Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in Richmond, Virginia
Finding a financial advisor near you who suits your needs isn’t easy. In tables and in reviews below, we lay out what you need to know about these firms in order to decide which one might be the right fit for you. As an alternative, SmartAsset’s financial advisor matching tool can connect you with financial advisors who serve 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 | Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory, LLC Find an Advisor | $6,977,336,124 | Varies based on account type |
| Minimum AssetsVaries based on account typeFinancial Services
|
2 | Wealthcare Capital Management, LLC Find an Advisor | $2,579,940,831 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
3 | Heritage Wealth Advisors, LLC Find an Advisor | $4,001,734,968 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
4 | Godsey & Gibb Wealth Management Find an Advisor | $1,253,775,111 | $500,000 |
| Minimum Assets$500,000Financial Services
|
5 | Salomon and Ludwin Find an Advisor | $1,709,639,369 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
6 | Kanawha Capital Management, LLC Find an Advisor | $1,431,796,275 | $500,000 |
| Minimum Assets$500,000Financial Services
|
7 | Agili, P.C. Find an Advisor | $1,096,208,221 | $1,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$1,000,000Financial Services
|
8 | Verus Financial Partners Find an Advisor | $920,759,221 | $1 million |
| Minimum Assets$1 millionFinancial Services
|
9 | SBK Financial, Inc. Find an Advisor | $1,134,816,590 | $1,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$1,000,000Financial Services
|
10 | Heartwood Wealth Advisors, LLC Find an Advisor | $1,125,175,360 | $1,000,000 |
| Minimum Assets$1,000,000Financial Services
|
What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in Richmond, 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:
- AUMFirms with more total assets under management are ranked higher.
- Individual Client CountFirms who serve more individual clients (as opposed to institutional clients) are ranked higher.
- Clients Per AdvisorFirms with a lower ratio of clients per financial advisor are ranked higher.
- Age of FirmFirms that have been in business longer are ranked higher.
All information is obtained through public records and is updated annually after the firms’ form ADV filing. 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. SmartAsset is not a client of the aforementioned firms, and did not receive compensation for including any of the firms on the aforementioned list.
Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory
Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory is a fee-only firm that works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, insurance companies and corporations.
As a fee-only firm, advisors may not earn commissions from the sale of financial products, which could become a potential conflict of interest. Their earnings come directly from client fees. There is no set account minimum at the firm.
Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory Background
Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory was founded and went into business in 2003. It became an SEC-registered investment advisor in 2005. The firm is wholly owned by Cary Street Partners Financial, LLC. This firm was formerly known as Luxon Financial, LLC. The firm has a very large team of advisors on staff, many of whom are financially certified.
Cary Street provides a range of financial advisory services to clients. These include investment portfolio management, financial planning services and even a wrap fee program.
Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory Investment Strategy
Cary Street tailors its investment strategies to the needs of its clients. Advisors learn about the financial situation and investment objectives of clients in order to effectively allocate their assets and manage risk. Advisors may use a wide range of different investments and investment products to populate client portfolios and drive growth.
Cary Street has a number of different pre-set strategies, ranging from conservative growth to long-term growth. Generally, account managers do extensive research and perform fundamental analysis.
Wealthcare Capital Management
Wealthcare Capital Management is a fee-only firm that serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charities and corporations.
Advisors at the firm hold multiple certifications. These include:
- Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®)
- certified public accountant (CPA)
- certified public accountant/personal financial specialist (CPA/PFS)
- chartered financial analyst (CFA)
As a fee-only firm, advisors get paid directly from client services and do not take commissions. The firm is fiduciary and is legally obligated to act in the best interests of clients.
Wealthcare Capital Management does not impose an account minimum.
Wealthcare Capital Management Background
Wealthcare Capital Management has been in business since 2001. It is not run independently, as parent company Financeware Holdings LLC wholly owns it. In fact, Wealthcare used to share the Financeware name, until it was split off into its own entity.
Because this firm has working relationships with typical clients, businesses and other groups, as well as outside investment advisors, its service offerings vary wildly. But perhaps its most commonly utilized service is GDX360®, which is as customizable a financial service as you’ll come across. This program can be optimized for just about any goal or tier of the client, giving Wealthcare ample flexibility.
Wealthcare Capital Management Investment Strategy
Although risk tolerance is the main driver of many financial advisor firms, Wealthcare particularly takes pride in finding exactly how much risk should be present without your portfolio’s construction. However, the firm is a massive believer in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), especially those that include equity and securities and government treasury securities.
