The Top Financial Advisors in South Carolina

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Apollon Wealth Management is the top-rated financial advisory firm in South Carolina. This fee-based practice has a large team of advisors managing the accounts of nearly 5,000 clients. As for the firm’s client types, it primarily serves individuals, high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, estates, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations and retirement plans.

Apollon’s compensation arrangements include asset-based fees, hourly fees, fixed fees and commissions. Conflicts of interest can arise when advisors sell investment products and/or insurance for commissions, but Apollon says it abides by a fiduciary obligation to work in each client’s best interests.  

All prospective clients must meet a $250,000 minimum account size requirement. As for the advisory staff’s qualifications, its team features the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered financial consultant (ChFC), chartered life underwriter (CLU), retirement income certified professional (RICP), accredited estate planner (AEP) and chartered advisor for senior living (CASL) designations. 

Apollon Wealth Management Background

Established in 2018, Apollon provides portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting and advisor selection advisory services through a network of investment advisor representatives (IARs). These advisors may work under their own trade names, instead of the Apollon Wealth Management brand. 

The firm is wholly owned by Apollon Wealth Holdings, LLC.

Apollon Wealth Management Investment Strategy 

Apollon Wealth Management begins its investment process by thoroughly understanding each client’s financial situation, goals and risk tolerance, often through customized financial planning. The firm primarily employs fundamental analysis, supplemented with tactical strategies that can involve market-timing. While hypothetical back-testing informs model development, Apollon Wealth actively monitors and adjusts portfolios in real time. The firm may draw upon third-party model allocations but retain discretion over final implementation.

Overall, Apollon Wealth emphasizes a long-term, diversified approach, with flexibility to adopt shorter-term positions as needed, tailoring recommendations to each client’s unique objectives and constraints.

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South State Advisory is a large fee-only firm that works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, banking or thrift institutions, pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, local governments, insurance companies and corporations.

As a fee-only firm, it does not receive commissions that could present a conflict of interest. It also does not require a minimum account balance for advisory services. Members of the firm's advisory team hold a variety of professional certifications including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), accredited estate planner (AEP), certified trust and financial advisor (CTFA), chartered financial consultant (ChFC) designations, among others. 

South State Advisory Background

South State Advisory is a wholly-owned subsidiary of South State Bank, which is a national bank that provides other banking services to clients. Originally founded and registered with the SEC in 2010 as First Southeast 401k Fiduciaries, Inc., South State Advisory is the financial advisory arm of South State Bank. The firm has a board of directors that helps to oversee the corporate governance of the firm.

South State Advisory, on its own, provides clients with financial advisory services such as investment advisory and financial planning. It also provides retirement plan consulting services to institutional clients.

South State Advisory Investment Strategy

Given its status as a subsidiary of a large, national bank, South State Advisory has a number of resources at its disposal to help provide clients with financial advisory services. The firm may utilize proprietary investment strategies and allocation approaches as well as sub-managers, but it still aims to provide tailored solutions to clients based on their individual investment goals and financial situations.

The firm and its advisors use a variety of different investments in client portfolios, such as mutual funds, alternative investments, options, warrants, real estate investment trusts (REITs), exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other securities.

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Foster Victor Wealth Advisors is a fee-based practice located in Greenville. It works with high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, insurance companies and corporations. 

The minimum account size requirement at the firm varies based on the type of account you open.

Because certain advisors at Foster Victor are licensed insurance agents who can earn commissions from selling insurance products to clients, the firm is considered fee-based. This dynamic is certainly a potential conflict of interest. However, the firm is still a fiduciary, meaning that it's legally obligated to act in the best interests of clients at all times.

Foster Victor Wealth Advisors Background

Foster Victor Wealth Advisors was both founded and registered with the SEC as an investment advisor in 2016. Paul W. Foster and Robert T. Victor and Kylie K. Felker own the firm. Both Foster and Victor hold the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) credential, while Felker is a chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC). Additionally, Foster is a certified private wealth advisor (CPWA) and certified trust and financial advisor (CTFA), while Victor also holds the certified exit planning advisor (CEPA) designation. 

