Top Financial Advisors in Washington

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Brighton Jones is a fee-only firm managing billions in assets, mostly on a discretionary basis. Headquartered in Seattle, it has offices in Portland, San Francisco, Scottsdale and Washington, D.C. The Seattle location includes a ton of certified financial planners (CFPs) and certified public accountants (CPAs). It also has chartered financial analysts (CFAs) on staff. 

Clients who are high-net-worth vastly outnumber those who aren’t. The firm also serves institutional clients, including pooled investment vehicles, pension and profit-sharing plans and charitable organizations. The firm does not set a minimum account size but does have a minimum quarterly fee of  between $2,500 and $3,500.

Brighton Jones Background

Charles Brighton and Jon Jones founded the firm (and lent their names to it) in 1999. They are the majority owners and serve as managing director of the family office and CEO, respectively. Several other employees have small stakes.

 In addition to providing portfolio management services, the firm manages several affiliated and non-affiliated private funds and offers wealth management, retirement plan consulting, financial planning and financial wellness consulting.

Brighton Jones Investing Strategy

The firm’s methodology in screening securities includes fundamental, technical and cyclical analyses. In constructing portfolios, it may use long-term and short-term purchases, margin transactions and options.

As of its recent SEC filings, assets under Brighton Jones’ management were primarily allocated among mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

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Freestone Capital Management is next up on our list. Headquartered in Seattle, the fee-only firm also has an office in Portland and more in California. The Seattle team includes certified financial planners (CFPs), chartered financial analysts (CFAs), certified investment management analysts (CIMAs), certified public accountants (CPAs), chartered alternative investment advisors (CAIAs) and more.

There are slightly more clients who are high-net-worth individuals as ones who aren’t. Freestone Capital also serves pooled investment vehicles, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations. Though there is technically no minimum investment, the firm seeks clients who can invest at least $1 million in discretionary assets ($500,000 if referred through Schwab Advisor Network service). 

Freestone Capital Management Background

Gary Furukawa founded Freestone Capital as a corporation in 1999 (it’s now a limited liability company). His wife, Della, and he indirectly own more than 25% but less than 50% of the firm through entities they control. He manages the firm, along with Erik Morgan, a senior partner who has a small stake.

 Services offered by the firm include:

• Discretionary and non-discretionary investment advising
• Private funds
• Financial planning
• Retirement plan solutions
• Insurance
• College planning
• Corporate benefits

Fees for discretionary investment advice are based on a percentage of assets under management. Generally, the minimum fee is $10,000 (except for clients referred by Schwab, in which case the minimum fee is $4,000). The firm may charge performance-based fees. Additionally, Freestone Capital may earn commissions for selling insurance products to clients. 

Freestone Capital Management Investing Strategy

Seeking to build client portfolios with a proper balance of risk and reward, the firm’s strategy is summed up in the motto “stay wealthy.” Freestone Capital typically takes long-term positions, but may also use short-term purchases, trading, concentrated positions, short sales and other techniques.

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This financial advisor firm is based in Bellevue. Its team of advisors includes certified financial planners (CFPs), chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and certified public accountants (CPAs). Other certifications include accredited estate planner (AEP) and chartered life underwriter (CLU).

Coldstream Wealth’s client base consists of both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals. The practice specifies corporate executives, business owners, multi-generational families and professional athletes as clients. It also provides services to businesses, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans and investment companies. There is a $2 million account minimum. 

Coldstream Wealth Management Background

In business since 1996 (though under the name Coldstream Capital Management), Coldstream Wealth takes the Coldstream part of its name from a British regiment that was known for its integrity and dedication. Currently, only employees and board members are the owners.

The firm is unusual in that it assigns a team to manage each client portfolio. Each team includes a relationship manager, portfolio manager, private client services associate, wealth planner, private client services administrator and chief investment officer (and investment strategy group). As one might surmise, the team provides a full range of wealth management services. It also offers financial planning and consulting.

Investment advisory services are on a fee basis. Advisors who are representatives of brokers or insurance agents may receive commissions in their separate capacities. 

Additionally, Coldstream Wealth is the general partner for several private funds, including hedge fund Alternative Strategies Fund LP, and Genesee Investments LLC and real estate lending partnership Ascent Capital LLC.

