Working with a financial advisor can be a game-changer for your future. They can help you create a personalized plan to achieve your financial goals.
Some financial advisors specialize in specific areas, such as retirement planning or investment management. For example, Ally's financial advisors can help you create a comprehensive plan for your retirement savings.
Having a clear plan in place can give you peace of mind and help you stay on track. By working with a financial advisor, you can make informed decisions about your money and achieve your long-term goals.
Ally's financial advisors are experienced professionals who can provide you with expert guidance and support. They can help you navigate complex financial decisions and create a plan that's tailored to your needs.
Choosing an Advisor
All of the advisors listed here give good advice at a fair price. They've all passed a vetting process, so you can trust that you're getting quality service.
To find the right fit, read through the descriptions of each firm and pick a handful that seem to be offering what you're looking for. Spend a few minutes on each of their websites and read through their linked application if available.
If what you're reading sounds good to you, shoot them an email or call them up and schedule a time to meet with them in person or virtually.
Our Methodology
We take a thorough approach to identifying the top financial advisors in the U.S. by first identifying all firms registered with the SEC in the country.
We filter out firms that don't offer financial planning services, don't serve primarily individual clients, or have disclosures on their record.
Firms are then ranked according to five key criteria: AUM (total assets under management), individual client count, clients per advisor, age of firm, and fee structure.
Our rankings are based solely on these criteria and do not take into account any business relationships with SmartAsset.
Here's a breakdown of our ranking criteria:
- AUM: Firms with more total assets under management are ranked higher.
- Individual Client Count: Firms who serve more individual 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 compensation structure are ranked higher.
All information is obtained through public records and is updated annually after the firms’ form ADV filing.
Choosing an Advisor
You can't go wrong with any of the advisors on this list, as they all give good advice at a fair price. All of the firms have passed the vetting process, which includes a review of their website, ADV2, and a few emailed questions.
To get started, read through the descriptions of each firm and pick a handful that seem to be offering what you're looking for. Spend a few minutes on each of their websites and read through their linked application if available.
If what you're reading sounds good to you, shoot them an email or call them up and schedule a time to meet with them in person or virtually. All of the advisors on this page will take any client in any state.
The vetting process is rigorous, and only about 1/3-1/4 of the advisors who apply end up being listed here. This is because the vetting process takes time and energy, and it's a for-profit business.
Here's a breakdown of the criteria used to rank the firms:
- AUM: Firms with more total assets under management are ranked higher.
- Individual Client Count: Firms who serve more individual 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.
Remember that financial planning and investment management is expensive stuff, and you should expect to pay thousands per year for it.
Portfolio Customization
Customizing your portfolio can be a daunting task, but Ally Invest Robo Portfolios makes it relatively easy. You can tailor your portfolio to fit your needs by answering a few questions during setup about your financial goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.
Ally Invest Robo Portfolios will suggest a portfolio that aligns with your answers, so you can start investing with confidence. Any further customization would need to take place in a self-directed investing account, which is still a great option if you want more control over your investments.
Rebalancing your portfolio is also a breeze with Ally Invest Robo Portfolios. If your investments need to be adjusted to stay on track with your financial goals, the system will do it automatically at no extra charge. This feature can give you peace of mind and help you avoid making costly mistakes.
Real-time reporting is also a valuable feature at Ally Invest Robo Portfolios. You can log in at any time to see how your portfolio is performing and track progress with the Goal Tracker function. This tool can help you stay on top of your investments and make informed decisions about your financial future.
Fiduciary Advisors
Finding a fiduciary financial advisor can be a daunting task, but knowing what to look for can make all the difference. The good news is that there are many reputable firms out there, with CAPTRUST being the largest with over $852 billion in assets managed.
A fiduciary advisor is someone who has a legal obligation to act in your best interest, and they're required to put your needs ahead of their own. This is a big deal, as it means they'll give you unbiased advice that's tailored to your specific situation. If you're looking for a fiduciary advisor, you can check out the top firms listed below.
