The Top Financial Advisors in the U.S.

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CAPTRUST has far and away the highest AUM of any firm on our list. This fee-based firm is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina and serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth, as well as banks, investment companies, retirement plans, charitable organizations, government entities, insurance companies and corporations.

In general, the firm does not require an overarching minimum account size. However, some programs may have their own minimums, though the firm can also waive these fees based on discretion. Services available through the firm's individual-centric programs include wealth planning, investment management, retirement planning and advice, risk management, tax review, estate planning, charitable gift planning, cash flow planning and other services.

Certain on-staff advisors at CAPTRUST can earn commissions from insurance sales. Despite the potential conflict of interest this creates, the firm is bound by fiduciary duty to act in clients' best interests.

CAPTRUST Background

CAPTRUST was established in 2003. Today, the firm's leadership team is under the control of co-founder and CEO James Fielding Miller. The firm's shares are owned by a holding company called The CapFinancial Group, LLC.

The advisory team at CAPTRUST holds multiple certifications, including certified public accountants (CPAs), accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs), chartered financial analysts (CFAs), certified fund specialists (CFSs), certified investment management analysts (CIMAs), Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®) and chartered financial consultants (ChFCs), among other designations.

CAPTRUST has a number of branches nationwide.

CAPTRUST Investing Strategy

CAPTRUST utilizes an investment philosophy that features the customization of a portfolio for each individual client. While clients are allowed to set some restrictions to how their money is managed, portfolios will generally be based on their personal risk tolerance, financial goals, time horizon, income needs, tax situation, net worth and any other applicable factors. As this portfolio ages and returns affect its allocations, though, the firm may decide to either reallocate assets or redesign the portfolio entirely.

The firm may utilize long- or short-term purchases within your portfolio, depending on your needs and goals. CAPTRUST tends to invest in stocks, mutual funds, fixed-income securities and options. Additionally, the firm offers a wrap fee program, which bundles all transactional and advisory fees into a single rate.

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Fisher Investments is a fee-only financial advisor firm based in Texas that has hundreds of thousands of non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth clients. The firm also works with investment companies, pooled investment vehicles, retirement plans, charities, government entities, other investment advisors, insurance companies, foreign wealth funds, corporations and proprietary accounts.

If you're an individual interested in working with Fisher, you'll generally need at least $500,000 in investable assets, though this minimum is waivable. Clients who use the firm's WealthBuilder program are only required to have $200,000 in investable assets. The firm may accept clients with less than those amounts, at their discretion.

Fisher offers a vast range of services to its individual clients, including working with clients to create and manage investment portfolios. The firm also has an extensive set of retirement planning services, as well as other financial planning services like goal planning, income tax planning and more. Fisher also has an annuity conversion service, which is a fairly unique offering among advisor firms.

Fisher Investments Background

Fisher Investments was founded in 1979 by Ken Fisher. Fisher still principally owns the firm. He also had a hand in creating the theory behind the "Price-to-Sales Ratio," and he was a Forbes investment columnist from 1984 until 2016. Fisher has also been ranked on Forbes' list of the Richest Americans, as well as its list of Global Billionaires.

The firm operates many branches in other U.S. states outside of its headquarters in Plano, as well as in other countries globally.

Fisher Investments Investing Strategy

According to its SEC-filed Form ADV, Fisher Investments principal goal is "maximizing returns relative to risk compared to particular benchmarks."

Depending on your long- or short-term goals, risk tolerance and time horizon, the firm will recommend a distinct set of investments. For example, riskier investors will have portfolios centered around common stock and cash equivalents. Risk-averse investors will have their assets invested more in fixed-income secuties, such as bonds and cash. For those in between those two extremes, Fisher recommends a blended portfolio that features some proportionate allocation of stocks, fixed-income and cash.

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Cerity Partners is a fee-based firm that is based in New York. It works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals.  Institutional clients include pooled investment vehicles, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, state or municipal governments and corporations.

As a fee-based firm, Cerity Partners can receive compensation for the sale of certain insurance and annuity products through an affiliated entity. This creates a potential conflict of interest, though the firm still holds a fiduciary duty.

Cerity Partners Background

Cerity Partners has been in business since 2009. According to its brochure, the firm is controlled by Cerity Partners Equity Holding LLC. This LLC, in turn, is controlled by Cerity Partners EOE LLC, which is owned by certain employees of Cerity Partners. Kurt Miscinski is the firm’s president and CEO.

Cerity Partners provides a variety of services, including:

• Financial planning
• Wealth planning
• Retirement planning
• Portfolio management
• Tax planning
• Estate planning

Cerity Partners Investment Strategy

Cerity Partners uses asset allocation to reduce risk for each client’s investment portfolio. Asset classes include cash and cash equivalents, global fixed-income, global equity, real return, hedge funds and private equity.

According to the firm's Form ADV, it takes into account a number of investor characteristics when building portfolios. In fact, it states the following: "Cerity Partners customizes all services to the individual needs of its clients by determining each client’s specific goals, objectives, risk tolerance, time horizon, investment restrictions and other factors that shape the appropriate services."

