Top Financial Advisors in Alpharetta, GA

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Merit Financial Group, a large fee-based advisory firm, is the top-rated practice in Alpharetta. In addition to its headquarters in Alpharetta, Merit has branch locations across the country. Its team holds multiple certifications, including the certified financial planner (CFPs), chartered financial consultant (ChFC), accredited estate planner (AEP) and accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) designations. 

The vast majority of the firm's individual clients do not have a high net worth, although Merit also works with high-net-worth individuals, as well. It also serves pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations and charitable organizations.

The firm says it may impose an account minimum, depending on the type of services a client requires. Merit may also allocate your assets to portfolios offered through LPL Financial, which may require a minimum account size ranging from $1,000 to $100,000, depending on the investment advisory program you're enrolled in.

As a fee-based firm, certain on-staff advisors can earn commissions from insurance or securities sales. Despite this, the firm abides by fiduciary duty, legally binding it to act in your best interest.

Merit Financial Advisors Background

CEO Rick Kent, who has spent decades working in financial services, founded Merit Financial in 2007. Merit Intermediate Holdings, LLC owns the firm. In addition to investment advisory services, the practice offers a number of financial consulting programs, including for employees, employers and companies with retirement plans.

It also offers the services of brokers and insurance agents in the office, plus access to LPL Financial advisory programs. Fees for portfolio management services are a percentage based on the client’s assets under management (AUM), ranging up to 2.50%. The firm also charges an all-inclusive fee for participants in Merit Financial’s wrap fee program. Financial planning services are provided for a flat fee or at an hourly rate.

Merit Financial Advisors Investment Strategy

Merit Financial primarily uses a long-term, diversified investment strategy. Applying mainly fundamental analysis, it generally invests in mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), individual stocks and bonds, as well as variable annuities.

Individual portfolios are designed according to the client's specific needs and goals. This involves reviewing their risk tolerance, time horizon, long- and short-term goals and income needs. Clients can impose some restrictions on the management of their money. Merit also offers access to LPL Financial model portfolios. 

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Clear Investment Research, ranked No. 2 on our list of the top financial advisors in Alpharetta, offers retirement plans and consulting services to a number of companies. These services make up the lion's share of the firm’s business on an AUM basis. However, the firm also works with individual clients, providing both asset management and financial planning services. 

The advisory team at this fee-only firm is led by founder Joe Jennings, a certified public accountant (CPA) and accredited investment fiduciary (AIF). The firm does not have a minimum investment, and portfolios can be managed on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis. 

Clear Investment Research, LLC Background

Jennings established Clear Investment Research in 2014 after years of working in institutional advising at Clearview Group and the Investment Research & Advisory Group (both in Atlanta). Jennings remains the firm's principal owner.

For its individual clients, Clear Investment provides investment advisory services and financial planning. It collects a percentage of AUM as its fee in the first case and an hourly or fixed rate for the latter. Hourly rates for financial planning range from $250 to $350, while fixed fees start at $1,200. The practice also offers a wrap fee program, where service, transactions and other costs are bundled into one all-inclusive fee.

Clear Investment Research, LLC Investment Strategy

When putting together client portfolios, the firm looks to make long-term purchases, expecting to hold securities for at least a year. It applies fundamental analysis in its securities selection process. This method of analysis looks to find securities that have a higher intrinsic value than their current market value.

Rather than adhere to a specific selection of securities, this firm will invest in anything that falls in line with clients' goals. Although the firm typically doesn't look to do so, it may invest in cash holdings.

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Lumature Wealth Partners is a fee-based firm that currently works with individual investors, the majority of whom do not have a high net worth. The firm’s minimum investment is $25,000.

Financial planning fees are charged on a fixed basis, while wealth management fees are based on a percentage of assets under management. Some advisors earn commissions for selling securities and insurance. This is a potential conflict of interest, but all are still required to act in clients' best interests. 

The team at LWP includes three certified financial planners (CFPs) and one certified investment management analyst (CIMA).

Lumature Wealth Partners Background

LWP was founded in 2020 and is owned by founding partners Andrew Ross Ramsey and Ralph Corley Watson III.

Services include financial planning, business planning, trust and estate planning, financial reporting, investment consulting, insurance planning, retirement planning, risk management, charitable giving, distribution planning, education planning and investment management.

Lumature Wealth Partners Investment Strategy

The firm invests in mutual funds, ETFs, individual debt and equity securities, annuities, options, as well as independent investment managers. When appropriate, the Lumature Wealth Partners may also advise its clients to invest in privately placed securities, including debt, equity and private funds. 

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Forthright Wealth Management is a fee-based firm, as some advisors can receive commissions when they sell certain insurance products or securities to clients. While this creates a potential conflict of interest, the firm is legally required to act in clients' best interests at all times.