As you can see, these firms have a significant amount of assets under management, and they're all committed to acting in their clients' best interests.
Find a Fiduciary
If you're looking for a fiduciary financial advisor, you're in the right place. A fiduciary advisor is someone who puts your interests first and makes decisions on your behalf that are in your best interest.
There are many top-rated fiduciary financial advisors out there, but let's take a look at the top 10. According to recent rankings, the top fiduciary financial advisors have managed over $852 billion in assets.
Here are the top 10 fiduciary financial advisors, ranked by assets managed:
Some of these top fiduciary financial advisors have no set account minimum, while others require a minimum of $25,000 or even $100,000,000.
Fiduciary Requirements
As a fiduciary advisor, you have a duty to act in the best interest of your clients. This means putting their needs ahead of your own and making decisions that benefit them.
A fiduciary advisor must provide full and fair disclosure of all material facts and information to their clients. This includes disclosing any potential conflicts of interest.
Fiduciary advisors must also exercise reasonable care, skill, and diligence in managing their clients' assets. This means staying up-to-date on the latest investment strategies and technologies.
In addition, fiduciary advisors must avoid self-dealing and any actions that could compromise their ability to act in the best interest of their clients. For example, they must not use their clients' assets for their own personal benefit.
Fiduciary advisors are also required to act with loyalty and impartiality, making decisions that benefit their clients rather than themselves or other parties.
Integrity Solutions
Integrity Wealth Solutions is a tiered flat-fee asset management and financial planning firm that helps physicians, dentists, high-net worth individuals, and small business owners with transparent and equitable financial planning.
Their focus is on low-cost, tax-efficient portfolios tailored to each client's comprehensive financial planning goals. They offer a great solution for those who don't want to manage their finances themselves or pay the high cost of hiring a traditional financial advisor.
Their wealth management fees range between $1,250 to $3,750 a quarter for the typical client and include both investment management and financial planning. They do not provide stand-alone financial planning engagements.
Here are some key details about Integrity Wealth Solutions:
- Services: Financial planning, investment management
- Ideal Client: Flat-fee asset management with financial planning focus
- Location: Denver, CO
- Additional Information: Integrity Wealth Solutions Financial Advisor Application, ADV2
- Contact: [email protected], (303) 716-5777
Security
As a savvy investor, you want to know that your money is safe with your fiduciary advisor. Ally Invest Robo Portfolios, for instance, has several security measures in place to keep your account and personal information secure.
They use anti-virus and anti-malware protection, firewalls, Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption, 2-Step authentication, and automatic logout to safeguard your account.
Their system also monitors your account for any suspicious activity and regularly reviews their site and app to ensure everything is running smoothly.
If you're concerned about the security of your investments, it's reassuring to know that Ally Invest Robo Portfolios is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). This means your money is protected up to $500,000, with a maximum of $250,000 for cash claims.
Additionally, Ally Invest Robo Portfolios has extra coverage of up to $37.5 million, including up to $900,000 in cash, with an aggregate cap of $150 million.
Top Financial Advisors
Meet David Bach, a renowned financial advisor who recommends saving $1,000 as an emergency fund to avoid debt. His advice is backed by the fact that 62% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.
Robert Kiyosaki, a well-known financial expert, advocates for investing in real estate to build wealth. He suggests starting with a single-family home to get a feel for the process.
Financial advisors like Jean Chatzky emphasize the importance of having a budget. She recommends tracking expenses to understand where your money is going.
Captrust
CAPTRUST is a fee-based firm with the highest AUM of any firm on our list. It's headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, and serves a wide range of clients, including non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, banks, and corporations.
The firm doesn't require an overarching minimum account size, but some programs may have their own minimums, which can be waived on a case-by-case basis. This flexibility is a big plus for clients who may not have a lot of assets to start with.
