Key takeaways:
- CAPTRUST alternatives are usually full-service, advisor-led wealth management firms rather than standalone robo-advisors.
- Fisher Investments, Edelman Financial Engines, Creative Planning, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, and Focus Partners Wealth all provide investment management and financial advisory services that can be compared to those of CAPTRUST financial advisors.
- The main differences are fees, account minimums, planning depth, advisor access, investment style, and whether the firm is more investment-led or planning-led.
Who is CAPTRUST?
CAPTRUST Financial Advisors is an independent registered investment adviser headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. As of June 2024, it exceeded $1 trillion in total client assets and has grown into a national firm serving clients in all 50 states.
CAPTRUST serves a wide range of clients, including private investors, retirement plan sponsors, and organizations.
As a CAPTRUST wealth client, you may receive investment advisory services, wealth planning, tax planning, charitable planning, estate planning coordination, family office support, bill pay, bookkeeping, and custom portfolio management.
CAPTRUST’s wrap-fee maximum rates are up to 2.25%, 1.75%, and 1.25% by tier.
CAPTRUST focuses on comprehensive wealth planning and investment advice, combining portfolio management with financial planning and family office support.
If you’re considering CAPTRUST financial advisors, it’s best to assess your financial goals, planning needs, account size, and preferred level of advisor support.
Let's take a deeper look at just five of its competitors:
Firm | Founded | Headquarters | Assets under management |
|---|---|---|---|
Fisher Investments | 1979 | Plano, Texas | $386.7 billion |
Edelman Financial Engines | 1986 | Santa Clara, California | $326 billion |
Creative Planning | 1983 | Overland Park, Kansas | Approximately $700 billion |
Wealth Enhancement | 1997 | Plymouth, Minnesota | $122.1 billion |
Focus Partners Wealth | 2025 | St. Louis, Missouri | $95.9 billion |
CAPTRUST competitors and alternatives: Fees
Compare the fees and minimums between CAPTRUST and its alternatives.
Firm | Service model | Fees | Minimums |
|---|---|---|---|
CAPTRUST | Advisor-led wealth planning | Wrap programs: up to 2.25%, 1.75%, and 1.25% by tier | $50,000 |
Fisher Investments | Investment-management-led advisory | 1.00%–1.25% for equity/blended accounts | $1M |
Edelman Financial Engines | Planning + managed accounts | 0.50%–1.75% for Wealth Planning | Program-specific |
Creative Planning | Planning-led wealth management | Standard portfolio management schedule starts at 1.20% on the first $500K, then declines by tier | $200K |
Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services | Team-based wealth management | Fees shall not exceed 2% annually | $25K |
Focus Partners Wealth | Wealth advisory + family office | Up to 1.25% for investment management | $5K |
5 alternatives to CAPTRUST
We will now look at each of the five alternative firms in more detail.
1. Fisher Investments:
Fisher Investments is a large investment advisory firm founded in 1979. It serves institutional and private clients, including high-net-worth individuals, and provides investment management services across equity, fixed income, and blended accounts. It also offers retirement services and financial planning, such as tax management.
Fisher Investments clients receive discretionary portfolio management based on their financial goals, restrictions, and investment limitations.
Fisher competes with CAPTRUST as an advisor-led alternative, but its model appears more investment-management-led. It may be relevant for investors who want active portfolio management, market commentary, and a dedicated service team, rather than a broader planning-heavy wealth management relationship.
Fees and minimums：
Assets | Annual management fee |
|---|---|
First $1 million | 1.25% |
Next $4 million | 1.125% |
Amounts over $5 million | 1.00% |
Fisher typically targets clients with at least $1 million in investable assets but may accept smaller relationships at its discretion. Smaller accepted relationships are billed at 1.50% annually.
Pros：
- Clear portfolio management model
- Tax management included
- Straightforward standard fee schedule
Cons:
- Typically targets clients with at least $1 million in investable assets
- Smaller accepted accounts may pay more
- Discretionary model may not suit hands-on investors
Financial services：
- Discretionary investment management
- Portfolio construction
- Tax management for taxable portfolios
- A no-cost separate financial plan
Fisher’s investment approach:
It is more investment-management-led than planning-led. It uses qualitative and quantitative tools to analyze markets, sectors, and securities, and its private clients are generally invested in equity, fixed income, or blended accounts based on their individual goals, restrictions, and investment limitations.
2. Edelman Financial Engines
Edelman Financial Engines is a financial advisory firm; as of December 2025, it had 1.24 million clients.
As an Edelman Financial Engines client, you can receive personalized financial planning, retirement planning, investment management, insurance guidance, tax planning, and estate planning support. Its investment management service uses personalized portfolios and ongoing performance monitoring.