Coldstream Wealth Management Investing Strategy

In reviewing securities, the firm applies fundamental, technical and cyclical methods of analysis. It combines its internal expertise with external portfolio management in global equity, global fixed income, and alternative investment strategies. When constructing client portfolios, it may allocate assets to domestic, international and emerging markets; a range of equity capitalizations, from large- to small-cap stocks; a full range of fixed income instruments; alternative investments, including hedge fund strategies, private equity, venture capital and leveraged buyouts; and tangible assets, including public and private real estate, commodities and other natural resources.

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At fee-only Saturna Capital Corporation, more than half of the individual clients are high-net-worth. This makes sense, sincethe minimum investment level is $1 million. Institutional clients include investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and charitable organizations.

Certifications earned by advisors at the firm include certified public accountant (CPA), chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified financial planner (CFP) and the certificate in investment performance measurement (CIPM).

Saturna Capital Corporation Background

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Columbia Pacific Wealth Management (CPWM) is the next firm on our list. The firm has both certified financial planners (CFPs), chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and certified public accountants (CPAs) on staff. For any NFL players searching for a Seattle-based financial advisor, this firm has an NFL Players Association (NFLPA) Registered Financial Advisor.

Columbia Pacific Wealth typically imposes a $5 million minimum family account size, though this requirement is waivable. While it mainly serves individual clients, the firm also serves corporate pension and profit-sharing plans, defined contribution plans, institutions, foundations and endowments. Accounts are managed on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis.

Columbia Pacific Wealth Management Background

Though formed in 2011, Columbia Pacific Wealth can trace its roots back to 1989, when Dan Baty founded parent company and private equity firm Columbia Pacific Management. Baty serves as chairman and owns the firm along with several other employees. 

Columbia Pacific Wealth offers investment management services, for which its charges are on a fee basis. Advisors who are representatives of a registered broker or are insurance agents may receive commissions in their other capacities. Also, some members of Columbia Pacific Wealth have an ownership interest in an insurance company that employees may recommend. The firm also provides tax and wealth transfer services, multi-generational planning, risk management, employer benefits and philanthropic planning. Additionally, it serves as an advisor to several private funds.

Columbia Pacific Wealth Management Investing Strategy

Columbia Pacific Wealth uses a manager-of-manager approach, where it determines asset allocation, which it considers the key driver of returns, while specialized, third-party investment managers conduct sector and security selection. The firm selects managers, both active and passive, using quantitative and qualitative analysis. 

Aiming to construct globally diversified portfolios, the practice primarily invests client assets in exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, separately managed accounts and limited partnerships. It may also use individual stocks and bonds when appropriate. The firm claims to have access to unique investment opportunities, including dimensional fund advisors, SNW asset management, global endowment management, real estate investing and private lending.

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Merriman Wealth Management, better known simply as Merriman, is the next firm on our list of the top financial advisors in Washington state. Merriman is a large firm that works almost exclusively with individual clients. Of these individuals, more than 50% are non-high-net-worth individuals, though the majority of the firm's assets under management comes from its high-net-worth clients. When it comes to institutional clients, the firm works with a single pooled investment vehicle along with charitable organizations and corporatoins.

Merriman is a fee-only firm. Despite being affiliated with some other businesses, advisors don't take commissions from selling financial products to clients and are therefore not subject to a conflict of interest. The firm doesn't have a set account minimum, though one specific type of account has a $250,000 minimum.

Merriman Wealth Management Background

Merriman Wealth Management was founded in 1983, but still isn't even one of the three oldest firms on our list. While the firm has been in business since then, it only registered with the SEC as an investment advisor in 2013. The firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Focus Financial Partners, LLC. The firm is managed by Jeremy Burger, Tyler Bartlett, and Kristi de Grys.

Merriman works with its clients to provide investment programs and investment portfolios as well as comprehensive wealth management services.

Merriman Wealth Management Investment Strategy

Merriman Wealth Management aims to tailor its investment advisory services to the needs and objectives of its clients. Advisors look to build well-balanced and globally-diversified portfolios that can help client achieve their financial goals. Merriman MarketWise and Merriman TrendWise are two of the firm's core investment products.

Given the size of the firm, not every part of the investment process, such as creating a full portfolio from scratch, is fully tailored to the individual needs of clients. However, advisors still take into account the objectives of clients when deciding where and how to invest on their behalf.

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Empirical Wealth Management is a fee-based firm requiring assets of at least $1 million. The firm works mostly with individuals, but also has institutional clients including corporations, government entities, charitable orgaizations, pooled investment vehicles and pension/profit sharing plans.