CAPTRUST offers a comprehensive range of services, including wealth planning, investment management, and retirement planning. Their advisors can also provide tax review, estate planning, and charitable gift planning, among other services.
Some advisors at CAPTRUST can earn commissions from insurance sales, which creates a potential conflict of interest. However, the firm is bound by fiduciary duty to act in their clients' best interests, so you can trust that they're working for you.
CAPTRUST has a significant presence in the US and globally, with many branches in other states and countries. This makes it easy to work with them no matter where you are in the world.
Cerity Partners
Cerity Partners offers investment management services to both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as institutional clients like pooled investment vehicles and corporations.
The firm takes a fee-based approach, which means it can receive compensation for the sale of certain insurance and annuity products through an affiliated entity. This creates a potential conflict of interest, but Cerity Partners still holds a fiduciary duty.
Cerity Partners customizes its services to each client's individual needs, taking into account their specific goals, objectives, risk tolerance, time horizon, and other factors.
Here are some key services offered by Cerity Partners:
- Investment management
- Customized portfolio building based on individual client needs
- Asset allocation to reduce risk
- Work with a range of asset classes, including cash and cash equivalents, global fixed-income, and private equity
By considering various investor characteristics, Cerity Partners can create a tailored investment strategy for each client, helping them achieve their financial goals.
Corient
Corient is a financial advisory firm that offers a range of services to its clients. They prefer to invest client assets using a discretionary relationship, where clients sign over control of their investments to the firm. This means clients won't need to be involved in minute investing decisions.
Corient's advisors will still keep in contact with clients as developments occur, typically through their financial planning services. They build an appropriate strategy suitable to the client's stated objectives.
GW&K
GW&K is a fee-only firm that's been around for over 50 years, offering investment advisory services to high-net-worth individuals and various institutions.
GW&K specializes in active equity and fixed-income investment solutions, incorporating strategies like equity, municipal bond, and taxable bond approaches. They also receive performance-based fees, which are a percentage of the net profits being managed.
The firm's management approach prioritizes clients' interests, striving to meet investment objectives amidst market fluctuations. They believe in rigorous research and disciplined management, and their client-driven culture is designed to provide personalized services.
GW&K was founded in 1974 and is a partner of Affiliated Managers Group, Inc., a publicly-traded global asset management company. They offer a range of services, including portfolio management, investment strategies, and various bond and equity approaches.
Here are some key details about GW&K:
Rialto
Rialto Wealth Management is a fee-only fiduciary advisor based in Syracuse, NY. They cater specifically to physicians seeking comprehensive financial guidance.
Their services include financial planning, investment management, student loan management, tax strategizing, estate planning, and workplace retirement plans. This tailored approach ensures that their clients receive personalized attention and expert advice.
Rialto Wealth Management's ideal client is a physician, suggesting that they have a deep understanding of the unique financial challenges faced by medical professionals.
Here's a brief overview of their services:
- Financial Planning
- Investment Management
- Student Loan Management
- Tax Strategizing
- Estate Planning
- Workplace Retirement Plans
If you're a physician seeking a trusted and knowledgeable advisor, Rialto Wealth Management may be worth considering.
Summit Rock
Summit Rock Advisors is a fee-only firm that works with less than 50 high-net-worth individual clients, each with at least $100 million in investable assets.
The firm is independently owned by its co-founders, CEO David Dechman and chief investment strategist Nancy Donohue, and has been in business since 2007.
Summit Rock Advisors is headquartered in Manhattan and 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.
The firm's advisors work with clients in a holistic manner, attempting to account for all of their financial specifics and goals when making decisions.
Summit Rock Advisors' investment strategy involves understanding clients' personal needs and objectives before investing, and incorporating multiple investment managers within clients' portfolios.
The firm 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.
Summit Rock Advisors focuses on diversification and strategic asset allocation planning, using clients' risk tolerance and time horizon to select investment allocations.
