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The List: Top 100 Independent Advisors in AmericaThe List: Top 100 Independent Advisors in America
August 1, 2009
10 Min Read
METHODOLOGY:
The annual Registered Rep. Top 100 IBD financial advisor list was spearheaded this year by Discovery, an online database of financial service intermediaries published by the Financial Information Group of Shrewsburry, N.J. Discovery has created a proprietary methodology for ranking FINRA registered representatives. In this list, the advisors were ranked by assets under management using the Discovery-RR database system. Discovery maintains data on the registered rep universe then validates the ranking via direct survey. Some advisors from past years are not on this year's list.
| Name | Firm | City | AUM (in millions) | Yrs in the Biz | Business Description/Speciality | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.
| Ronald Carson John Hyland | Carson Wealth Management Group (LPL Financial) Morristown Financial Group (LPL Financial) | Omaha, NE Morristown, NJ | $2,000 $1,800 | 31 19 | Investment management, retirement planning, estate and tax planning services. |
| 3. | Christopher Sorce | HBK Sorce Financial (Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments) | Erie, PA | $1,400 | 14 | Independent, personal financial planning and investment advisory firm. |
| 3. | William (Mike) Robertson | Robertson & Associates (First Allied) | Houston, TX | $1,400 | 33 | Managed money, estate planning and investment banking for HNW and UHNW. |
| 5. | Matthew Delaney | Wharton Business Group (FSC Securities) | Exton, PA | $1,300 | 16 | Independent consultant to business owners, endowments, foundations and hospitals. |
| 6. | Bradley and Cleves Delp | The Delp Company (LPL Financial) | Maumee, OH | $1,000 | 15 | Ultra-HNW investment advisory, estate planning and risk management. |
| 7. | Susan Kaplan | Kaplan Financial Services (LPL Financial) | Newton Lower Falls, MA | $750 | 26 | Asset management and comprehensive financial planning. |
| 8. | John Darrah | Honkamp Krueger Financial Services (ProEquities) | Dubuque, IA | $742 | 28 | CPA advising personal financial and wealth management firms. |
| 9. 10. | Earl Winthrop Brett N. Karras | LPL Financial The Karras Company (Raymond James Financial Services) | Avon, CT Roy, UT | $705 $685 | 24 16 | Independent comprehensive wealth management services. Comprehensive wealth management. |
| 11. | William Garbarino | Lincoln Financial Advisors | Danbury, CT | $650 | 24 | Retail clients, corporate executives, financial and estate planning. |
| 11. | Gerard Klingman | Klingman & Associates (Raymond James Financial Services) | New York, NY | $650 | 26 | Wealth management. |
| 11. 11. | James Bashaw Van Pearcy | James E. Bashaw and Co. (LPL Financial) Van Pearcy's Wealth Services Team (Raymond James Financial Services) | Houston, TX Midland, TX | $650 $650 | 25 22 | Holistic private wealth advisory for families, small businesses and non-profit organizations. Wealth management and estate/asset protection. |
| 15. | Thomas Gau | Retirement Planning Specialists (SagePoint Financial) | Ashland, OR | $640 | 25 | Specialize in individuals who are retired or are about to retire. |
| 16. | Malcolm Makin | Professional Planning Group (Raymond James Financial Services) | Westerly, RI | $605 | 32 | Full service, comprehensive wealth management for individuals and endowments. |
| 17. | Lee Rosenberg | ARS Financial Services (Cadaret, Grant) | Jericho, NY | $555 | 35 | Personal financial planning, written financial plans, estate and retirement planning. |
| 18. | Randolph Carver | Carver Financial Services (Raymond James Financial Services) | Mentor, OH | $550 | 22 | Comprehensive customized wealth management for individuals, corporations and institutions. |
