Top Financial Advisors in Idaho

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Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers is the largest firm on this list in terms of assets under management (AUM). There is a small team financial advisors handling this money. This staff includes certified public accountants (CPAs), a certified financial planner (CFP) and chartered financial analysts (CFAs).

This fee-only firm calls for a minimum investment of $1 million for new clients, though this requirement may be waived under certain circumstances. Its client base consists of mostly high-net-worth individuals, though it also serves non-high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, corporations, government entities and charitable organizations as well.

Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers Background

Established in 1973, independently-owned Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers is the oldest firm on this list. Principals William "Bill" Palumbo and Bruce Reeder founded the firm and remain its owners to this day. The duo averages around 40 years' experience in finance.

In general, Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers deals with investment management and financial planning. At a deeper level, though, the firm is focused on asset allocation planning, performance reporting, coordination with legal and tax advisors, investor profile development and more.

Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers Strategy

Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers utilizes equities, fixed-income securities, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to flesh out their clients' portfolios. In order to select the investments best suited for your personal needs, the firm employs the following strategies for each investment type:

• Equities: The firm uses a "bottoms up" approach to select stocks. More specifically, this involves a fundamental analysis of the companies' finances and the market they reside in. Diversification across the entirety of a market is integral.
• Fixed-income: These investments consist of certificates of deposit (CDs), preferred stocks, U.S. bonds and corporate bonds that are used to balance the volatility of equities. The firm believes in a passive approach that looks to ladder these securities for the long-term.
• Mutual funds/ETFs: Mutual funds and ETFs are used to invest in the stock market without having to select individuals equities, which is a risky venture.

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No.2 on our list Inspire Investing, which is a fee-based firm based in Merdian Idaho that serves individuals, high-net-worth individuals, investment companies, charitable orgaizations and other investment advisors. Other services Inspire Investing provides are the following:

• Separately Managed Account (SMA) services
• Portfolio Model Provider (PMP) services
• Sub-Advisory Services to registered investment advisors
• Financial planning

The firm does not require a minimum investment to open an account.

Inspire Investing Background

Inspire Investing, is a limited liability company ("LLC") under the laws of the state of Delaware. The firm has been providing investment advisory services since 2015, and is owned by Inspire Impact Group, LLC. The principal owner of Inspire Impact Group, LLC is Robert Netzly.

Inspire Investing's Investment Strategy

The firm's investing approach consists of seven strategies:

• Inspire Impact Score™
• Charting analysis
• Fundamental analysis
• Technical analysis
• Cyclical analysis
• Quantitative analysis
• Modern portfolio theory

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Petso Financial Consultants is a fee-based financial advisor firm with a low account minimum of $25,000. The firm serves a few different client types, but individiuals without a high net worth are far and away the most common. Aside from individuals, Petso also handles the financial needs of a small number of charitable organizations.

The firm’s team includes several certified financial planners (CFPs). Advisors here are also insurance agents and broker-dealer representatives, and may earn commissions from the sale of these products. But because the firm is a fiduciary, advisors are legally required to put clients’ best interests first, despite this potential conflict of interest.

Petso Financial Consultants Background

Petso Financial Consultants has been in business since 2001 when it was created by David Petso. He has nearly 40 years of experience in wealth management. The rest of Petso’s wealth advisors average more than 20 years in the field.

The firm’s services include retirement income planning, tax management and mitigation, estate and wealth transfer, higher-education funding, charitable giving and employee benefits. Uniquely, the firm has partnerships with industry experts, who work with advisors. These experts’ areas of concentration include insurance, mortgages, long-term care and more.

Petso Financial Consultants Strategy

Petso Financial Consultants holds a steadfast belief in long-term investing, even when market trends change. The firm invests for the long term in an effort to combat volatility, using precise asset allocations to lead to greater, more consistent returns. Ultimately though, investments are chosen based on your risk tolerance and time horizon.

Diversification is the second segment of this equation, with an emphasis on international investing. Stocks, bonds and cash investments will make up a good portion of your portfolio, but the firm also uses alternative investments and real estate.

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Fourth on our list is Continuum Advisory, which is based in Eagle, Idaho. Continuum Advisory is a fee-based firm that works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans, as well as other corporations and businesses.

The services Continuum Advisory provides are the following:

• Plan design and strategy
• Plan review and evaluation
• Executive planning & benefits
• Investment selection
• Plan fee and cost analysis
• Plan committee consultation
• Fiduciary and compliance
• Participant education

The firm does not have a minimum investment requirement.

Continuum Advisory Background

Founded in 2016, the firm is principally owned by Timothy S. Kerrigan, Brian J. Damiani and Michael A. Kelly and is an SEC registered investment advisor. The firm has branch offices in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.

Continuum Advisory Investing Strategy

The firm's investing strategy involves a combination of fundamental and technical methods of analysis when reviewing and managing client assets. The fundamental analysis involves a review of the financial condition and competitive position of a particular fund or issuer.

