Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in Clearwater, Florida
If you’re looking for a financial advisor in Clearwater, Florida, we can help. We conducted extensive research to find the top financial advisors in the city. These firms are the largest in the area, based on assets under management (AUM), that have not run afoul of regulatory rules or the law.
Need more help in your search? Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
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 |
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1 | Csenge Advisory Group, LLC Find an Advisor | $2,265,052,044 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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2 | Flaharty Asset Management, LLC Find an Advisor | $682,629,834 | $250,000 |
| Minimum Assets$250,000Financial Services
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3 | Client 1st Advisory Group Find an Advisor | $292,050,912 | $250,000 |
| Minimum Assets$250,000Financial Services
|
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4 | Noble Family Wealth Find an Advisor | $315,027,000 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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5 | Chronos Wealth Management, LLC Find an Advisor | $172,846,672 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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6 | Kahn Financial Group Find an Advisor | $87,806,128 | $25,000 |
| Minimum Assets$25,000Financial Services
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7 | Personalized Financial Solutions LLC Find an Advisor | $57,606,430 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in Clearwater,, 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.
Csenge Advisory Group
Csenge Advisory Group, a large fee-based firm, is the No. 1 firm on our list of the top advisors in Clearwater, Florida. The firm primarily works with people who do not have a high net worth but it also serves high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, corporations and other businesses. There is no minimum account size requirement.
Csenge's financial advisor team includes staff members with professional designations such as certified financial planner (CFP), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), certified investment management consultant (CIMC) and chartered financial analyst (CFA). However, as a fee-based firm, some advisors may receive a commission from investment recommendations or insurance products. This may pose a potential conflict of interest, but as fiduciary, Csenge is still legally obliged to act in your best interest.
Csenge Advisory Group Background
The Csenge Advisory Group has been around since 2000. President and managing member John Csenge is the principal owner, while Eric Caisse is also a partner. Csenge oversees a team with more than five decades of collective experience in the financial services industry. They offer investment management services through a wrap-fee program. This means you pay a bundled fee that covers investment advisory services and brokerage transactions. The firm also provides services through its investment advisor representatives (IAR). These people may work under the names of other firms.
When you work with Csenge Advisory Group, you can expect to receive:
- Asset management services
- Asset allocation services
- Recommendation and monitoring of third-party managed programs
- Financial planning
- Corporate investment and retirement plan consulting services
Csenge Advisory Group Investment Strategy
Csenge Advisory Group's tactical asset allocation model portfolios are primarily built with equities, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. The firm manages 14 proprietary portfolios that include:
- CAG Cash Cow
- CAG Core & Explore
- CAG Fixed
- CAG Growth & Income
- CAG International
- CAG Tactical Fusion
- CAG Techno Quant
- CAG Total Market
IARs may invest client assets in one or more of these portfolios. They may also have their own investment strategies independent of these models.
Flaharty Asset Management
Flaharty Asset Management offers access to customized investment programs and financial planning services. To work with the firm, you’ll need a minimum investment of $250,000. Individuals who do not have a high net worth make up a majority of the firm’s client base, although Flaharty works with nearly as many high-net-worth individuals.
Certain members of the firm's advisory team hold various professional designations, such as accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs), certified financial planners (CFPs), chartered retirement plan counselors (CRPCs) and chartered financial analysts (CFAs). Some advisors are affiliated with third-party financial services and may receive a commission when they sell their products. That said, the firm and its representatives have a fiduciary duty to provide advice in their clients' best interests.
Flaharty Asset Management Background
Flaharty Asset Management was founded in 2013. It’s owned by Flaharty & Associates, LLC, which is primarily owned by Shon Flaharty. John "Hunter" Orr, who serves as chief investment officer, is also partner at the firm.
Services offered include portfolio management, financial planning and pension consultations.
Flaharty Asset Management Investment Strategy
Flaharty Asset Management aims to create diversified portfolios tailored to the client’s risk tolerance and financial goals. Depending on your profile, your portfolio may include the following:
- Equity securities
- Warrants
- Options
- Debt securities
- Real estate investment trusts
- Mutual funds
- Closed-end funds
- Exchange-traded funds
- Unit investment trusts
- Private placements
- Limited partnerships
- Structured products
- Alternative investments
- Annuities
- Life insurance contracts
Client 1st Advisory Group
The team at Client 1st Advisory Group includes four certified financial planners (CFPs), two of whom are also accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs). To establish a relationship with the firm you’ll need to make a minimum investment of $250,000. The firm primarily works with individuals who do not have a high net worth. It also works with high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans and charitable organizations.
Some of the firm’s advisors and investment advisor representatives (IARs) may be affiliated with other financial services firms. So they earn commissions when they recommend third-party products in addition to the fees you pay for their services. This may pose a conflict of interest. But the firm has a fiduciary duty to work in the best interests of its clients.