Here are some key facts about Summit Rock Advisors:
Mercer Global
Mercer Global Advisors is a fee-based firm based in Denver, serving clients nationwide. They work with individuals, retirement plans, charities, and corporations. Their minimum annual fee requirements range from $800 to $150,000, depending on the type of service and account.
The firm's advisors have the opportunity to sell insurance products on a commission basis, which can create a potential conflict of interest. However, Mercer Global Advisors' fiduciary duty means they must act in clients' best interests.
Mercer Global Advisors focuses on investing for the long term, emphasizing the importance of planning to achieve success over time. Advisors stress this planning around clients' personal financial situations and goals.
The firm aims to diversify clients' assets throughout various securities and market sectors to protect portfolios from high volatility. As portfolios age, Mercer may rebalance investments back to their intended allocations.
Here are the key services offered by Mercer Global Advisors:
- Financial planning
- Tax strategizing
- Investment management
- Retirement planning
Their approach to investing focuses on the long term, with a emphasis on planning and diversification.
Panoramic Advice
Panoramic Financial Advice is a financial planning firm based in Fresno, CA, that specializes in helping young physician families manage their finances. They offer comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and tax strategizing services.
Their ideal client is a young physician family who values their time and peace of mind. They understand the unique financial challenges that come with being a physician and offer tailored solutions to help their clients achieve financial freedom.
Here are some key services offered by Panoramic Financial Advice:
- Financial planning
- Investment management
- Tax strategizing
Their flat fee structure allows clients to budget their expenses and avoid surprise fees. They also offer regular meetings with a CFP accredited financial planner and their support team.
If you're a young physician family looking for a trusted financial advisor, Panoramic Financial Advice may be a great option to consider.
CMG
CMG Financial Consulting is a great resource for medical professionals looking to manage their finances. Clint Gossage, the founder, has a unique understanding of the challenges medical professionals face due to his experience helping friends in medical school, residency, and fellowship with their finances.
With over 15 years of experience, Clint has developed a specialized approach to financial planning. His services include financial planning, investment management, and student loan management.
CMG Financial Consulting is ideal for financially savvy individuals who need help navigating increasing complexity. Clint's expertise can help alleviate the stress of managing finances, allowing you to focus on your career.
Here are some key details about CMG Financial Consulting:
- Services: Financial planning, investment management, student loan management
- Ideal Client: Financially savvy but want help with increasing complexity
- Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Targeted Solutions
Many financial advisors specialize in serving specific professions or demographics, which can be a huge advantage if you fall into one of those categories. For instance, if you're a young physician with student loans, Simplicity Financial LLC in Milwaukee, WI, can help you manage your debt and create a financial plan tailored to your needs.
Their services include financial planning, investment management, student loan management, and tax strategizing. If you're a high earner or business owner, Targeted Wealth Solutions, with locations in Boulder, CO, Denver, CO, and Colorado Springs, CO, can provide similar services, including financial planning, tax strategizing, and investment management.
If you're an anesthesiologist or pain management physician, APM Wealth in Philadelphia, PA, can offer specialized services like contract reviews, in addition to financial planning and investment management.
Here are some key features of these targeted solutions:
Each of these advisors has a unique approach, but they all share a commitment to providing personalized service and expertise to their clients.
Thrive Retirement Specialists
Thrive Retirement Specialists is a financial planning firm based in Dearborn, Michigan. They offer a range of services including financial planning, tax strategizing, and investment management.
Their ideal client is someone looking for all-in-one flat fee services for retirement and tax planning, as well as investment management. If you're interested in learning more, you can visit their website, email them at [email protected], or give them a call at (833) 217-9613.
They cater to individuals seeking a non-traditional route to financial independence, such as early retirement or a career switch. Their goal is to help you create a plan for your future, whether you're working with a fiduciary planner or just saving a high portion of your income.
Here are some key services offered by Thrive Retirement Specialists:
- Financial planning
- Tax strategizing
- Investment management
Their services are designed to be comprehensive and tailored to your specific needs.
