Whether you’re planning for retirement, growing your wealth, or investing wisely, discover the top financial advisor firms in the US to meet your financial needs.
Unbiased evaluated financial advisory firms based on various factors, including:
Assets under management (AUM): A higher AUM often suggests that a company has established relationships with a larger number of clients.
Fees: While fees will differ from advisor to advisor, companies with lower overall fees were given a higher ranking.
Fee structure: As fee-only advisors earn no additional compensation beyond the client fees compared to fee-based advisors, companies that were fee-only were given a higher ranking.
Services: Firms that provide a wider range of services were awarded a high ranking.
Investment minimum: Firms with a lower investment minimum, thereby reducing the barrier to entry for financial advice, were given a higher ranking.
The financial advisory firms listed below were also selected due to their nationwide offering, work with individuals looking for personal financial advice, and their overall reputation.
The list aims to provide a broad range of financial advisory firms and highlight the different levels of financial advice services available throughout the US.
Unbiased has produced the advisor details above from publicly available data. We aim to provide an independent overview of financial advisory firms to provide you with the information you need to make confident financial decisions.
When choosing a financial advisor, you should consider your unique needs and goals to find the firm best suited to you.
Learn more about this selection of the top financial advisory firms in the US, including what they offer, their investing strategy, and their pros and cons.
1. Fidelity financial advisor
Fidelityis a financial advisory firm renowned for its comprehensive range of specialized services, making it an ideal choice for clients seeking support with diverse financial goals and challenges.
What you need to know about Fidelity:
Services include ETF trading, wealth management, retirement and long-term care planning, and investing.
There are multiple options for all types of investors, including those seeking digital advice and those looking for a dedicated financial advisor.
The firm is recognized for its strong customer service, offering accessible in-person and phone support.
Fidelity financial advisor
Top choice for clients who need help navigating different financial circumstances, goals, and challenges.
Assets under management:
$14.1 trillion
Fee structure:
Fee-only & fee-based
Fee:
0.2%-1.5%
Minimum account sizes:
$50,000
Retirement planning
Brokerage
Wealth management
Investment strategy
Financial planning
Online trading
Long-term care planning
Building savings
Charitable giving
Fidelity Advisory Services gives you access to a team of advisors, available by phone or video, who will partner with you to help keep your investment strategy aligned with your goals through portfolio management, annual reviews, and tax-smart investing techniques. This requires a minimum investment of $50,000.
Fidelity also offers lower- and higher-cost options, providing a range of options for planning and investment advice, tailored to your asset level.
Fidelity provides personalized financial planning by listening to your needs, assessing your situation and working with you to develop an investment strategy that helps achieve your goals.
Your advisor will ask questions about your goals and needs, expenses, health, family commitments, and other relevant factors to understand what you want your money to accomplish and tailor your portfolio accordingly.
An Investment Policy Committee with over 150 combined years of industry experience
Facet Wealthis a technology-driven financial planning firm that offers personalized, affordable advice for major financial decisions.
What you need to know about Facet:
Provides comprehensive financial services, including financial planning, family and estate planning, equity compensation, and financial wellness.
Founded in 2016, it connects members with a dedicated CFP® professional supported by a team of experts.
Charges a flat annual fee ranging from $2,600 to $8,700, based on your chosen membership.
There is no minimum balance requirement; managed portfolios require a minimum deposit of $500.
Facet Wealth
Tech-driven financial planning firm offering personalized, affordable advice for major financial decisions.
Assets under management:
$4.7 billion
Fee:
$2,600-$8,700
Fee structure:
Fee-only
Minimum account sizes:
No minimum
Estate planning
Holistic financial planning
Investment management
Insurance planning
Tax planning
Tax filing
Savings and debt management
Retirement planning
Education planning
Facet Wealth offers three distinct membership options – Core, Plus, and Complete – each providing varying levels of advice and guidance.
Included in every membership is virtual access to a CFP® professional, who will work with you to create a personalised financial roadmap to help you achieve your goals. You also receive step-by-step guidance to keep you on track, along with regular check-ins.
Vanguard Personal Advisor Services is a hybrid model that combines automated portfolio management with guidance from real financial advisors.
What you need to know about Vanguard:
Provides automated investing personalized to your goals and access to an advisor for the times when you need clarity and direction.
Vanguard Personal Advisor commits to taking a holistic approach to building a healthy financial future.
It offers a 90-day trial period, where you can try the service with no advisory fees.
Vanguard Personal Advisor
Automated investment management with the support of an advisor when required.