If your unique situation calls for it, your advisor may also recommend investing in mutual funds, corporate debt securities, variable annuities and other similar vehicles. In general, though, you can count on Wealthcare to take a long-term approach to handling your money, as market-timing and stock-picking are not strategies it employs.
Heritage Wealth Advisors
Heritage Wealth Advisors is a fee-only firm with several financial advisors on staff. Its team holds multiple certifications:
- Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®)
- Chartered financial analyst (CFA)
- Certified public accountant (CPA)
- Personal financial specialist (PFS)
The firm does not have a set account minimum and works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as charities and corporations.
Clients engaging in investment management services are charged a percentage of assets under management that ranges from 0.50% to 1%.
Heritage Wealth Advisors Background
Heritage Wealth Advisors has been in business since 2005 and was founded by Dee Ann Remo, the CEO and managing director. Remo, who previously worked as a tax and wealth management partner at KPMG, envisioned creating a firm that offered comprehensive solutions "creatively and collaboratively," according to the firm’s website. Remo, Jay Jordan, chief investment officer and chief compliance officer, Chase Hill, director of client services and Marshall Chambers, lead advisor and Caroline Elizabeth Baronian are the firm's principal owners.
Heritage Wealth Advisors says its services are designed to meet clients' unique needs. The firm's comprehensive services include investment management, financial planning, tax planning and preparation and charitable giving.
Heritage Wealth Advisors Investment Strategy
Heritage Wealth Advisors considers a client's time horizon, risk tolerance, cash flow needs and personal preferences, including restrictions on investing in certain securities, when it designs a personalized asset allocation for a client’s portfolio. The firm also pays particular attention to the assets held in each account, to ensure tax efficiencies are maximized and costs are minimized.
Heritage Wealth Advisors diversify through multiple asset classes. Client's objectives drive investment decisions. The firm primarily uses mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), separately managed accounts, individual equities and private investments.
Before selecting a mutual fund or separately managed account, Heritage Wealth Advisor will assess funds using risk and return parameters, and it will also look at an investment company's track record and investment style. Heritage Wealth Advisor’s research partners include BCA, Empirical and Morningstar.
Godsey & Gibb Wealth Management
Godsey & Gibb Wealth Management is a fee-only firm that serves non-high-worth individuals and high-net-worth-individuals, as well as banking or thrift institutions, pensions and profit-sharing plans, charities and corporations.
Advisors at the firm hold multiple certifications including:
- Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®)
- Certified public accountant/personal financial specialist (CPA/PFS)
- Chartered financial analyst (CFA)
Godsey & Gibb requires a $500,000 account minimum for its investment services. Clients engaging in investment services are charged a percentage of assets under management that ranges from 0.50% to 1%.
Godsey & Gibb Wealth Management Background
Godsey & Gibb Wealth Management was founded in 1985 by Frank Gibb III and Joseph Godsey, Jr. Gibb, now a chairman emeritus and consultant, and Godsey wanted to make a firm that offered investment advice tailored to clients' individual needs. Currently, the firm is owned by The Gibb Family Stock Trust and Michael Riley Gibb.
Godsey & Gibb offers individual portfolio management, and financial planning, including retirement and educational expense planning, accounting services and educational seminars. The firm's accounting services are a unique selling point, as many firms do not offer tax services.
Godsey & Gibb Wealth Management Investment Strategy
Godsey & Gibb Wealth Management's portfolio management process is centered on its clients' unique objectives, as well as an understanding of their risk tolerance, income needs and capital growth expectations. The firm describes itself as "moderately conservative," and it prioritizes the preservation of capital above all else. As part of its "risk-averse philosophy," the firm explains that it gradually invests in its clients' portfolios after it assumes active management of investments.
Godsey & Gibb claims that it strives to ensure its clients understand exactly why it makes the investment decisions it makes. As a client's goals and needs may evolve, the firm will amend his or her investment objectives and restructure the client’s portfolio as necessary.
Salomon and Ludwin
Salomon and Ludwin is a fee-based firm providing a range of advisory services to non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans.
The advisor team holds multiple certifications, including:
- Chartered financial analyst (CFA)
- Chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC)
- Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®)
- Certified private wealth advisor (CPWA)
- Retirement income certified professional (RICP)
Salomon charges asset-based fees and hourly fees for its services. There is no set account minimum.
