Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in Wichita, Kansas
Finding a financial advisor that's right for you can be challenging. To help, SmartAsset researched the Wichita's firms to determine the top financial advisor firms in the city. Below, we lay out our findings about the firms, including their fee structures, investing strategies and backgrounds. To further your search, use our free, five-minute matching tool. It'll connect you with up to three advisors in your area.
Find a Fiduciary Financial Advisor
We match more than 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 | Hightower 6M Holding, LLC  Find an Advisor | $1,970,143,064 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 2 | IMA Wealth, Inc.  Find an Advisor | $681,009,333 | $50,000 |
| Minimum Assets$50,000Financial Services
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| 3 | Wealth Alliance Advisory Group, LLC  Find an Advisor | $424,601,406 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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| 4 | KC Investment Advisors, LLC  Find an Advisor | $180,606,871 | Varies based on account type |
| Minimum AssetsVaries based on account typeFinancial Services
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What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in Wichita, 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. -
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Individual Client CountFirms who serve more individual clients (as opposed to institutional clients) are ranked higher. -
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Clients Per AdvisorFirms with a lower ratio of clients per financial advisor are ranked higher. -
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Age of FirmFirms that have been in business longer are ranked higher.
All information is accurate as of the writing of this article. 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.
6 Meridian
The top financial advisor firm on our list is 6 Meridian. The firm has a wide range of financial advisors on staff. They boast certifications such as certified financial planner (CFP) and chartered financial analyst (CFA).
At 6 Meridian, some advisors are brokers and/or insurance agents, and in their non-advisor roles, they collect transaction-based fees. This has the potential of being a conflict of interest, But as an SEC-registered firm, 6 Meridian is legally required to put clients' interests before its own.
Though 6 Meridian has no set account minimum, most of its clients have high net worths. The firm also works with less affluent individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations and businesses. There is no minimum amount required to open an account.
6 Meridian Background
Seven partners founded 6 Meridian in 2016: Margaret A. Dechant, Stevan M. Bahm, Andrew J. Mies, Pamela A. Smith, Sarah J. Hampton, Bryan S. Green and Thomas H. Kirk III.
Services center on offering clients comprehensive financial planning. For example, the firm offers business planning, cash flow forecasting, trust and estate planning, retirement planning and education planning. Additionally, the firm provides investment portfolio services. If a client has investment products that are not maintained by 6 Meridian, like 529 plans and annuity contracts, 6 Meridian can still provide management advice.
6 Meridian Investing Approach
According to 6 Meridian’s website, the firm offers several base portfolios for clients. These portfolios differ from each other by how risky the investments are and by their expected returns. Higher risk portfolios have higher potential returns. These base portfolios can be adapted to meet a client’s specific goals, needs and risk tolerance.
When choosing securities for a portfolio, 6 Meridian uses fundamental and quantitative research methods. Fundamental analysis seeks to measure a stock’s value by looking at a number of financial and economic factors. Quantitative analysis attempts to understand and predict how a security will behave.
IMA Wealth
IMA Wealth provides a suite of financial management services to individuals and their families, corporations, charitable organizations and corporate retirement plan sponsors. Of its individual clients, most do not have a high net worth. The firm has no set account minimum for individual clients.
IMA Wealth generally charges annual fees for portfolio management as a percentage of your assets under management. IMA Financial Group, Inc. is this firm’s parent company. It also runs affiliates that sell insurance products. In the event you purchase one of these products, an IMA Wealth affiliate may receive commission. However, the firm, as a fiduciary, is legally obligated to work in your best interests.
IMA Wealth Background
IMA Wealth was founded in 1999, when it first opened its doors to the community of Wichita. It also manages offices in Dallas and Denver. The IMA Financial Group wholly owns IMA Wealth. The parent company is an insurance-brokerage agency and employee benefits organization based in Wichita.
The team at IMA Wealth includes advisory certifications such as accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified retirement plan specialist (CPRS) and chartered life underwriter (CLU). (Advisors may have more than one credential.)
IMA Wealth Investment Strategy
The IMA Wealth investment philosophy is driven by asset allocation strategy. The firm will analyze your entire picture to build the right one. It will consider your risk tolerance, cash flow, and overall financial objectives to build the right one for you.
In addition, you’ll have access to the entire advisory team when you work with IMA Wealth. All will work with your Relationship Manager to construct the right financial plan for you.The firm may alter your portfolio’s asset allocation or financial plan if changes to your financial objectives of risk tolerance deem it necessary. The firm utilizes portfolio modeling and quantitative and qualitative securities analyses.
Wealth Alliance Advisory Group
The Wealth Alliance Advisory Group (WAAG) provides a comprehensive range of wealth management services, including financial planning, portfolio management and even tax-planning services.
Most of the individual clients at WAAG are non-high-net-worth individuals. The firm also provides services to profit-sharing plans and businesses. The firm is fee-based, so advisors can receive commissions by selling financial products to clients. This is a potential conflict of interest, but the firm is a fiduciary that is legally obligated to act in the best interests of clients.
Wealth Alliance Advisory Group Background
WAAG started doing business in 2017, making it the youngest firm on our list. The founder Gary W. Decker serves as its president and CEO. He can trace his experience in the financial services industry back to 1990. Matthew Catlin and Decker both own the firm.
When working with these advisors, you can expect guidance on several financial topics including:
- Business planning
- Cash flow forecasting
- Trust and estate planning
- Insurance planning
- Tax Planning
- Charitable giving
- Investing consulting
Wealth Alliance Advisory Group Investing Approach
WAAG provides investment advisory services on a discretionary and non-discretionary basis. This means it will make trades with or without your prior approval. The firm will employ an investment strategy it deems right for you based on your investment objectives, risk tolerance and other key points.
The firm generally invests your assets in securities only if they align with your investment objectives and time horizon. It's known to invest in mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), equities, debt securities and privately placed securities, such as interests in pooled investment vehicles.
KC Investment Advisors
KC Investment Advisors, which also goes by KCoe Wealth, provides financial planning, investment management and insurance planning services. Most of the firm's clients are non-high-net-worth individuals.
The firm generally requires a minimum initial investment of $50,000 for accounts under its KCWM Program Asset Allocation System accounts or $250,000 for Private Managed accounts. As a fee-based firm, advisors may receive commissions. Despite this conflict of interest, the firm is a fiduciary and is legally obligated to act in the best interests of clients at all times.
KC Investment Advisors Background
KWC registered with the SEC as an investment advisor in 2004. It is owned by KCOE Wealth Management, LLC, which is owned by KCWM Holdings, LLC. The firm’s advisory team consists of such advisory certifications as certified financial planner (CFP) and registered financial consultanr (RFC).
The firm provides consultations on your choice of financial topics, and it helps clients with ongoing asset-management services.
KC Investment Advisors Investment Approach
The firm helps clients build investment portfolios to meet their individual goals. The firm monitors these accounts to make sure they fall in line with such objectives. It builds an asset allocation and an overall financial plan if requested by drawing from several sources of information including questionnaires, surveys, financial documents and more.
The firm can also provide advisory services by referring clients to third-party unaffiliated money managers that are registered as advisers or are exempt from doing so.