Portfolio Construction
NFP Retirement Investing Strategy offers a personalized approach to portfolio construction, where your advisor will discuss your risk tolerance, income needs, and financial goals before making any investment decisions.
Your advisor may invest in a combination of mutual funds and ETFs, or utilize a Schwab-created automated asset allocation service that chooses model portfolios based on your goals.
Ally Invest Robo Portfolios offers four portfolio options: Core, Income, Tax-optimized, and Socially responsible.
The Core portfolio style contains traditional domestic, international, and fixed-income assets, allowing investors to choose conservative to more aggressive risk tolerance.
The Income portfolio type offers higher dividend yields, appealing to those with a more conservative approach to investing.
Tax-optimized portfolios use low-cost ETFs to help investors minimize after-tax contributions to their investment accounts, although automatic tax-loss harvesting is not an option.
The Socially responsible portfolio style mimics the Core portfolio but with a significant emphasis on companies that rank highly regarding environmental, social, or governance qualities.
Here are the four portfolio options offered by Ally Invest Robo Portfolios:
Ally Invest Robo Portfolios does not offer exposure to alternative asset classes like cryptocurrency or private equity.
Robo Portfolios
Ally Invest Robo Portfolios offers four portfolio options for investors to choose from: Core, Income, Tax-optimized, and Socially responsible. Each portfolio style allows investors to choose conservative to more aggressive risk tolerance.
The Core portfolio style contains traditional domestic, international, and fixed-income assets. The Income portfolio type offers higher dividend yields, appealing to those with a more conservative approach to investing.
Ally Invest Robo Portfolios uses tax-advantaged investments like municipal bond ETFs to reduce the tax burden of any gains in its Tax-optimized portfolio. This portfolio is a great option for those looking to minimize their taxes.
Here are the four portfolio options available:
Ally Invest Robo Portfolios also offers automatic rebalancing at no extra charge, ensuring your investments stay on track to meet your financial goals.
How Robo Portfolios Save You Money
Robo portfolios can save you money in several ways. One way is through tax-advantaged investments, such as municipal bond ETFs, which reduce the tax burden of any gains.
Ally Invest Robo Portfolios offers a tax-optimized portfolio that uses these types of investments. This feature is especially useful for investors who are looking to minimize their tax liability.
Rebalancing your portfolio automatically can also help you save money. Ally Invest Robo Portfolios offers automatic rebalancing at no extra charge, which means you don't have to worry about manually adjusting your portfolio to stay on track.
Here are some key benefits of automatic rebalancing:
- Saves you time and effort
- Helps you stay on track with your financial goals
- Reduces the risk of making costly investment mistakes
While Ally Invest Robo Portfolios may not offer tax-loss harvesting, it's worth noting that this feature is only available with the premium hybrid offering, Ally Personal Advice.
Is Robo Portfolios Safe?
Ally has several measures in place to keep your personal and account information secure.
Ally invests a lot in security, and it shows. They have a dedicated team that works hard to protect your information.
According to Ally, their security approach protects you in several ways. This includes encryption, firewalls, and regular security audits.
Their online and mobile security guarantee for Ally Bank ensures that your accounts are protected in case of unauthorized transactions.
Ally also has a firm brochure that outlines their investment advisory services, including their robo portfolios.
Here are some key security features that Ally offers:
- Encryption to protect your personal and account information
- Firewalls to prevent unauthorized access
- Regular security audits to identify and fix vulnerabilities
- Online and mobile security guarantee for Ally Bank
Account Services
With Ally Invest Robo Portfolios, you can choose between a self-directed account and a robo-advisor, but not both in the same account.
You can start investing with no commission fees on U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs, or options, and there are no account minimums to get started. Clients can also choose to invest in bonds, mutual funds, and even margin accounts.
Ally Invest Robo Portfolios’ robo-advisor makes investing simple, allowing you to start with just $100 and choose between a cash-enhanced portfolio or a market-focused portfolio. Ally will then put a portfolio together for you based on your investing preferences and risk tolerance.