As a fee-based firm, advisors may receive commissions. However, the firm is a fiduciary, so any conflict of interest is mitigated by the fact that the firm is legally required to act in the best interests of clients.
Salomon and Ludwin Background
Founded in 2009 by Dalal Salomon and Daniel Ludwin, Saloman offers portfolio management, financial planning, selection of other advisors and educational seminars.
When it comes to investment advisory services, the firm says in its brochure that it mainly focuses on the selection and monitoring of specific non-proprietary investments.
Salomon and Ludwin Investment Strategy
Salomon says it prefers to use low-cost, tax-efficient investments to implement its strategies. The firm aims to combine fundamental analysis and technical analysis to generate profit from companies and securities.
Salomon mainly invests in mutual funds, equities, bonds, fixed-income, debt securities, ETFs, real estate, REITs, insurance products including annuities and government securities.
Kanawha Capital Management
To be a client of Kanawha Capital Management, you'll need at least $500,000. The fee-only firm serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charities and corporations.
Kanawha's staff includes both Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and chartered financial analysts (CFAs). Clients engaging in investment services will have to pay a percentage of assets under management that ranges from 0.50% to 1%.
Kanawha Capital Management Background
Founded in 1985, Kanawha Capital Management is one of the oldest firms on this list. In fact, the firm’s roots date back even further. The firm’s founders initially founded an investment advisory subsidiary for a brokerage firm in 1982, before formally founding Kanawha.
The firm offers investment management and financial planning, which encompasses retirement planning, estate planning, tax planning and coordination, family wealth issues, unexpected lifestyle changes, charitable giving strategies, insurance analysis and closely held business issues. The firm's financial planning services are centered on assessing clients’ abilities to meet their goals, with a probabilistic approach used to determine clients’ odds of meeting their defined spending objectives and stress testing used to determine how the plan will withstand unfavorable circumstances.
Kanawha Capital Management Investment Strategy
Kanawha Capital Management says that its investment process is tailored to its clients and their objectives, risk tolerance, time horizon and tax considerations. The firm focuses on broad diversification and offers three approaches: equity, fixed income and balanced.
The equity approach uses individual stocks of large-cap, established companies that have both growth and value characteristics, as well as exchange-traded funds. This approach is focused on cash flow. The fixed-income approach, on the other hand, uses high-quality taxable and tax-free debt securities, which are selected based on a client's time horizon and the firm's market outlook. The balanced approach includes both equity securities and fixed-income securities.
Agili
Agili requires its clients to have at least $1 million of investable assets. The majority of the firm's clients are high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, though it also serves pooled investment vehicles, pension and profit-sharing plans and charities.
Advisors at the firm hold multiple certifications, including:
- CCertified Financial Planner™ (CFP®)
- Certified public accountants (CPAs)
- Chartered financial analysts (CFAs)
- Financial paraplanner qualified professionals (FPQPs)
Agili also charges performance-based fees. This could incentivize advisors to take more risks in order to improve portfolio performance. However, the firm is a fee-only firm and is bound by fiduciary duty.
Agili Background
Agili has been in business since 1993. Its principal shareholder is Michael Joyce, the firm’s founder. Joyce, who is currently the firm’s president, has been named several times by Barron's as one of the nation's top 100 financial advisors, and he's also been named a top financial advisor for doctors and dentists.
Agili says that its ultimate mission is to provide "innovative" financial management solutions that are tailored to clients' unique needs. Its clients are notably diverse: the firm says that it serves business executives, mid-career corporate managers, entrepreneurs, heirs, investment managers, medical and university professionals, financially independent retirees and large families with shared assets.
The firm offers tailored investment management and financial planning, which includes cash flow planning, debt management, retirement planning, estate planning, insurance needs analysis, tax planning and college funding planning. In addition, Agili provides trust services, family office services, institutional retirement plans, concierge services and non-traditional investments.
Agili Investment Strategy
Agili's primary investment strategy is strategic asset allocation. However, the firm further refines its investment strategies for each portfolio based on a client's objectives, income needs, time horizon, constraints and tax situation. The firm strives to maximize returns within these guidelines and to preserve capital in all market conditions.
Agili's portfolios are globally diversified. It invests its clients' assets in traditional asset classes like stocks, bonds and cash, as well as in non-traditional investments like real estate, private equity, commodities and venture capital. The firm notes that it offers "normally hard-to-access, non-traditional funds," which is one of the ways Agili says it thinks outside of the box when it comes to investing.