| 18. | Garrett Ahrens | Ahrens Investment Partners (LPL Financial) | Lafayette, LA | $550 | 20 | Financial asset allocation. |
| 20. 21. | Sally Law Salvador (Sal) Flores Jr. | Law & Assosciates (Raymond James Financial Services) Flores Capital Management (Raymond James Financial Services) | Glen Echo, MD Chandler, AZ | $535 $520 | 36 29 | Wealth management and financial planning. Superior financial service with a commitment to excellence and integrity. |
| 22. | Laila Marshall-Pence | Pence Wealth Management (LPL Financial) | Newport Beach, CA | $500 | 29 | Full spectrum financial planning and wealth management for individual investors. |
| 22. | Larry Carroll | Carroll Financial (Financial Network Investment Corporation) | Charlotte, NC | $500 | 29 | Retirement planning, fee-based asset management. |
| 22. | Ronald Weiner | RDM Financial Group (RDM Investment Services) | Westport, CT | $500 | 20 | Investment strategy and diversified investment advisory. |
| 22. | David Borden | Borden CCR Wealth Management (Multi-Financial Securities Corporation) | Westborough, MA | $500 | 13 | Wealth management services for HNW individuals and business owners. |
| 26. | Bruce Johnson | CapTrust Financial Advisors (Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network) | Holland, MI | $470 | 27 | Investment consulting. |
| 27. | Debra Brede | D.K. Brede Investment Management. Company (Commonwealth) | Needham, MA | $454 | 28 | Wealth management for HNW clients and business owners. |
| 28. | Meg Green | Meg Green & Associates (Royal Alliance) | Miami, FL | $450 | 29 | Financial planning, investment management and tax-sensitive portfolios for HNW investors. |
| 29. 30. | Steven Stocker Don Campagna | Investment Partners (Commonwealth Financial Network) Personal Portfolio Management (Raymond James Financial Services) | New Philadelphia, OH Boca Raton, FL | $445 $444 | 19 27 | Wealth management for HNW and mass affluent, portfolio management for retirement plans, corporations, family trusts, endowments, foundations. RIA, comprehensive financial planning, asset allocation, high net worht individuals, businesses. |
| 31. 32. | Roy Williams Mark Smith | Prestige Wealth Management (LPL Financial) M J Smith and Associates (Raymond James Financial Services) | Pennington, NJ Englewood, CO | $441 $420 | 27 26 | Comprehensive wealth management, providing customized planning solutions to HNW indivduals. Wealth management and retirement planning. Fee-based asset management services with a comprehensive financial planning approach, including tax planning. |
33.
| Edward (Jeff) Sella
| SPC Financial Services (Raymond James Financial Services) | Rockville, MD | $403 | 28 | Estate and tax planning, financial planning for unmarried couples and couples entering a second marriage. |
| 34. | Robert Oden | Mutual Service Corporation | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $400 | 27 | Fee-based wealth management. |
| 34. | David McNamara | VSR Financial Services | West Des Moines, IA | $400 | 25 | N/A |
| 34. | Herbert Gilbert | Gilbert Advanced Asset Mangement (LPL Financial) | Johnson City, TN | $400 | 21 | Advanced asset managemt for retirees and pre-retirees. |
| 34. 34. | George Dorvillier J. David Tanner | LPL Financial Tanner Capital Management (Raymond James Financial Services) | La Jolla, CA Provo, UT | $400 $400 | 23 22 | Helping clients reach financial independence. |
| 40 | David Millican | Atlanta Capital Group (LPL Financial) | Atlanta, GA | $385 | 14 | Boutique wealth management focusing on HNW families. |
| 41. | Steven Booren | Capital Consulting (LPL Financial) | Englewood, CO | $375 | 31 | Unbiased, independent investment advice. |
42.
| John Lynch Lee Rosenberg Mark Cortazzo | Lynch Retirement Investment Group (Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network) | Fulton, MD Jericho, NY Parsippany, NJ | $372 $371 $360 | 23 26 21 | Retirement planning.