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Corient is a Miami-based financial advisor firm that caters to wealthy clients. In fact, some of its investment strategies call for a minimum investment of at least $100 million. However, the firm doesn't have a strict, overarching minimum. As a result, its client base consists of individuals both with and without a high net worth. Its institutional client base also includes retirement plans, charitable organizations, businesses, trusts, insurance companies and more.

As a fee-only firm, Corient's advisors do not receive compensation for the sale of products like insurance or specific securities. On the flip side, a fee-based firm would employ advisors that can earn this type of compensation.

Corient Background

Corient was founded in just 2022. The firm has branch locations across the U.S., including in over 30 cities such as Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, Dallas and more. Its under the ownership of a handful of holding companies, and no one person owns more than 25% of its shares.

Corient Investing Strategy

Generally speaking, Corient prefers to invest client assets using a discretionary relationship. This means clients will sign over control of their investments to the firm, ensuring clients won't need to be involved in minute investing decisions. However, advisors will still keep in contact with clients as developments occur. The firm does this typically through its financial planning services, via which it builds "an appropriate strategy suitable to your stated objectives," according to its SEC-filed Form ADV.

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In business for a half-century, GW&K Investment Management is a fee-only firm headquartered in Boston. The firm offers investment advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, banks, investment companies, pooled investment vehicles, retirement plans, government entities and corporations.

GW&K specializes in active equity and fixed-income investment solutions, and it incorporates equity, municipal bond and taxable bond strategies in its investment process. The firm additionally receives performance-based fees for its investment management. The fees are based on a percentage of the net profits being managed. The firm’s standard fee schedules are negotiable, and its fees are usually billed quarterly in advance or in arrears.

GW&K Investment Management Background

GW&K was founded in 1974 and it is a partner of Affiliated Managers Group, Inc., a publicly-traded global asset management company.

In addition to its municipal bond strategies, the firm employs small cap and small/mid cap and core fixed-income investment approaches. GW&K manages wrap accounts, and it also participates in certain sub-advisory agreements. 

GW&K offers a variety of services, including portfolio management, investment strategies, equity, taxable bonds and municipal bonds.

GW&K Investment Management Investing Strategy

GW&K says that it believes in rigorous research, disciplined management and a client-driven culture. It seeks to find unexpected investment opportunities and provides personalized management services.

The firm describes its management approach as one that places clients’ interests first and strives to meet investment objectives in the midst of market fluctuations.

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Hall Capital Partners is a large fee-only investment advisor firm that's based in San Francisco. While the firm technically does not have a minimum asset requirement for new clients, it does not work with any individuals below the high-net-worth threshold. Institutional clients of the firm include pooled investment vehicles, charitable organizations, retirement plans and other investment advisors.

The main service that Hall Capital Partners provides is investment management of global, multi-asset class portfolios. To help satisfy the needs of its affluent individual and family clients though, the firm also offers generational wealth planning, financial education for children and grandchildren, tax optimization, philanthropic planning and budgeting. 

Hall Capital Partners Background

Founder and co-chair Kathryn A. Hall originally created Hall Capital Partners in 1994 as a small asset management firm. Today, the firm has grown substantially, and it now has a second office on Third Avenue in New York City. The firm is employee-owned and independent.

The staff of advisors at this firm includes a few chartered financial analysts (CFAs).

Hall Capital Partners Investing Strategy

As we state above, Hall Capital Partners manages its clients' custom portfolios through global, multi-asset class diversification. The heart of the firm's investment operation is its in-house research team. This group conducts due diligence on a number of underlying fund managers to determine which are worth investing in. Then, they will review the performance of the market and choose fund managers that align with their market findings.

In total, the firm has a spectrum of investment strategies that focus on different asset classes and market sectors. These include absolute return/credit strategies, public equity strategies, private equity strategies and real asset strategies. As a result, there really isn't a specific set of securities the firm sticks to investing in, as the market and client needs will dictate how the firm manages its clients' assets.

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NFP Retirement's advisory services are heavily focused around helping clients with retirement planning and the management of their retirement assets. In terms of assets under management, the firm's client base is dominated by retirement plan sponsors, though it technically works with a majority of individuals with and without a high net worth. The firm's investment minimum is $25,000, though this is waivable at the firm's discretion.

Certain on-staff advisors at NFP can sell insurance products and securities on a commission basis. Although this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm's fiduciary duty means it acts in clients' best interests.

This isn't the only SmartAsset top financial advisor list NFP Retirement holds a spot on. In fact, it is also featured on our Aliso Viejo and California lists.

NFP Retirement Background

Founded in 1980, NFP Retirement is under the ownership of its parent entity, NFP Corp. The firm's leadership team is headed by chairman and CEO Doug Hammond and president/chief operating officer (COO) Mike Goldman.