The firm does not require a minimum amount of investable assets, but it does have a $2,500 minimum annual fee. About 60% of  Forthright Wealth's client base is made up of non-high-net-worth individuals, while high-net-worth individuals comprise the remaining portion. Forthright Wealth also serves corporations, charities, trusts and estates.

Forthright Wealth Management Background

Forthright Wealth Management was founded in 2015. The firm is under the principal ownership of chief operating officer (COO) Jeff Wills; chief financial officer (CFO) and managing partner (CCO) Anthony Austreng; chief investment officer (CIO) Brian Johnston; as well as managing partner and chief technology officer (CTO) John Ellis. 

Forthright Wealth primarily offers investment advisory services with financial planning included. Clients pay a tiered fee that's calculated as a percentage of assets under management. For example, you'll pay 0.90% on your first $500,000 under management, 0.75% on your next $1.5 million, and so on. 

Forthright Wealth Management Investment Strategy

The firm takes a long-term approach to investing, making purchases with the expectation of holding them for at least a year. It bases its securities selection primarily on fundamental analysis. It constructs portfolios mainly using mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), common stocks and individual bonds. When appropriate, it may also recommend or select separate account managers.

If you have some restrictions that you'd like to place on the management of your assets, the firm will allow you to do so. The firm will need to approve them, though.

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If you're interested in becoming a client of Wealth Enhancement & Preservation (WEP), you'll need at least of $500,000 in investable assets. The firm may waive this minimum at its discretion.

WEP works with slightly more high-net-worth individuals than those who do not have a high net worth. Despite its relatively small size, the firm has a wide range of advisory certifications, including four certified financial planners (CFPs) and one certified public accountant (CPA).

As a fee-based firm, certain advisors at WEP can earn commissions from insurance and securities sales. Despite the potential conflict of interest that commission-based compensation can create, the firm and its advisors are obligated to act in your best interests. 

Wealth Enhancement & Preservation Background

This firm has been in business since 2002. Prior to becoming Wealth Enhancement & Preservation, it operated under the name Infinite Asset Management. Darrin Cohen, the CEO of WEP, is the principal owner of the firm.

This firm's premier service is its customizable investment management offerings. However, WEP also has a wide selection of financial planning services, such as risk management, tax management, cash management, legacy and estate planning, retirement planning, business succession planning and more.

Wealth Enhancement & Preservation Investment Strategy

Wealth Enhancement & Preservation believes in building portfolios according to the specific goals and needs of clients. As a result, the firm will work with you to gain a deep understanding of your personal financial and investment objectives, risk tolerance, income needs, time horizon and more. It does this through a series of personal interviews and questionnaires.

While the above factors do play a part in how your portfolio is built, WEP also uses a number of model portfolios. The firm has seven model portfolios in total, with each focusing on a different set of securities and strategies.

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Wealth Science Advisors, a fee-only firm still in its infancy, works exclusively with individuals and families. The team at Wealth Science Advisors holds a number of financial certifications, including the certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and chartered life underwriter (CLU) designations.  

The firm does not impose a minimum account size. Wealth Science Advisors may charge fees that are based on a percentage of assets under management, flat fees and hourly charges. Some advisors on staff are licensed insurance agents who receive continued compensation from insurance products they previously sold. However, they no longer sell these products on a commission basis, so you won't have to worry about navigating potential conflicts of interest when receiving insurance-related recommendations. 

Wealth Science Advisors Background

Founded in 2022, Wealth Science Advisors is the youngest firm on our list. The business is principally owned by Jim Exley, who holds a Ph.D, as well as the CFP, CLU and ChFC designations. 

In addition to standard portfolio management and financial planning, Wealth Science Advisors touts its proprietary Money Happiness service, a personalized system tailored to your specific money personality and financial goals. 

Wealth Science Advisors Investment Strategy

Wealth Science Advisors manages client portfolios on a discretionary basis, meaning they assume full control over accounts and the transactions made within them. The firm has developed its own client assessment system that it uses to determine how to construct individual portfolios. Advisors rely on modern portfolio theory to design diversified portfolios for clients, allocating their assets to mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks and bonds. 

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TandemGrowth Financial Advisors is a fee-only firm that works with individual clients above and below the high-net-worth threshold. The advisory team at TandemGrowth, which primarily manages assets on a discretionary basis, includes certified financial planners (CFPs), a chartered financial consultant (ChFC), an accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), among other certifications. 

While the firm doesn't impose a minimum account size, it doesn't charge a minimum quarterly fee of $1,500. As a result, if you have less than $600,000 under management, your annual feel will exceed 1% of your assets under management.  

TandemGrowth Financial Advisors Background

After a long career at a large firm, Jeff Bernier set out on his own, founding TandemGrowth Financial Advisors in 2000. He serves as president and as a wealth advisor. He has more than 30 years of experience working in the financial services industry. 

The boutique firm offers wealth management services, which include financial planning and portfolio management services. It also offers these services as a courtesy to adult children of its clients. 