|
| 45. | Trudy Haussmann | Haussmann Financial (Securities America) | Newport Beach, CA | $356 | 23 | Boutique financial planning firm, specializing in retirement for Fortune 500 employees. |
| 46. | David Daniel | Summit Financial (Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network) | Lafayette, LA | $354 | 32 | Discretionary fee-based advice. |
| 47. | Kalita Bleck Blessing | Quest Capital Management (Raymond James Financial Services) | Dallas, TX | $352 | 17 | Financial planning. |
| 48. | Kerrick Bubb | KWB & Associates (LPL Financial) | Redlands, CA | $351 | 22 | Comprehensive wealth management with an emphasis on retirement and estate planning. |
| 49. | Barbara Hudock | Hudock Moyer Wealth Management (Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network) | Williamsport, PA | $350 | 34 | Investment consulting. |
| 49. | Nadim Joseph Nahas | NWK Group (First Allied) | San Francisco, CA | $350 | 16 | Retirement plan consulting and wealth management. |
| 49. | James Cox | Harris Financial Group (LPL Financial) | Colonial Heights, VA | $350 | 13 | Retirement planning. |
| 49. | James McKee | Berthel, Fisher & Company Financial Services | Eugene, OR | $350 | 12 | Income investing for retirement, with a client asset minimum of $1.5 million. |
| 53. | Steven Novick | LPL Financial | New Canaan, CT | $340 | 14 | N/A |
| 54. | Janice Hobbs | JanHobbs Financial Group (LPL Financial) | Orange, CA | $338 | 25 | Financial planning and wealth management. |
| 54. | Carole Ford | Ford Financial Group (LPL Financial) | Fresno, CA | $338 | 26 | Independent fee-based investment management and financial planning for HNW individuals and families. |
| 56. | Charles Morris | Raymond James Financial Services | Baton Rouge, LA | $322 | 26 | Financial planning. |
57. | Deborah Danielson | Danielson Financial Group (LPL Financial) | Las Vegas, NV | $310 | 28 | Financial planning, investment management and tax-sensitive portfolios for HNW investors. |
| 58. | Stephan Cassaday | Cassaday & Company (Royal Alliance) | Mc Lean, VA | $307 | 32 | Financial planning and investment management for HNW individuals and small businesses. |
| 58. | Barry Glassman | Cassaday & Company (Royal Alliance) | Mc Lean, VA | $307 | 14 | Comprehensive wealth management for HNW families. |
| 60. | Stephen Johnson | Raymond James Financial Services. | Draper, UT | $301 | 30 | Wealth management for retail clients, ERISA plans |
| 61. | Dale Cebert | Cebert Wealth Management Group (National Planning Corporation) | The Villages, FL | $300 | 27 | Retirement income planning specialists. |
| 61. | Michael Steranka | Retirement Planning Services (Broker Dealer Financial Services) | Millersville, MD | $300 | 15 | Income planning, investment planning, tax planning, education planning. |
| 63. | Michael Hines | Consolidated Planning Corporation (Raymond James Financial Services) | Atlanta, GA | $293 | 43 | Financial planning for retirees, doctors, lawyers, dentists and educators; intergenerational planning. |
| 64. | Thomas Hamlin | Hamlin Financial and Insurance Services (Raymond James Financial Services) | Portland, OR | $292 | 19 | Pre-retirees and retirees, inflation hedging. |
| 65. | John Moore | Raymond James Financial Services | Albuquerque, NM | $283 | 11 | Financial planning. |
| 66. | Robert Kantor | XML Financial Group (LPL Financial) | Rockville. MD | $280 | 46 | Financial planning. |
| 67. | Todd Sanford | Sanford Financial Services (Raymond James Financial Services) | Portage, MI | $270 | 26 | Multi-specialty firm for educators, small-business owners and employees of major corporations with a local presence. |
| 68. | Sheryl Stephens | Stephens Wealth Management (Raymond James Financial Services) | Flint, MI | $262 | 34 | Fee-based consulting, including asset mgt., estate planning, retirement planning, tax planning, philanthropy and insurance solutions for HNW clients, professionals and business owners. |
| 68. | Robert Valente | RAV Financial Services (Sigma Financial Corporation) | Beachwood, OH | $260 | 37 | Customized wealth management, including asset management, financial and estate planning. |
| 70. | Robert Wamhoff | Wamhoff Financial Planning (VSR Financial Services) | Hazelwood, MO | $255 | 19 | Financial planning, tax planning and charitable planning. |
| 71. | Carl Stuart | Raymond James Financial Services | Austin, TX | $250 | 11 | Investment management, risk management and estate planning. |