Client 1st Advisory Group Background
Client 1st Advisory Group was founded in 2013. It’s the successor to Client 1st Advisors, Inc. and Wealth Management Consultants, Inc. The firm's CEO Michelle Mabry and president Craig Phillips oversee a team with decades of collective experience in the financial services space. The team offers advice on:
- Retirement planning
- Business planning
- Risk management
- Taxation
- Estate planning
Mabry and Phillips own the firm with director of operations Dave Stieh.
Client 1st Advisory Group Investment Strategy
The firm examines clients’ risk tolerance and goals to develop an appropriate asset allocation. When evaluating securities, the practice utilizes various analytical methods, including passive asset allocation processes based on several core approaches, including a conservative strategy, a balanced strategy one focused on growth and another that aims for aggressive growth. Portfolios may be invested in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, alternative investments, REITs and more.
Noble Family Wealth
Fee-only Noble Family Wealth comes next on our list. Clients are primarily individuals, both above and below the high-net-worth threshold. There is no minimum to open an account.
Advisors at Noble Family Wealth hold several professional designations, including certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA), chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certfied private wealth advisor (CPWA).
As a fee-only firm, Noble Family Wealth's compensation comes solely from the fees that advisory clients pay. Advisors on staff do not sell financial products or insurance for commissions, eliminating a potential conflict of interest.
Noble Family Wealth Background
Noble Family is a relatively new company, founded in 2021, and owned primarily by managing member and CEO Sandra Nesbit.
The firm offers investment advisory services, comprehensive financial planning, family governance and concierge services, including household bill payment and reporting, quarterly tax payments, as well as help with complex and unconventional purchases.
Noble Family Wealth Investment Strategy
Advisors at Noble Family focus on tactical asset allocation, informed by client objectives, risk tolerance and time horizon. Investment recommendations may include exchange-listed securities, over-the-counter securities, foreign securities, warrants, corporate debt securities, commercial paper, CDs, municipal securities, mutual funds, United States government securities and options, but portfolios are usually constructed with exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Chronos Wealth Management
Chronos Wealth Management is a fee-based firm that offers services to individuals (most of whom do not have a high-net-worth), pensions, profit-sharing plans, business entities and annuities held away from the firm. Certain advisors here earn commissions for selling insurance, which presents a conflict of interest. That said, advisors must act in the best interest of the client.
There is no minimum account size at Chronos. The team includes one accredited wealth management advisor (AWMA).
Chronos Wealth Managment Background
Chronos was founded in 2017 and is principally owned by William Wallace Chamberlain.
Services offered at the firm include portfolio management, financial planning, life insurance, retirement planning, education planning and debt planning.
Chronos Wealth Managment Investment Strategy
The firm uses various methods of analysis, including fundamental analysis, technical analysis and quantitative analysis. Chronos Wealth Management's investment strategy focuses on long-term buying and selling. The firm may invest assets in mutual funds, equities, fixed-income securities, ETFs, annuities and more.
Kahn Financial Group
Kahn Financial Group, a fee-based financial advisor, mostly works with non-high-net-worth individuals, although the firm does also serve clients with high net worth. The minimum account size is $25,000.
Advisors at Kahn Financial are all certified financial planners (CFPs) but may receive commissions from investment recommendations or insurance product sales. Although this potential conflict of interest is what makes the firm a fee-based company, Kahn Financial has a fiduciary duty to act in its clients' best interest at all times.
Kahn Financial Group Background
Kahn Financial Group was founded in 1999, making it the oldest firm on our list in Clearwater. The firm is still owned and operated by David Kahn.
Services offered here include investment management and comprehensive financial planning with a focus on retirement and estate planning. The firm can also provide access to alternative investments like hedge funds, managed futures, real estate and commodities.
Kahn Financial Group Investment Strategy
Kahn Financial bases its investment philosophy on the idea that there exists "no investment without risk." As such, firm advisors strive to customize client portfolios completely to risk tolerance, time frame and stated goals. All investments at Kahn Financial are long-term, unless otherwise indicated, and consist primarily of a core of well-diversified mutual funds in addition to some alternative investments.
Personalized Financial Solutions
Rounding out our list of top advisors in Clearwater is Personalized Financial Solutions (PFS), the smallest firm by assets under management (AUM). While the firm does not have a set account minimum, it works with high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth clients alike.
As a fee-based firm, certain advisors at PFS may receive commissions for selling insurance products to clients. While this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm has a fiduciary duty to act in clients’ best interests at all times.
Personalized Financial Solutions Background
PFS was founded in 2020 by principal Todd Seymour, who is also a licensed independent insurance and tax professional. Seymour has over 30 years of experience providing estate, investment, financial and tax preparation planning services to clients.
As a result, the firm's services include portfolio management, retirement planning, tax planning, annuity and insurance planning, as well as estate and trust planning.
Personalized Financial Solutions Investment Strategy
PFS offers a completely customized solution for its clients, primarily developing investment strategies based on fundamental and technical analysis. The firm generally employs a long-term horizon for its clients dependent on their financial objectives, and constructs portfolios using exchange-traded funds (ETFs), open-end mutual funds, individual stocks, individual bonds and closed-end mutual funds.