According to the firm,"this process typically involves an analysis of an issuer’s management team, investment strategies, style drift, past performance, reputation and financial strength in relation to the asset class concentrations and risk exposures of the Firm’s model asset allocations."

Continuum Advisory's technical analysis involves, "the examination of past market data rather than specific issuer information in determining the recommendations made to clients. Technical analysis can involve the use of mathematical based indicators and charts, such as moving averages and price correlations, to identify market patterns and trends which can be based on investor sentiment rather than the fundamentals of the company." 

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RW Investment Management is the next firm on our list. This firm works mainly with individuals both with and without a high net worth. Other clients include retirement plans, charities and other businesses. The firm provides clients with a range of advisory services and has no minimum account balance, but rather a $100 minimum annual fee per account, or a $5,000 minimum annual fee for clients who use both the firm's financial planning and investment management services.

Since some advisors at RW are insurance agents and can sell insurance products for a commission, the firm is considered fee-based. This potential conflict of interest is mitigated by the firm's fiduciary duty, which requires it to act in clients' best interests at all times.

RW Investment Management Background

RW Investment Management was founded in 2014 and is the result of a merger between Perpetua Group and Rathbone Warwick Investment Management. It is owned by Ryan Warwick, Raleigh Vachek, Kimberly Jaques and Melissa Jenkins. The firm employs several advisors who hold certifications, including certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified public accountant (CPA).

RW provides a variety of financial advisory services, including portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting and separately managed accounts. The vast majority of the firm's assets are managed on a discretionary basis.

RW Investment Management Investment Strategy

RW tailors its investment strategies to the individual wants and needs of all clients. In order to effectively do so, the firm's advisor meet extensively with clients to determine their tolerance for risk, desired investment plans, time horizon, need for liquidity and anything else deemed relevant.

Once the client and the advisor have agreed upon an investment plan, the firm typically invests a clients assets across exchange traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, stocks, bonds and other securities. Advisors use both technical and fundamental methods of analysis when it comes to selecting individual investments.

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Pinkerton Retirement Specialists (PRS) makes our list in the sixth spot. The firm provides services to non-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, trusts and estates. For PRS’ Comprehensive Wealth Management program, the firm requires a household minimum account size of $500,000. The minimum for its ePortfolio service is lower at $200,000.

PRS is a fee-only firm, which means all of its compensation comes from client-paid fees.

Pinkerton Retirement Specialists Background 

Pinkerton Retirement Specialists has been in business since 1987. Managing Partner Dan Pinkerton and his wife, Kathryn Pinkerton, serve as the owners. Advisors at PRS hold an extremely wide range of certifications, including eight certified financial planners (CFPs), one registered financial consultant (RFC), two certified portfolio managers (CPMs), one chartered financial analyst (CFA), one certified kingdom advisor (CKA), four certified estate and trust specialists (CESs), two certified fund specialists (CFSs), one accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) and one accredited investment fiduciary advisor (AIFA).

The firm specializes in asset management. However, it may provide its portfolio management clients with written financial plans and consultations. These may cover saving for retirement, managing your estate, meeting your insurance needs, managing taxes and more.

Pinkerton Retirement Specialists Investing Strategy

PRS uses its own proprietary scoring methodology when evaluating securities for investment. The firm describes this methodology as a non-emotional formula that seeks to capture growth in emerging markets while minimizing exposure to down-trending markets. 

It invests these securities in portfolio models as it deems appropriate to its clients based on their individual situation. Here's an example of a couple: 

• Active Portfolio: invests in no-load mutual funds that scored at least eight to 12 points on the firm’s rating scale. Asset allocation typically ranges from 100% equity to 20% equity and 80% fixed-income. 
• Passive Portfolio: invests in index funds that scored at least eight to 12 points on the firm’s ratings scale. Asset allocation usually spans 100% fixed-income to 20% equity and 80% fixed-income. 

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Buffington Mohr McNeal is a fee-only firm located in central Boise. On staff, you'll find two certified financial planners (CFPs), one certified public accountant (CPA) and one chartered financial analyst (CFA).

This firm has almost twice as many non-high-net-worth individuals in its client base than their high-net-worth counterparts. However, the latter occupies the majority of the firm's AUM. Businesses, charitable organizations, government entities and retirement plans are also typical clients of the firm. There is no minimum investment requirement here.

Buffington Mohr McNeal Background

Co-founders Bruce Mohr, Carey McNeal and M. Dean Buffington opened Buffington Mohr McNeal in 1998. Buffington, who passed away in 2020, sold his personal shares of the firm in 2014, leaving McNeal and Mohr as the firm's primary owners.

In regards to investment-specific services, Buffington Mohr McNeal can offer individual discretionary portfolio management and separate investment consulting. The firm does also provide a plethora of financial planning services, such as retirement planning, tax management, insurance review, estate planning, cash flow planning and more.