TandemGrowth can help with:

• Risk management
• College savings plans
• Estate planning
• Retirement planning
• Tax planning

TandemGrowth Financial Advisors Investment Strategy

TandemGrowth's approach combines “purpose-built planning and evidence-based investing.” It builds customized portfolios, using fundamental, technical and cyclical methods of securities analysis.

Generally, it allocates client assets among mutual funds and exchange-traded (ETFs), and to a much lesser extent, independent managers. 

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Ridge Capital Management is a fee-based advisory firm that primarily serves individuals above and below the high-net-worth threshold. There is no minimum account size to become a client, but your advisor may earn commissions when selling securities to you. While this creates a potential conflict of interest, the firm and its advisors must act in your best interests. 

Advisors on staff hold a number of certifications, including the following designations:

• Certified financial planner (CFP)
• Certified private wealth advisor (CPWA)
• Accredited wealth management advisor (AWMA)
• Chartered financial consultant (ChFC)
• Chartered life underwriter (CLU)
• Chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC)

Ridge Capital Management Background

Ridge Capital Management first opened its doors in 1996, making it the longest-tenured firm on our list. Scott Adams, the firm's president and chief compliance officer, owns the business.

Ridge Capital Management's services are focused on financial planning, portfolio management, retirement planning, risk management, tax planning and estate planning. The firm can manage assets on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis, meaning you can choose to give Ridge Capital Management full discretion to make transactions within your account.

Ridge Capital Management Investment Strategy

Ridge Capital Management builds portfolios using a wide range of securities, including U.S. and international stocks, exchange-traded funds, mutual funds and alternative investments. When appropriate, the firm will enlist the services of a third-party manager to serve as a sub-advisor on your account. 

As for management strategies, the firm relies on asset allocation and diversification. It will also engage in periodic rebalancing to bring your mix of assets back within your target asset allocation. 

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MRP Capital Investments is a small fee-based advisory firm that's been in business for the last decade. The practice works exclusively with individual clients, most of whom do not have a high net worth. The firm also doesn't have a minimum investment or account size.

MRP Capital Investments has two advisors who hold specialized credentials: one chartered financial analyst (CFA) and one certified financial planner (CFP). However, at least one advisor on staff is also a representative of a broker-dealer and may earn commissions when recommending certain products. While this creates a potential conflict, the firm has a fiduciary duty to act in your best interest. 

MRP Capital Investments Background

Founded in 2013, MRP Capital Investments is principally owned by its MacArther R. Plumart, a chartered financial analyst and president of the firm. Plumart, managing director Paul Shaughnessy and vice president Paul Damm all previously worked at Merrill Lynch.

MRP Capital Investments specializes in portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, IRA rollovers, and also offers consulting services to fellow investment advisors. 

MRP Capital Investments Investment Strategy

MRP Capital Investments primarily offers discretionary portfolio management but may provide non-discretionary management in limited circumstances. The firm relies on industry-standard methods of analysis to evaluate and select securities, including fundamental analysis, technical analysis and charting analysis.

Using a top-down approach, MRP Capital Investments considers global economic indicators and looks to identify the industries, sectors, countries and regions with the best investment opportunities. From there, the firm takes a bottom-up approach and tries to find specific investments with the best risk vs. return. To do this, the firm will consider a company's balance sheet, earnings power, free cash flow generation, as well as its valuation. 

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Elm3 Financial Group rounds out our list of the top-rated financial advisory firms in Alpharetta. This fee-based practice works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals and businesses, and does not impose a an investment minimum or account size requirement.

Keep in mind that your advisor may receive commissions when you purchase certain insurance products through them. While this creates a potential conflict of interest – your advisor has a financial incentive to make certain recommendations – your advisor is required to act in your best interest. 

Elm3 Financial Group Background

Elm3 Financial Group is the sole woman-owned firm on our list. Founded in 2006 by Stacey Nickens, the firm split into two businesses in 2022: Elm3 Financial Group and Elm3 CPA Tax and Accounting. Nickens, a certified financial planner, remains the principal owner of the firm. Nickens also holds the certified public accountant/personal financial specialist (CPA/PFS) designation. 

Elm3 Financial Group offers the following services:

• Investment management
• Retirement planning
• Personal insurance advice
• Social Security planning
• Financial planning
• Estate planning
• Real estate investment advice

Elm3 Financial Group Investment Strategy

While Elm3 Financial Group provides advice on all types of securities, the firm focuses on building portfolios using individual stocks and bonds. This tactic, the firm says, provides for maximum tax efficiency and avoids the layering of fees that other securities may have.  

The firm says it strives to provide active asset management instead of a buy-and-hold strategy. It looks to blend both short- and long-term investing strategies to help clients meet their financial goals. As a result, the firm may trade or use short positions to hedge portfolio risk and enhance returns during times of heightened market volatility. The firm also believes its important to maintain adequate exposure to alternative investments that are less sensitive to market volatility.