Top Financial Advisors by State and City

How We Determined the Top Financial Advisors

How exactly did we select the top financial advisor firms? For each city and state list, we only considered firms in that location that are registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). That’s because these firms are bound by fiduciary duty, which means they must put their clients' best interests before their own.

From there, we further narrowed down the lists by eliminating any firms that have disclosures. This ensured that all firms that appear on our lists have clean records. We also cut firms that do not serve individual investors and that do not have financial planners on staff.

We sorted the remaining firms according to assets under management (AUM). The firms that appear on our top city and state lists are arranged from the highest total AUM to the the lowest.

Finding a Financial Advisor Who’s Right for You

These lists are just one way you can find a financial advisor to work with who is right for you. You can also ask trusted family members or friends with similar financial situations for recommendations, or look at professional organizations’ online databases. SmartAsset's financial advisor matching tool makes it even easier to find an advisor in your area who suits your needs. The tool will take you through a short questionnaire about your financial situation, goals and preferences. Based on that information, our tool will match you with as many as three advisors in your area, all of whom have been vetted and don’t have any disclosures. You can then read the advisors' profiles and interview them to determine who you want to manage your money.

What to Consider When Choosing a Financial Advisor

As you're narrowing down your options, there are several things to keep in mind to ensure you hire an advisor who is right for you. One consideration is the advisor's account minimum, which is the amount you must invest in order to work with the advisor. Some advisors don't have set account minimums, while others have minimums as high as $10 million. This can shed light on the types of investors the advisor typically serves. Ideally, you'll find an advisor to work with who specializes in serving clients with similar needs and financial situations to yours. You’ll want to ensure the advisor offers the services you need, whether that's estate planning, retirement planning or simply investment management.

One indicator of advisors’ specialities and qualifications is their certifications. Two of the most prestigious certifications are the certified financial planner (CFP) and the chartered financial consultant (ChFC), both of which require extensive coursework to earn and an adherence to certain ethical standards. Above all, you want to ensure your advisor is a fiduciary. This means the advisor will always put your best interests above his or her own.

Last but not least, it's crucial to consider an advisor's fees. Fee-only financial advisors are the most straightforward to work with, as they only earn money from fees their clients pay. Because they're not earning money from selling products, they tend to have fewer conflicts of interest. Be sure you understand how particular advisors earn money before you decide which one best fits your financial situation and goals.