Assets under management:
$7.2 trillion
Fee:
0.35%-0.40%
Fee structure:
Fee-based and fee-only
Minimum account sizes:
$50,000 (for a personal advisor)
Financial planning
Wealth management
Retirement planning
Investment services
Inheritance planning
Saving for college
Vanguard Personal Advisor used a mix of automated investing and access to an advisor to help you reach your financial goals.
Personal Advisor's advanced technology breaks down your investing goals and maps your progress for you. Access to an advisor provides you with the guidance you need to prioritize funding your goals.
The platform is built on Vanguard’s wealth of experience and expert insights
Mercer Advisors is a top private wealth management firm recognized for its thorough and professional personal financial advice.
What you need to know about Mercer:
Fee-only advisor with over 400 financial advisors across the US, managing tens of billions in client AUM.
Services include financial planning, portfolio management, retirement planning, and tax preparation.
Fees are determined by individual client circumstances, with investment management charges based on strategies and total AUM.
Mercer Advisors
Top private wealth management firm known for its thorough and professional financial advice.
Assets under management:
$83 billion
Fee:
0.50%-1.10%
Fee structure:
Fee-only
Minimum account sizes:
$800-$150,000
Financial planning
Investment management
Retirement planning
Estate planning
Tax planning
Insurance solutions
Trustee services
Mercer Advisors streamlines all elements of your financial planning, including tax, investments, insurance, and more, all managed by a single team.
A hand-picked financial advisor works with you to create an institutional-grade portfolio personalized to you and your goals. This is managed by a team of over 100 professionals, giving you access to a vast array of expert insights.
Edward Jones is a well-established financial services firm in the US, known for its independent investment advice and strong client relationships.
What you need to know about Edward Jones:
Nearly 19,000 financial advisors serving over 8 million clients in the US and Canada, managing $1.7 trillion in client assets.
Fees are based on individual client circumstances, with rates decreasing as account values grow.
Prioritizes forming strong, personalized client relationships with skilled professionals, ensuring client focus and care.
Edward Jones financial advisor
Longstanding US financial firm, known for its reliable history and independent investment advice.
Assets under management:
$2.2 trillion
Fee:
0.05%-1.35%
Fee structure:
Fee-based
Minimum account sizes:
$0-$25,000
Financial planning
Retirement planning
Investing
Tax planning
Charitable giving
Edward Jones financial advisors develop personalized strategies that guide you toward your short- and long-term financial goals.
The team uses a 5-step process to make a tailored plan for your future, ensuring they maintain a long-term perspective, focus on quality, and manage risk through diversification.
BlackRockis a globally renowned financial advisory firm that offers investment management, risk management, and advisory services to clients worldwide.
What you need to know about BlackRock:
BlackRock has over 190,000 financial advisors working with over 35 million Americans nationwide.
Fee structures vary based on the chosen strategy and account type, with some fees subject to negotiation.
The company aims to enhance its clients' financial well-being, acting as a fiduciary.
BlackRock financial advisor
Leading global firm providing investment, risk management, and advisory services worldwide.
Assets under management:
$11.5 trillion
Fee:
0.50%-2.50%
Fee structure:
Fee-based
Minimum account sizes:
$250,000 to $1 million
Investment management
Risk management
Portfolio management
Advisory services
Developing future-oriented investments
BlackRock supports its clients by understanding their objectives and utilizing its AI-infused, end-to-end risk management platform and customizable model portfolios to build resilient plans tailored to their goals.
The company employs active management strategies that utilize the best available analysis and historical insights to drive toward its targets.
Innovative, cutting-edge strategies and technology
Operates over 400 branches across 45 states, with more than 1,200 financial consultants available to assist clients.
It is focused on helping individuals achieve their financial goals with integrity and dedication.
Schwab Wealth Advisory
One of the largest companies for financial advisors in the US.
Assets under management:
$10.1 trillion
Fee:
0.80% and decrease at higher asset levels
Fee structure:
Fee-based
Minimum account sizes:
$500,000
Financial planning
Investment planning
Retirement planning
Tax planning
Estate planning
Risk management
Banking
Education and family
Schwab Wealth Advisory takes a personalized approach to wealth management, starting with your goals and incorporating key aspects of your financial life.
You will work with a dedicated financial advisor who is supported by a team of experienced professionals. Together, they develop and aim to deliver a comprehensive wealth management strategy tailored specifically to you.
A dedicated team of professionals led by a dedicated wealth advisor
The best financial advisor firms are those with plenty of experience, a diverse group of industry experts, and a wide range of financial services to offer clients.
Financial advisory firms offer advice, strategy, and guidance in the fields of investment, savings, financial management, and long-term wealth building.
Which is the best financial advisory firm for me?