Some types of investments are not available through Ally's robo platform, including REITs, crypto, international stocks, bonds, and fractional shares.
You can reach Ally Invest Advisors 24 hours a day, seven days a week over the phone or online, a unique feature compared to many advisory firms that operate on normal business hours.
Is FDIC Insured?
Ally Bank is a member of the FDIC, which means your deposits are insured up to $250,000.
You're protected from losses in case the bank fails, so you don't have to worry about losing your money.
As long as you report any unauthorized transactions within 60 days, you won't be liable for them.
Account Services
Ally Invest Robo Portfolios offers a streamlined platform for clients to pick their investments or use a robo-advisor for a hands-off approach.
With Ally Invest Robo Portfolios, you can choose to invest in U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs, or options with no commission fees. There are also no account minimums to get started.
You can start investing in bonds, mutual funds, or even margin accounts with a self-direct account at Ally Invest Robo Portfolios.
For the more hands-off approach, Ally Invest Robo Portfolios' robo-advisor makes investing simple with just $100 to get started. You can choose between a cash-enhanced portfolio or a market-focused portfolio.
Ally's robo platform will put a portfolio together for you based on your investing preferences and risk tolerance. The platform will then automatically monitor and rebalance your portfolio to ensure your goals and asset allocation are on target.
Some types of investments are not accessible through Ally's robo platform, including REITs, crypto, international stocks, bonds, and fractional shares.
Here are the key features of Ally Invest Robo Portfolios:
- U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs, or options with no commission fees
- No account minimums to get started
- Invest in bonds, mutual funds, or margin accounts
- Start investing with just $100
- Cash-enhanced or market-focused portfolio options
- Automatic monitoring and rebalancing of your portfolio
Cash
Cash earns a nice annual interest rate of 3.80%, which is at the upper end of what's available from other robo-advisors.
This interest rate is adjustable and can change at any time, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on it.
The cash-enhanced portfolio option is a good choice for investors who want an additional layer of security in a fluctuating market, as it allocates approximately 30% of your portfolio to cash that earns the 3.80% annual interest rate.
With this option, there are no advisory fees, and portfolio rebalancing will occur automatically to maintain the cash buffer if money is taken out.
The market-focused portfolio, on the other hand, has a 0.30% annual advisory fee, which is charged monthly, and leaves only about 2% of your money held as cash.
You can still earn the current annual interest rate of 3.80% on your cash balance with this option, and portfolio rebalancing will occur automatically to maintain the market-to-cash ratio if money is withdrawn from the account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ally Bank offer financial advisors?
Yes, Ally Bank offers access to Senior Financial Advisors through Ally Invest, who can help create a personalized financial plan tailored to your needs and goals. They'll work with you to understand your risk level and investment goals.
Who is the best financial advisor to go with?
There is no single "best" financial advisor, as the right choice depends on individual needs and preferences. Consider reputable options like Vanguard, Charles Schwab, or Fidelity Investments, which offer a range of services and investment products.
Is a 1% financial advisor worth it?
A 1% financial advisor fee may be a good value if they consistently help you earn a higher return on your investments, such as 12% or more. Evaluate their performance over time to determine if their services are worth the cost.
Who is the most trustworthy financial advisor?
While various financial institutions are highly reputable, such as Fidelity Investments and Vanguard, there is no single most trustworthy financial advisor as trustworthiness can vary depending on individual needs and circumstances. Researching and comparing multiple options, including reviews and ratings, is essential to finding a trustworthy financial advisor.
Sources
- https://smartasset.com/financial-advisor/us-top-financial-advisors
- https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/financial-advisors/
- https://www.investopedia.com/ally-managed-portfolios-review-4691319
- https://smartasset.com/financial-advisor/ally-invest-advisors-review
- https://www.businessinsider.com/best-financial-advisors-for-millennials-power-players-2020-11
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