Edelman Financial Engines can be considered a CAPTRUST alternative because it combines financial planning, managed investment services, retirement planning, and workplace advice. Its service profile is more retirement- and workplace-advice-oriented.
Fees and minimums:
Assets | Edelman Financial Engines annual fee |
|---|---|
First $400,000 | 1.75% |
Next $350,000 | 1.25% |
Next $250,000 | 1.00% |
Next $2 million | 0.75% |
Next $7 million | 0.60% |
Next $15 million | 0.50% |
$25 million+ | Negotiable |
Edelman Financial Engines service | Minimum disclosed |
|---|---|
Wealth planning clients | No single fixed minimum disclosed |
Legacy EFS wrap fee household accounts | $5,000 |
Workplace IRA | $10,000 |
Personal Advisor | $225 quarterly |
Institutional clients | $500,000 |
Pros:
- Planning-led service and retirement-focused advice
- Hands-off portfolio implementation
- Detailed wrap fee schedule is publicly disclosed
Cons:
- The 1.75% starting fee tier is high for smaller managed balances
- Minimums vary by program
- Wrap fee does not cover every cost
Financial services:
- Advisor-led portfolio management using a model or customized portfolios
- Retirement planning and income support
- Tax planning guidance
- Estate planning guidance
- Advanced portfolio options for eligible clients
Investment strategy:
Edelman Financial Engines uses a proprietary investment methodology overseen by its investment committee. Its investment philosophy emphasizes diversified portfolios, a range of asset classes and market sectors, long-term investment strategies, strategic reallocation when conditions or client goals change, and periodic rebalancing to maintain allocation targets.
3. Creative Planning
Creative Planning is a registered investment adviser offering wealth management, financial planning, investment management, and family office services.
Creative Planning can be considered a CAPTRUST financial advisor alternative because it combines portfolio management and financial planning. Its wealth management and investing are financial-planning-led disciplines, with recommendations based on each client’s circumstances.
However, Creative Planning generally requires $200,000 in AUM for new clients. It may waive that minimum based on facts and circumstances. Clients with assets below $500,000 may be charged a minimum management fee, which will be communicated in the client agreement documents.
Fees and minimums:
Asset level | Annual advisory fee |
|---|---|
First $500,000 | 1.20% |
$500,001 to $2 million | 1.00% |
$2,000,001 to $5 million | 0.85% |
$5,000,001 to $10 million | 0.80% |
$10,000,001 to $25 million | 0.70% |
$25,000,001 to $50 million | 0.40% |
$50,000,001 to $100 million | 0.30% |
Over $100 million | 0.25% |
Pros:
- Simple, transparent fee structure
- Planning-led model
- Customization options
Cons:
- Fees rise with managed assets under the standard schedule
- The $200,000 entry barrier is inaccessible for small investors
- Complex planning cases can be expensive
Financial services:
- Investment management
- Tax planning
- Retirement planning
- Estate planning
- Insurance/risk management
- Real estate planning
- Business owner services
- International wealth consulting
Investment strategy:
Creative Planning’s investment strategy is financial-planning-led and based on each client’s circumstances. The firm generally supports long-term goals with low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold investing, while short-term needs are handled with a focus on reducing risk and volatility. It also offers fundamental stock strategies, direct indexing, individual bond strategies, tax optimization, tax-loss harvesting, values-based personalization, and private market investments for eligible clients.
4. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services
Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC (WEAS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wealth Enhancement Group, LLC, and it has operated as an investment adviser since December 21, 2001.
It is an advisor-led wealth management service built around a team-based model, the Roundtable, a group of specialists and advisors that can contribute across financial planning, retirement income planning, tax strategies, investment management, estate planning, and insurance.
It emphasizes integrated planning and personalized asset management. When reviewing Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services as a CAPTRUST alternative, it’s worthwhile to focus on how its team structure, program fees, specialist support, and account requirements compare with their own advisory needs.
Fees and minimums:
Fee type | Key amounts |
|---|---|
Advisory fee | Negotiable, generally not more than 2% of assets under |
Sample AUM schedule | 1.50% (≤$999,999);1.25% ($1M–$2M);1.00% (>$2M) |
Retirement plan consulting | Hourly up to $600/hour |
Financial planning services | Fees up to $25,000 |
Ongoing financial consultation services | Up to $600/hour; $250–$50,000 flat |
Pros:
- Financial planning can cover retirement, tax, estate, and insurance issues
- Tax efficiency is presented as part of ongoing portfolio refinement
- Plan-led investing with active monitoring
Cons:
- Fees may be high for smaller portfolios
- Minimums can be high for certain SMA managers
- Pricing may vary by service type and program structure
Financial services:
- Investments management
- Tax planning
- Asset allocation
- Risk management and insurance
- Retirement income planning
- Estate planning
Investment strategy:
The service’s portfolio approach is guided by four stated principles - effective diversification, active management, cost efficiency, and tax efficiency - used to shape how portfolios are built and managed over time.