The firm provides its clients with financial planning services, consulting services and investment management services. Assets are mostly managed on a discretionary basis, though some assets are managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Foster Victor Wealth Advisors Investment Strategy

Foster Victor Wealth Advisors tailors its advisory services, including its investment strategies and philosophies, to the individual needs of its clients. It may use model portfolios and third-party advisors to do so. Advisors at the firm typically use a mix of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), debt securities, and individual equities when constructing client portfolios. Portfolios are ultimately managed in a way that reflects the investment objectives and financial situation of each client.

Advisors at Foster Victor use fundamental analysis to evaluate potential investments, focusing on the financial condition and competitive position of a fund or company. They also look to properly diversify client portfolios as a way of increasing returns while hedging against risk.

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Abacus Planning Group, located in Columbia, provides financial advisory services to institutional and individual clients. The vast majority of the firm's clients are individuals that have a high net worth. The firm also works with non-high-net-worth clients, pensions, profit-sharing plans and charities.

Abacus is a fee-only firm, so its advisors do not receive commissions from third parties for selling financial products. It also does not impose a minimum account size requirement for new or existing clients. However, the firm does charge a minimum annual fee of $18,000 for investment management and financial planning. 

Abacus Planning Group Background

Abacus Planning Group was founded in 1998 and registered with the SEC in the same year, making it one of the oldest firms on our South Carolina list. The firm is independently owned and operated and employs a number of financially certified advisors. Certifications include the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), financial paraplanner qualified professional (FPQP) and other designations. 

Abacus Planning Group manages client assets and provides investment management services on a discretionary basis. It also provides in depth financial planning services to many of its clients. In addition to its office in Columbia, the firm also has a location in Greenville.

Abacus Planning Group Investment Strategy

Abacus Planning Group tailors its investment strategies to the financial needs and investment objectives of its clients. It meets with clients, both current and potential, to make sure advisors are properly aligned with their client's desired investment and financial outcomes. Portfolios are rebalanced on an ongoing basis. Advisors may use a wide range of investments, such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs), corporate debt, hedge funds, bonds, mutual funds and more.

When thinking about individualized investment strategies, Abacus assigns significant weight to proper asset allocation as well as manager selection. It uses a wide variety of macroeconomic data to inform investment decisions.

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Greenwood Capital Associates in Greenwood works with high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as pensions and profit-sharing plans, charities, state governments and businesses.

Greenwood is a fee-only firm, so you won't have to worry about a conflict of interest stemming from the sale of securities or other financial products, as the firm has no such arrangements. The minimum asset requirement at Greenwood is $250,000, so keep that in mind if you're looking into opening an account.

Greenwood Capital Associates Background

Greenwood Capital Associates was founded in 2001 and registered with the SEC as an investment advisor in the same year. TCB Corporation acquired an ownership interest in Greenwood in 2008 and has been the principal owner of the firm ever since. However, TCB is not an operator of the firm, and Greenwood is committed to retaining its operational independence. The firm has six employee-owners and employs several credentialed professionals, including multiple Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®).

Greenwood provides investment advice and investment management to its clients, along with financial and retirement planning services. The firm manages assets on a discretionary basis. In addition to the office in Greenwood, the firm has an office in Greenville. 

Greenwood Capital Associates Investment Strategy

When it comes to investment strategies, Greenwood Capital Associates looks to tailor its approach to the needs of each client. This involves getting to know each client on an individual level and meeting to discuss such factors as a client's time horizon, liquidity needs and general investment objectives.

Greenwood Capital combines fundamental, technical, cyclical, and active risk analyses to guide asset allocation and security selection. The firm's investment committee meets weekly to evaluate economic indicators, interest rates, corporate earnings, as well as monetary and fiscal policies, adjusting sector and company weightings accordingly.

For fixed income portfolios, the firm uses a top-down approach emphasizing duration, credit quality and industry exposure. Advisors aim to preserve capital and maximize returns through investment-grade corporate bonds, government and agency bonds, and municipal bonds. Greenwood Capital may also use long-term trading, short-term trading, and options writing to implement their strategies.