Some advisors earn commissions from insurance sales, which is a conflict of interest. Still, all advisors are bound to act in the best interest of the client when serving as an advisor.

Advisory fees are based on a percentage of assets under management, and a wrap-fee program is available.

Advisors at the firm have earned certifications including certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified public accountant (CPA) and chartered alternative investment analyst (CAIA).

Empirical Wealth Management Background

The firm was founded in 2009 by Kenneth Smith. He remains the firm's principal owner and CEO.

Services offered include retirement planning, estate planning, tax planning and portfolio management.

Empirical Wealth Management Investment Strategy

Half of all dollars invested by Empirical are put into stocks. Bonds arew also used, along with mutual funds and cash holdings.

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Northwest Asset Management is a fee-based firm working mostly with individual clients (both with and without a high net worth), plus institutional clients like pension/profit sharing plans, charitable organizations and corporations.

Fees could be asset-based, fixed or hourly. Some advisors also earm commissions. This is a confclit of interest, but when acting as advisors all must act in the best interest of the client.

The team at Northwest Asset have earned certifications including certified financial planner (CFP), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC), certified public accountant (CPA) and accredited investment fiduciary (AIF).

Northwest Asset Management Background

The firm was founded in 2008 by managing member Greor Allen Headrick.

Services include portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting and educational seminars.

Northwest Asset Management Investment Strategy

Individual stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds are all employed by advisors at the firm. Various methods of analysis are used to pick investments including modern portfolio theory.

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Next is Laird Norton Wealth Management, a large investment advisory firm with a client base that primarily consists of high-net-worth individuals. The firm also works with non-high-net-worth individuals, pooled investment vehicles, pensions, profit sharing plans and charitable organizations.

Laird Norton recently implemented an account minimum of $10 million, but it still works with an incredibly wide range of account balances. The firm is also fee-only, so you won't have to worry about the potential conflict of interest that could arise from an advisor receiving commissions from the sale of financial products to clients that they advise.

The firm employs a number of certified financial planners (CFP) and chartered financial analysts (CFA), among other certifications and qualifications.

Laird Norton Wealth Management Background

Laird Norton Wealth Management was founded all the way back in 1967, but only officially registered with the SEC as an investment advisor in 2001. The firm is wholly-owned by Laird Norton Trust Company.

Laird Norton provides its clients with investment advisory services through separately managed accounts. It also provides certain financial planning services as a part of its overall investment advisory services.

Laird Norton Wealth Management Investment Strategy

As is the case with many other financial advisor firms, Laird Norton Wealth Management tailors its investment management services, investment advice and investment strategies to the financial needs and investment objectives of its clients. Each client relationship begins with the creation of an investment policy statement that outlines the client's time horizon, risk tolerance and investment targets. From there, advisors can figure out strategies that best meet the needs of clients.

Because each client's goals and needs are different, the structure of each portfolio and the investments contained in each portfolio may differ slightly or significantly. The firm focuses on developing an effective asset allocation strategy with a particular focus on risk management.

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Founded in 1966, Badgley Phelps Wealth Managers is the oldest firm on the list. This fee-only firm manages billions in assets mostly on a discretionary basis. Its team has chartered financial advisors (CFAs), certified financial planners (CFPs) and chartered investment counselors (CICs) on staff, among other certifications.

To be a client of the firm, which primarily serves high-net-worth individuals, you’ll generally need at least $1 million. (The minimum may be waived under special circumstances.) The practice also serves trusts, estates, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable institutions, foundations and endowments. 

Badgley Phelps Wealth Managers Background

Badgley Phelps Wealth has been completely employee-owned since its founding. The firm currently has a solid group of employees, and several of those employees are shareholders. 

The firm provides an array of wealth management-related services, including wealth transfer planning, asset protection, investment management, cash flow planning, college planning, retirement planning, estate planning, tax planning, foundation management, risk management, legacy planning, philanthropic planning and investment policy development.

Badgley Phelps Wealth Management Investment Strategy

When it comes to equity securities, Badgley Phelps Wealth has four investment strategies: consistent growth, relative value, small and mid cap and international. Both the consistent growth equity strategy and the relative value equity strategy generally hold between 30 to 40 stock positions, and the Russell 1000 Growth Index serves as their relative benchmark. The small and mid cap strategy and the international strategy use exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The former may also utilize mutual funds and other investments. 

The firm also employs fixed income and alternative investment management.