| 71. | Roger Green | Green Financial Resources (Multi-Financial Securities) | Duluth, GA | $250 | 21 | Financial planning, advisory and wealth management. |
| 73. | Judith Mcgee | McGee Financial Strategies (Raymond James Financial Services) | Portland, OR | $247 | 34 | Wealth management, financial planning, retirement planning, estate and trust planning for the well-educated, professional client. |
| 74. 75. 75. | Karen Hansen Nadine Wilkes Paul Weinstein | Woodbury Financial Services Weinstein Wilkes Financial Group (Raymond James Financial Services) Weintsein Wilkes Financial Group (Raymond James Financial Services) | Anchorage, AK Ft. Myers, FL Fy. Myers, FL | $245
| 20 26 26 | Strong acumen for building businesses and creating wealth for clients in all walks of life. Comprehensive financial planning for HNW clients. HNW clients. |
| 77. 78. | Bennett Marks Richard H. Wagener | Marks Group Wealth Management (LPL Financial) Wagener-Lee Wealth Advisors (Raymond James Financial Services) | Hopkins, MN Columbia, MD | $235 $233 | 27 34 | Provide HNW clients with personalized service and investment decisions on a local level. |
| 79. | Kathleen Muldoon | Carter Financial Management (Raymond James Financial Services) | Dallas, TX | $231 | 29 | Financial planning. |
| 80. | Dudley Barnes | Barnes-Petty Financial Advisors (Raymond James Financial Services,) | Clarksdale, MS | $230 | 34 | Comprehensive financial planning in rural America. |
| 80. | Carol Rogers | Rogers & Company Wealth Management (LPL Financial) | Saint Louis, MO | $230 | 33 | Certified Private Wealth Manager providing comprehensive planning and wealth management solutions to HNW families and individuals. |
| 82. | Wayne Schluchter | First Allied Securities | Saint Cloud, MN | $227 | 12 | Comprehensive wealth management services with a focus on cash flow and risk management. |
| 83. | Daniel Gavin | Gavin & Associates (Raymond James Financial Services) | Midland, MI | $225 | 37 | Financial planning, investment management for mid/upper level management. |
| 83. 83. | Michael McNamara Kevin VanDyke | McNamara Financial Services (Commonwealth) Bloomfield Hills Financial (SII Investments) | Marshfield, MA Bloomfield Hills, MI | $225 $225 | 29 13 | Retail financial consulting and wealth management practice. Retirement planning specialist with a focus on automotive industry retirees. |
| 86. | David Workman | LPL Financial | Logansport, IN | $223 | 22 | Managing retirement plans. |
| 87. | John Dardis | Jack Dardis & Associates (Next Financial Group) | Metairie, LA | $215 | 29 | N/A |
| 88. | Patricia Meidell | American Retirement Planners (Associated Securities) | Reno, NV | $213 | 36 | Providing financial advice and individualized solutions with the goal of enabling our clients to attain their lifetime goals and aspirations. |
| 89. | Daniel Boyce | Center for Financial Planning (Raymond James Financial Services) | Southfield, MI | $210 | 27 | Wealth management for HNW individuals. |
| 89. | Stephen Wedel | Four Seasons Wealth Management (LPL Financial) | Saint Louis, MO | $210 | 26 | Holistic fee-based financial planning with an emphasis on retirement planning and capital preservation for executives, business owners and HNW individuals. |
| 89. | Russell Cesari | Northwest Financial (LPL Financial) | Herndon, VA | $210 | 10 | Wealth management and comprehensive financial planning. |
| 92. | Mark Brown | Brown & Tedstrom | Denver, CO (LPL Financial) | $205 | 26 | Comprehensive wealth management for successful entrepreneurs and business owners. |
| 93. | Marilyn Gunther | Center for Financial Planning (Raymond James Financial Services) | Southfield, MI | $203 | 25 | Comprehensive financial planning for moderately HNW clients. Specializations in retirement planning and planning for physicians. |
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| 94. | Holmes Pettey | Barnes-Pettey (Raymond James Financial Services) | Clarksdale, MS | $200 | 24 | Helping clients manage their money. |
| 94. | Robby Harfst | Harfst & Associates (Raymond James Financial Services) | Ashland, OR | $200 | 17 | Financial advisory for individuals and small businesses. |
| 94. | David Armstrong | Monument Wealth Management (LPL Financial) | Alexandria, VA | $200 | 10 | Full-service financial planning and discretionary asset management using ETFs and individual securities. |
| 99. | Wayne Von Borstel | Von Borstel & Associates (LPL Financial) | The Dalles, OR | $197 | 24 | Wealth management. |
100.