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Colonial Trust Advisors, located in Spartanburg, is a fee-based practice that works primarily with high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals. The firm also serves pension and profit-sharing plans, charities and corporations. 

Colonial is part of a trust company, and so advisors can offer certain financial products and services to clients for which they can receive commissions. This makes the firm fee-based and is a potential conflict of interest, mitigated only by the fact that the firm is a registered fiduciary and is legally obligated to act in the best interests of clients at all times. The firm does not have a set account minimum. 

The team at Colonial Trust Advisors features advisors who hold the chartered financial analyst (CFA), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered retirement plans specialist (CRPS) credentials, among others. 

Colonial Trust Advisors Background

Colonial Trust Advisors was founded in 1996, registering with the SEC as an investment advisor just a year later. It is the oldest firm on our South Carolina list. The firm's only principal owner is the financial services company Colonial Group, Inc. However, this entity is owned by Bert D. Barre and Camp Rooker Wynn – who run the advisory firm together. 

Colonial Trust Advisors provides its clients with investment portfolio management services as well as financial planning and educational services. Assets are mainly managed on a discretionary basis.

Colonial Trust Advisors Investment Strategy

Like many financial advisory firms, Colonial Trust Advisors works with clients to develop tailored investment strategies that work for their own financial situations. This process involves meeting with clients to determine such information as a client's tolerance for risk or their liquidity needs. Upon gathering the necessary information, advisors can begin to manage the client's money an in individualized manner.

Advisors may use a wide range of securities to include in client portfolios. Such investments may include corporate debt, mutual funds, certificates of deposit (CDs), government bonds, stocks and more. The firm and its advisors primarily use fundamental analysis, qualitative analysis and asset allocation techniques to inform investment decisions.

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Anchor Investment Management is a fee-based firm headquartered in Columbia. It works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charities and corporations. 

As a fee-based firm, some advisors on staff receive third-party sales commissions for selling insurance and other products. While this is a conflict of interest, Anchor Investment Management has a fiduciary duty to always act in client's best interests. Advisory clients pay an asset-based fee for portfolio management and a set fee for standalone financial planning that can range from $1,500 to $8,000. 

The firm does have a steep minimum account balance requirement of $500,000. The Anchor Investment Management team members hold several types of professional credientials, including the chartered financial analyst (CFA), Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and certified investment management specialist (CIMA) designations. 

Anchor Investment Management Background

Anchor Investment Management has been in business as a financial advisory firm since 2000, though it only officially registered with the SEC as an investment advisor in 2005. The firm is principally owned by W. Patrick Dorn Jr., chartered financial analyst (CFA). John Moorman, Margaret Ellen Pender and Joy Watkins all own smaller stakes in the business. 

Anchor provides both investment management and financial planning services to its clients. It also provides individual retirement advice and consulting services for retirement plan fiduciaries. 

Anchor Investment Management Investment Strategy

All investment decisions are guided by the client’s investment policy statement — a document that oulines the client's investment objectives and guidelines. Anchor Investment Management primarily allocates assets to both value and growth equity securities, with an emphasis on large-cap companies and selective use of small- and mid-cap stocks, mutual funds and ETFs for diversification. The firm's fundamental analysis includes factors like financial strength ratios, price-to-earnings ratios, dividend yields and growth rates. Anchor may overweight sectors deemed to have above-average earnings potential.

Fixed income securities — generally investment-grade bonds, including corporate, municipal and government debt — are used for income, capital preservation  and liquidity. For short-term needs, they utilize money market funds. 

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Verity Investment Partners in Beaufort is a fee-only advisory firm with a significant minimum account size requirement: $1 million. The majority of the firms clients are high-net-worth individuals, but it does serve non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as pensions and profit-sharing plans and charities.

As a fee-only firm, advisors don't receive commissions from selling insurance, securities or other financial products. As a result, there is no potential conflict of interest from such an arrangement. Instead, their compensation comes strictly from client-paid fees. A client's' fees are based on a percentage of their assets under mangement (AUM). The firm offers financial planning services, as well, but does not charge separately for them. 

Advisor certifications at the firm include chartered financial analyst (CFA), Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified investment management analyst (CIMA) and more.