Buffington Mohr McNeal Strategy

Buffington Mohr McNeal has designed two distinct asset allocations: one based on a core of equities and the other based on a core of fixed-income securities. Rather than contain solely equities or fixed-income, the firm looks to build a mix of investments to ensure that the asset allocation is both well diversified and in line with your risk tolerance. Should you prefer either one of these core strategies, the firm will let you dictate which you want. If not, your portfolio will be created on a discretionary basis based on your risk tolerance, time horizon and income needs.

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You won't need to meet a minimum account balance requirement to work with Aspen Capital Management, a fee-only advisory firm. Almost all of the firm's clients are individuals with a high net worth. The firm also maintains relationships with charitable organizations, non-high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts and estates.

The team of advisors at Aspen Capital Management boasts one chartered alternative investment analyst (CAIA) designation.

Aspen Capital Management Background

Lead financial advisor Mike Mers founded Aspen Capital Management in 2002. Today he owns just half of the firm's shares, as his wife, Lori Mers, holds claim to the latter half. Lori Mers does not appear to hold a position at Aspen.

What makes Aspen Capital Management a bit more unique than your typical financial advisor firm is its ability to provide general services that are then customized to fit the needs of each client. For example, the firm has investment supervisory, financial planning and asset management services. Some financial topics it has experience with are estate planning, tax management and minimization and more.

Aspen Capital Management Strategy

At its core, Aspen Capital Management concentrates on international investing and diversification to create client portfolios. For the most part, Aspen takes a passive global equity and global real estate investment trust (REIT) approach. Rather than invest directly in a number of stocks, though, Aspen does so through mutual funds and ETFs. This is done to help mitigate risk, as these funds are inherently diversified and, in the case of mutual funds, are professionally managed.

Your portfolio's asset allocation is based on a few considerations that Aspen compiles together in a document aptly titled an investment policy statement (IPS). This details your ability to stomach risk, your time horizon and your ultimate investment objectives.

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Perspective Wealth Partners, a fee-only firm, works almost entirely with individual clients. About two-thirds of them are high-net-worth individuals, while the rest of non-high-net-worth individuals. The firm's small institutional client base consists of a handful of charitable organizations.

There is no specific account minimum at Perspective Wealth for new clients. The firm's advisory team includes one chartered financial analyst (CFA) and one certified public accountant (CPA).

Perspective Wealth Partners Background

Perspective Wealth Partners was established in 2006 by president, CEO and founder James Bailey. Bailey is the principal owner of the firm, along with chief financial officer (CFO) Travis Schatt and chief investment officer (CIO) Rubin Miller as minority owners.

There are a variety of investment and general financial services available through this firm. These include investment analysis, budgeting, risk management, insurance planning, retirement planning, stock option planning, education fund planning and more.

Perspective Wealth Partners Investing Strategy

Perspective Wealth Partners' investment philosophy is based on the idea that it focuses on your comprehensive situation as a client. This involves working with you to formulate an investment policy statement that detail everything your financial plan and investment portfolio should account for. For example, that involves your risk tolerance, time horizon, income needs and long-term financial goals.

As your portfolio ages, your advisor will consistently review your returns and how they affect your portfolios' overall asset allocation. Depending on how things shake out, your portfolio may be rebalanced.

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Rounding out the top-10 is The Helmstar Group, which has a higher account minimum than most of the other firms on this list. The firm requires an initial account balance of at least $500,000. In certain situations, though, the firm may be willing to accept clients who have less than that. It currently works with more non-high-net-worth individuals than their high-net-worth counterparts. Other clients include charities and government entities.

The firm also boasts a solid number of advisor certifications, featuring certified financial planners (CFPs), a certified public accountant (CPA) and a chartered financial consultant (ChFC). As a fee-based firm, some of these advisors can sell insurance products on a commission basis. While this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm's fiduciary duty binds it to act in clients' best interests.

The Helmstar Group Background

The Helmstar Group was established by co-founders Ben Boettcher and Tom Steelman in 2007. The duo remains the principal owners of the firm, and they share over 30 years of combined experience in financial services.

Typical clients of this firm include individuals, pension and/or profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, small businesses and corporations. The following services are available for any of those clients:

• Investment management
• Financial independence modeling
• Retirement and distribution planning
• Estate planning and wealth transfer strategies
• Asset allocation and custom portfolio design
• Risk management and asset protection strategies
• Tax minimization strategies and tax efficient portfolio design
• Philanthropic planning strategies and enhancement

The Helmstar Group Strategy

Five concepts make up the core of what The Helmstar Group believes will result in a well-performing portfolio: asset allocation, portfolio structure, tax management, multiple specialist managers and continuous portfolio management. The firm says that it most often invests its clients’ assets in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Your advisor will further tailor your account to meet your liquidity needs, so you can see returns in the near future if necessary. This short-term ideology is paired with a long-term mindset to ensure sustained growth. The balance between these opposing notions varies, however, depending on your time horizon.