| Lori Price
| Price Financial Group (Securities America) Waller & Wax Advisors (Raymond James Financial Services) | Wilton, CT Tampa, FL | $195
| 21
| Providing unparalleled client service and education. Specialize in tax sheltered annuity marketplace, particularly school systems and non-profit organizations. |
| 103. 103. | Ty Bernicke Larry Braunstein | Bernicke & Associates (Raymond James Financial Services) LMB Group (First Allied Securities) | Eau Claire, WI New York, NY | $190 $190 | 12 26 | Retirement planning. Focus on producing inflation-adjusted income solutions for life for the near affluent. |
| Robert Taylor | Choice Financial Services (ING Financial Partners) | Oklahoma City, OK | $185 | 24 | Assisting our clients in every aspect of their financial lives. |
| 106. | John Klevens | Klevens Capital Mgt. (KMS Financial Services) | Bellevue, WA | $180 | 18 | Investment and retirement planning. |
| 107. | Michael Boone | MW Boone & Associates (LPL Financial) | Bellevue, WA | $179 | 24 | Comprehensive financial planning. |
| 108. | Byron Braun | Braun Wealth Management Group (Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network) | Fort Wayne, IN | $177 | 31 | Financial planning and asset management. |
| 109. | Robert Bjork | Birch Cove Group (Raymond James Financial Services) | Bloomington, MN | $175 | 28 | High-touch wealth management and financial planning for HNW clients. |
| 110. 111. 112. | Bill E. Carter Larry Baker Brian Farley | Carter Financial Management (Raymond James Financial Services) Baker Krizner Financial Planning (Cadaret, Grant) Farley Planning Group (First Allied Securities) | Dallas, TX Springfield, OH Eagan, MN | $167 $164 $162 | 31 35 13 | Multi-disciplinary firm serving affluent individuals, families and professionals, with unified financial, tax, legal, business & philanthropic strategies. Designing personalized financial and/or estate plans, including tax planning, employee benefit and retirement plans and insurance. Wealth management and retirement cash flow planning. |
| 113. | Harold Castner | Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network | Nashville, TN | $160 | 19 | N/A |
| 114. | John Ohmer | YBR Financial Advisors (LPL Financial) | San Francisco, CA | $157 | 22 | Working with affluent individuals as they approach and enter financial independence. |
| 115. 116. | Scott Wigren Scot Madson | Alden Capital Management (Raymond James Financial Services) Navigator Planning Group (SII Investments) | Bellevue, WA Green Bay, WI | $155 $154 | 20 31 | Financial planning services, including comprehensive retirement planning, financial and estate planning, and investment advisory services. Deferred compensation for business plans, business succession and retirement planning. |
| 117. | Dewitt Alexandre | Dominick & Dominick (Direct Trading Institutional) | New York, NY | $150 | 31 | N/A |
| 117. | Barbara Warner | Warner Financial (Mutual Service Corporation) | Bethesda, MD | $150 | 26 | HNW families and individuals. |
| 117. | William Burke | Mendham Capital Management (Raymond James Financial Services) | Mendham, NJ | $150 | 26 | Provide customized investment management services for successful executives, professionals and business owners. |
| 117. | Kevin Ellman | Wealth Preservation Solutions (NFP Securities) | Ridgewood, NJ | $150 | 18 | Wealth management, financial planning and investment advisory. |
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