The Sum Investment Strategy

The Sum focuses on providing investment strategies that are tailored to the objectives of each of its clients. The firm takes note of each client's current financial situation, such as their income levels and tax burdens, as well as risk tolerance and financial objectives. Advisors help with all facets of investing, asset allocation determination, asset selection, portfolio monitoring and more. 

While the firm focuses primarily on fixed-income securities, equities and cash, it sometimes turns to other investments to help diversify certain portfolios when necessary. Advisors at the firm uses a combination of modern portfolio theory (MPT) and asset allocation to inform their investment decisions. They generally implement strategies using a passive investment approach.

Wealth Management Consultants Colorado, LLC

Wealth Management Consultants Colorado rounds out our list of top firms in The Woodlands. The firm is the smallest on our list, with only 46 clients, most of whom are high-net-worth individuals. There is no set account minimum, but WMCC specializes in providing services to corporate executives, high-net-worth individuals and trusts. 

As a fee-only firm, WMCC only takes fees directly from clients. This is different from a fee-based firm, which may also earn third-party commissions for selling certain products to clients.

It's also worth noting that as of right now, the firm is not accepting new clients.

Wealth Management Consultants Colorado Background

WMCC has been in business since 2015. The firm's principal owner is Mark Marquez, who also serves as its sole financial advisor.

WMCC offers a holistic and broad financial planning and investment advisory service to its clients, as it specializes in wealth building and management for its high-net-worth clients. The firm manages investment assets on both a discretionary and non-discretionary basis. 

Wealth Management Consultants Colorado Investment Strategy

WMCC tailors its investment strategies to the needs and long-term objectives of each individual client. This specifically applies to determing "a level of return the client needs to be financially secure." That being said, the firm pursues a long-term view in the acquisition of a diversified portfolio of investments.

WMCC mostly uses passively-managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds through Vanguard, Dimensional Fund Advisors and BlackRock (iShares). Other investment strategies may include: cash, corporate debt securities, certificates of deposit, and municipal and U.S. governement securities.

How Long $1mm Lasts in Retirement

SmartAsset's interactive map highlights places where $1 million will last the longest in retirement. Zoom between states and the national map to see the top spots in each region. Also, scroll over any city to learn about the cost of living in retirement for that location.

Least
Most
Rank City Housing Expenses Food Expenses Healthcare Expenses Utilities Expenses Transportation Expenses

Methodology We analyzed data on average expenditures for seniors, cost of living and investment returns to determine how many years of retirement a $1 million nest egg would cover in cities across America.

First, we looked at data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on the average annual expenditures of seniors. We then applied cost of living data from the Council for Community and Economic Research to adjust those national average spending levels based on the costs of each expense category (housing, food, healthcare, utilities, transportation and other) in each city. Using this data, SmartAsset calculated the average cost of living for retirees in the largest U.S. cities.

We assumed the $1 million would grow at a real return (interest minus inflation) of 2%. Then, we divided $1 million by the sum of each of those annual numbers to determine how long $1 million would cover retirement expenses in each of the cities in our study. Cities where $1 million lasted the longest ranked the highest in the study.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Council for Community and Economic Research