Verus Financial Partners
Verus Financial Partners is a fee-only firm that serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals.
Advisors hold multiple certifications, including:
- Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®)
- certified public accountants (CPAs)
- accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs)
- personal financial specialists (PFS)
- enrolled agents (EAs)
To be a client of this fee-only firm, you'll need at least $1 million.
Verus Financial Partners Background
Verus Financial Partners was founded in 1992 as Kuehl Shepherd Kozlowski & Associates, Inc. In 2012, the firm changed its name to Verus Financial Partners. The firm is principally owned by David A. Kozlowski, Julie A. Waitman, Edward L. Hoppe, III and William J. Lagos, Jr.
The lynchpin of Verus Financial Partners' services is financial planning. Personalized financial plans drive the firm's diversified investment strategy and its tax advisory services. The firm strives to incorporate tax implications into its overall financial approach. Notably, it says its primary advisors are also CPAs or EAs who have an in-depth understanding of the tax code.
Verus Financial Partners Investment Strategy
At Verus Financial Partners, portfolios are built for the long term and backed by a financial plan. Based on your financial plan, Verus Financial Partners will determine a risk level that's appropriate for your goals and objectives.
Verus Financial Partners emphasizes a low-cost approach to investing. It primarily invests its clients in various mutual funds and exchange-traded funds to strategically diversify asset allocation.
The firm will monitor and periodically rebalance your portfolio to ensure your target asset allocation is maintained. Rebalancing is done with an awareness of tax implications.
SBK Financial
SBK Financial requires a $1 million account minimum. The fee-only firm serves both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals.
Clients engaging in investment management services are charged a percentage of assets under management that ranges from 0.25% to 1%.
Advisors at SBK Financial have worked at Ernst & Young and other leading accounting firms. The firm considers strategic tax planning one of its core offerings and offers tax preparation under a separate agreement with its certified public accountants (CPA) on staff. In addition to the CPAs on its team, SBK also has certified financial planners (CFPs).
SBK Financial Background
SBK Financial was founded in 2005. The firm is principally owned by J. Kevin King, founder and president, and Andrea Broughton, founder, vice president and managing partner.
The firm's core services are financial planning, investment management and tax strategies, all of which SBK Financial incorporates into its integrated approach to wealth management. The firm has three core beliefs that inform its wealth management approach: you need to have a financial plan in hand before you make investment decisions; your portfolio recommendations should be based on your goals; and potential future tax implications should inform your current financial course.
SBK Financial Investment Strategy
SBK Financial's first step in the investing process is a meeting, in which it determines a client's goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. All of these factors shape a client's investment plan and diversified asset allocation across numerous complementary asset classes. SBK Financial says that it generally recommends equities, mutual funds, ETFs, municipal bonds and, on occasion, private investment funds.
SBK Financial says that it understands that investors can get caught up emotionally in market volatility, so it helps its clients to maintain a disciplined investing approach that focuses on maximizing after-tax returns. The firm strives to minimize portfolio turnover and trading costs, and these concerns influence the firm's decisions to periodically rebalance portfolios.
Heartwood Wealth Advisors
Heartwood Wealth Advisors is a fee-based firm that offers a comprehensive suite of services tailored to meet the financial needs of individuals, families, and estates. These services include financial planning for individuals, financial planning for families, financial planning for estates, portfolio management and retirement plan consulting. While the firm recommends a minimum of $2,000,000 in manageable assets to facilitate effective diversification and minimize investment-related conflicts, this is not a strict requirement.
As a fee-only firm, there is a potential conflict of interest as the firm or its advisors could earn a commission on the sale of certain securities. However, the firm is bound by a fiduciary duty to put the needs of each client first.
Heartwood Wealth Advisors Background
Heartwood Wealth Advisors was founded in 2013. Today, the firm manages more than $1.1 billion in assets under management (AUM) across its seven (7) advisors. The firm's advisors have earned certifications such as the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), Certified Management Investment Analyst (CIMA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Heartwood Wealth Advisors Investment Strategy
The firm employs a comprehensive investment strategy that includes asset allocation, diversification, rebalancing, and international diversification to manage client portfolios effectively. The firm creates investment approaches that are based on a variety of client-specific factors such as their current financial situation, investment goals, time horizon, desired rate of return, age, tolerance for portfolio volatility, unique objectives, circumstances, and personal preferences. This personalized approach ensures that each portfolio is aligned with the individual's financial outlook and life stage.