The best financial advisor firm ultimately depends on what your needs are as a client.
Any of the above firms will likely meet your needs, but some will be more compatible with you than others. You can use the factors listed below to determine which you should choose.
Budget – Naturally, each firm has its own pricing systems to consider. The bigger your budget, the more services and expert guidance you can afford.
Communication style – People typically work with their chosen financial advisor over a number of years throughout all of life’s big events. Therefore, it’s key that you choose someone you get along with and with whom you can easily communicate.
Service requirement – Some firms specialize in certain services, so it's best to pick one with a high level of experience in your field of interest.
Advice delivery – Financial advisor firms have different communication and customer management styles. Pick one that delivers advice in a way you find comfortable and easy to understand.
Experience level – If you need high-level advice and input, you’ll want to opt for a firm with more experience in its field. Smaller, less seasoned companies can easily handle lower-stakes financial management like savings and retirement.
Get matched with a financial advisor
Looking through the best companies for financial advisors in the US is a great method for finding one that meets all your needs and expectations.
Not all financial advisors or firms are the same, and knowing what the different specialties are is important for your financial future and long-term security.
If you would like to learn more about financial management and get expert financial advice, let Unbiased match you with a financial advisor that suits your needs.
Frequently asked questions
A financial advisor is a person who offers professional, comprehensive advice and guidance on personal financial management.
Financial advisors can provide advice across an extremely broad spectrum of different finance-related situations.
However, some of the most common areas of expertise include long-term savings, investment strategies, retirement planning, financial recovery after a divorce or life-changing event, goal setting, estate management, taxes, and mutual fund trading.
There are many instances in which you need financial advisor services. It could be due to pursuing a particular financial goal or simply ensuring your future is financially secure.
Some situations where seeking a financial advisor’s advice is advisable include planning for retirement, starting or building your investment portfolio, estate planning, college planning, developing a tax strategy, managing your savings, going through a divorce, or if you want professional guidance when making a big financial decision.
There are plenty of things to consider when searching for a financial advisor.
Alongside factors like cost and how much capital you have to invest, it can be helpful to know what sort of service you’ll be seeking out.
You should also ensure your financial advisor serves as a fiduciary, meaning they are required by law to put their client's interests first.
There is no one-size-fits-all for financial advisor fees. Each financial advisor or advisory firm sets their own rates based on experience, resources, specialization, and skill level. The amount can also vary depending on if the advisor is independent or an employee of a financial advisory firm. The fee structure typically used includes hourly fees, commission, fixed fee, and percentage of assets.
When first speaking with your financial advisor, it’s crucial that you ask about their fee structure to ensure they’re the right fit for you.
Good financial advice should cost you less in the long term than no advice at all. By hiring an expert to handle and strategize your finances, you can make the most growth-oriented and productive financial decisions possible, leading to more sustainable wealth over time.
The main difference between a financial advisor and a financial planner is that the former may offer financial guidance on investments and financial matters and help with big financial decisions such as saving for retirement or buying a home. In contrast, a financial planner focuses on creating personalized financial plans for their clients.
When meeting your financial advisor for the first time, there are a number of key questions you should ask, including asking them about the services they offer, their fee structure, and their qualifications. For a more in-depth look at the different questions to ask your financial advisor, click here.
Although choice is no bad thing, the huge market for financial advice in the US can prove challenging when trying to find the right advisor for you.
With different types of advisors available, it’s essential you are clear about what you’re looking for and find an advisor who matches your criteria. For example, if you’re looking for a financial advisor to help with your retirement planning, you want an advisor with in-depth knowledge of the various retirement plans, investing and estate planning.
At Unbiased, we match you with a financial advisor perfectly suited to meet your needs. Answer a few simple questions here, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Whether or not you’d be better with a robo-advisor, online financial planning service, or an in-person financial advisor comes down to your own preferences and circumstances.
For instance, you could be better suited to a robo-advisor if you have limited investment experience and only require investment management or simply want to go down the low-cost route.
However, when it comes to complex investment decisions and financial planning, there’s a lot to be said for one-to-one human contact.
Face-to-face relationships, such as meeting with a financial advisor, build trust and understanding and can help advisors truly understand your needs. They take the time to understand your circumstances and work with you to create a plan to reach your financial goals.
For retirees, the focus is often on preserving wealth, generating income, and managing risk. Mercer, Edward Jones, and Charles Schwab stand out for retirees because they offer individualized retirement planning, estate planning, and tax-efficient strategies to ensure a secure financial future.
Our team of writers, who have decades of experience writing about personal finance, including investing and retirement, are here to help you find out what you must know about life’s biggest financial decisions.