Verity Investment Partners Background

Verity Investment Partners was founded in 2002. It was registered with the SEC as an investment advisor three years later and has been in business in South Carolina ever since. The firm is principally owned by namesake William W. Verity. Verity also serves as the firm's chairman and CEO. 

In addition to its headquarters in Beaufort, the firm has offices in Bluffton, South Carolina; Edwards, Colorado; and San Antonio, Texas.

Services offered by Verity Investment Partners include both financial planning and investment management. Specific arrangements may vary between clients. 

Verity Investment Partners Investment Strategy

Verity Investment Partners uses both fundamental and technical analysis — examining financial statements, industry trends, historical price patterns and market movements — to identify investment opportunities. The firm generally purchases securities for longer holding periods and tailor allocations to each client’s objectives, risk tolerance and time horizon, acknowledging unique tax implications but not prioritizing tax efficiency.

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Imprint Wealth, a fee-based firm located in Mount Pleasant, rounds out our list of the top financial advisory firms in South Carolina. The firm caters to individuals, high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations, corporations and other businesses.

Clients are typically required to meet an investment minimum of $500,000, although this requirement can be adjusted at the firm's discretion.

As a fee-based firm, certain advisors on staff sell securities and/or insurance for additional compensation that’s paid by third-party firms. This form of compensation is a conflict of interest, because it incentivizes advisors to recommend certain products and services over others that may be more appropriate for advisory clients. However, Imprint Wealth is a fiduciary and is legally required to act in its clients best interests.

Imprint Wealth Background

Founded in 2022, Imprint Wealth is corporately owned, with it shares held by Imprint Holdings LLC.

The firm provides a variety of services tailored to individual needs, including investment planning, retirement planning and estate planning. Imprint Wealth also offers personal and education savings strategies, charitable giving programs, and ongoing consulting services. 

Imprint Wealth Investment Strategy

Imprint Wealth relies on a long-term investment approach, utilizing both fundamental and technical analysis to guide its strategies. The firm focuses on strategic asset allocation and portfolio diversification, often working with independent managers. For portfolios managed interally, Imprint invests in mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks and bonds. Additionally, the firm incorporates alternative investments, such as limited partnerships, into their strategies. Typical investments include mutual funds, ETFs, individual equities, bonds, options and private investments.

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Curran Financial Partners in Daniel Island concludes our list of the top financial advisory firms in South Carolina. This fee-based practice does not have a minimum account size requirement, and as a result, works primarily with individuals below the high net worth threshold. However, Curran also serves high-net-worth individuals and at least one investment company. 

The team at Curran includes advisors who hold the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) designation. 

As a fee-based firm, some advisors on staff are licensed to sell insurance and can earn commissions when recommending certain products and services to advisory clients. This creates a conflict of interest, because the advisor has a financial incentive to encourage a client to purchase insurance through them. However, the firm's fiduciary duty requires it to always act in the best interests of its clients. 

Otherwise, the firm charges asset-based fees for ongoing portfolio management, as well as fixed and hourly fees for financial planning. 

Curran Financial Partners Background

Adam Curran, who founded his namesake firm in 2015, remains its principal owner. Curran, a wealth advisor, holds the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) credential. In addition to its office in Daniel Island, Curran Financial Partners has an office in Myrtle Beach.

Curran Financial Partners offers both passive and active portfolio management based on clients' goals, risk tolerances and time horizons. The firm's comprehensive financial planning services address cash flow, debt management, college and retirement planning, estate and tax strategies, insurance reviews and investment analysis. Additionally, the firm serves as sub-adviser for the God Bless America ETF (YALL), selecting securities based on specific investment criteria.

Curran Financial Partners Investment Strategy

As mentioned above, Curran Financial Partners utilizes both passive and active investment approaches. The firm's active management relies on technical analysis — examining chart patterns, momentum and relative strength to identify sectors that may outperform market benchmarks — while acknowledging the unpredictability of market trends. Curran's passive strategy emphasizes diversification through low-cost index funds or ETFs, carefully balancing distinct asset classes to achieve targeted relationships among correlation, risk and return.