5. Focus Partners Wealth
Focus Partners Wealth is a registered investment adviser offering wealth advisory services to individuals, families, retirement plans, institutions, and businesses.
As a Focus Partners Wealth client, you may receive investment management based on long-term, tax-sensitive, and fee-sensitive planning. The firm states it seeks to understand each client’s goals, objectives, time horizon, risk tolerance, and tax position, then develops an investment plan.
Focus Partners Wealth can be considered a CAPTRUST financial advisor alternative because it offers a wealth advisory model that covers investment management, family office services, tax-related services, business management, and financial counseling. Its service profile is more complex than a portfolio-management-only advisory relationship, so readers should review the scope of services, fee arrangements, and whether separate service costs apply.
Fees and minimums:
Focus Partners Wealth’s investment management fees are based on a percentage of assets under management, typically up to 1.25%. Fees are negotiable and vary by client, service scope, assets managed, and other factors.
Planning and advisory services:
Service category | How fees are charged | Key pricing information |
|---|---|---|
Financial counseling & consulting | Fixed fee/hourly/asset-based | Fixed annual fee (billed quarterly), hourly billing, or 0.10%–0.25% per year |
Family office services | Fixed annual fee or hourly | $95–$275 per hour |
Practice integrated wealth management | Fixed monthly fee (prepaid) | $150–$825 |
Family budget services | Fixed monthly fee | $3,000–$6,000 per month |
Business solutions services | Fixed project fee | $5,000–$50,000 |
Business management services | Hourly | $80–$375 per hour |
Minimums by service type:
Service type | Minimum account size or fee requirement |
|---|---|
Investment management services | minimum annual advisory fee of $5,000 |
Institutional consulting services | Minimum relationship size of $25 million, with a minimum annual advisory fee of $62,500. |
Institutional OCIO services | Minimum relationship size of $50 million |
Pros:
- Comprehensive wealth-planning scope that covers common needs
- Broad toolkit for portfolio construction
- Specialized planning support for specific life situations and communities
Cons:
- Fee arrangements are negotiable and may be complex
- Total costs may be layered beyond the advisory fee
- The service range may be more than some investors need
Financial services:
- Retirement planning
- Tax planning
- Estate planning
- Cash flow planning
- Philanthropic planning
- Education planning (including college planning)
- Risk management
- Divorce financial planning
Investment strategy:
Focus Partners Wealth uses a mix of approaches and vehicles, including equity and fixed-income strategies, mutual funds and ETFs, alternative investments, and sub-advised solutions managed by third-party specialists, all incorporated into the overall portfolio. Clients may place reasonable restrictions on discretionary accounts, allowing portfolios to reflect specific preferences or constraints without shifting to a self-directed model.
Which is the best financial advisory firm for me?
Choosing among CAPTRUST financial advisor alternatives is less about finding one firm that is universally “best” and more about matching the advisory model to your financial situation, service needs, and preferred client experience.
The five firms reviewed above all provide advisor-led financial services, but they differ in how they structure advice, manage investments, price their services, and support clients over time.
Before comparing firms, investors should first clarify what they need from a financial advisor.
Cost structure: Compare how each firm charges for advice. Some use AUM-based fees, some use wrap fees, and others may add fixed, hourly, planning, or family office fees. A lower headline fee may not always mean lower total cost if separate service fees or fund expenses apply.
Account size: Minimums and practical entry points vary. Fisher generally targets clients with at least $1 million in investable assets, while Creative Planning discloses a general $200,000 AUM minimum and includes comprehensive planning from $500,000. Other firms may use minimum annual fees or program-specific requirements.
Planning needs: Investors with straightforward portfolio management needs may evaluate firms differently from those needing retirement income planning, tax-aware planning, estate coordination, business-owner planning, family office support, or multi-generational wealth services.
Service clarity: Investors should check what is included in the advisory fee and what may incur an extra charge. This is especially important for tax services, estate planning coordination, family office services, separately managed accounts, third-party managers, and private or alternative investments.
Disclosure review: Before deciding, investors should review each firm’s Form ADV, wrap fee brochure where applicable, Form CRS, official website, fee schedule, and client agreement.
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