NFP Retirement also has offices in New York City; Austin, Texas; Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; Toronto, Canada; Birmingham, United Kingdom; Dublin, Ireland; San Juan; Puerto Rico and many more areas.

NFP Retirement Investing Strategy

NFP Retirement's individual investing and financial planning services are based on the needs each individual client has. For instance, your advisor will discuss with you your risk tolerance, income needs and financial goals before making any decisions on your behalf.

Generally speaking, NFP's advisors tend to invest in some combination of mutual funds and ETFs. However, the firm also sometimes utilizes a Schwab-created automated asset allocation service. This uses model portfolios that are chosen based on the client's goals.

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New York City-based Summit Rock Advisors is the quintessential exclusive family office, as the firm works with less than 50 high-net-worth individual clients. This becomes even more clear when you look at its Form ADV brochure, which states that the average client size is approximately $435 million. In short, only those with at least $100 million in investable assets have a chance at becoming a client of Summit Rock Advisors.

This is a fee-only firm, which means that none of the advisors at Summit Rock, nor the firm itself, earn compensation from any source other than client-paid fees. A fee-based firm, on the other hand, may have advisors who sell insurance products or securities on a commission basis.

Summit Rock Advisors also holds the top spots on SmartAsset's lists of the top financial advisors in New York City and the top financial advisors in New York State.

Summit Rock Advisors Background

Summit Rock Advisors' headquarters is in Manhattan. The firm is independently owned by its co-founders: CEO David Dechman and chief investment strategist Nancy Donohue. The firm has been in business since 2007.

Clients of Summit Rock will receive intensely close attention on their investment portfolios and long-term financial plans. The firm works with clients in a holistic manner, attempting to account for all of their financial specifics and goals when making decisions.

Summit Rock Advisors Investing Strategy

Summit Rock Advisors works to understand clients' personal needs and objectives prior to investing any of their money. In turn, a Summit Rock advisor will personally work with you to determine exactly what you're looking for in the short and long term. The firm often looks to incorporate multiple investment managers within clients' portfolios. According to its Form ADV, it chooses managers that it "believes are the most talented across a wide universe of choices, encompassing various sectors of the market, geographies, and liquidity spectrums."

As you can tell from the above, diversification is incredibly important to Summit Rock's overarching investment philosophy. Strategic asset allocation planning is also a focus point, as the firm will use your risk tolerance and time horizon to select investment allocations in a manner that aligns with those factors.

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Mercer Global Advisors is a fee-based firm headquartered in Denver, but serves clients nationwide. It works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as retirement plans, charities and corporations. The firm's minimum annual fee requirements can range from $800 to $150,000, depending on the type of service and account.

Some of Mercer's on-staff advisors have the opportunity to sell insurance products on a commission basis. Although this represents a potential conflict of interest, the firm's fiduciary duty means it must act in clients' best interests.

You can also find Mercer Global Advisors on two other SmartAsset lists: the top financial advisors in Denver and the top financial advisors in Colorado.

Mercer Global Advisors Background

Mercer Global Advisors has been in business for nearly 40 years, as it was founded in 1985. The firm's team of advisors holds multiple certifications, including Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®), chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and certified public accoutants (CPAs), among other designations.

Financial planning, investment management and family office services are all available at Mercer. Investment portfolios are managed on a custom basis, and financial planning can cover a wide range of topics.

Mercer Global Advisors Investing Strategy

Mercer Global Advisors focuses on investing for the long term. In concert with this approach, the firm believes ample planning is necessary to achieve success over time. Advisors therefore stress this planning specifically around clients' personal financial situations and goals.

Unsurpisingly, Mercer works to diversify clients' assets throughout various securities and market sectors. This is done to protect portfolios from heavily earning returns from very specific areas of the market, which can create higher-than-intended volatility. As your portfolio ages, the firm may decide to rebalance your investments back to their intended allocations.

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CWM, otherwise known as Carson Wealth, was founded in 2010. The firm is an affiliate of Carson Group Holdings. CWM provides a range of wealth management services as well as tax preparation offerings through Carson Wealth Tax Planning. The firm has accumulated a significant number of clients and assets under management (AUM) in its decade and a half in business.

Most of this firm's clients are non-high-net-worth individuals, though it also works with thousands of high-net-worth individuals. However, it extends its services to pension and profit-sharing plans and businesses. Investment minimums vary depending on what kind of investment strategy you enroll in.

This is a fee-based firm, which means some on-staff advisors can earn commissions when they sell certain insurance products or securities. While this creates a potential conflict of interest, the firm is bound by fiduciary duty to act in clients' best interests.

CWM Background

CWM, LLC was formed in 2010 by Ron Carson. The firm is not independently owned, as it is under the ownership of a holding company called Carson Group Holdings. However, Caron Group Holdings is owned by Ron Carson.

CWM Investment Strategy

CWM utilizes various model portfolios and separately managed accounts based on certain strategies. These include long-term purchases, short-term purchases, frequent trading and more. Therefore, the firm can build a portfolio around your goals and needs rather than pairing you with predetermined investment strategies.