Top Financial Advisors in McLean, VA

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Cassaday & Co. is a fee-based firm that requires a minimum investment of $500,000 across all of your family accounts.

For multiple years over the last decade, Barron’s has recognized Cassady & Co. as one of the top financial advisory firms in the state of Virginia. 

The advisory team holds multiple certifications, including several designations as certified financial planners (CFPs), chartered mutual fund counselors (CMFCs), financial paraplanner qualified professionals (FPQPs), certified fund specialists (CFSs), chartered retirement planning counselors (CRPCs), chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and certified investment management analyst (CIMAs), among others.

Certain on-staff advisors at Cassaday can receive commissions from insurance or securities sales. While this represents a potential conflict of interest, the firm's fiduciary duty requires it to act in clients' best interests, no matter what.

Cassaday & Co. Background

Cassaday & Co. was founded in 1993. Before then, the firm’s chairman and CEO Stephan Cassaday had been working in the financial services space for nearly two decades, giving him over 40 years of experience in the industry.

The firm provides an array of services around investment advice, financial planning, retirement planning, tax and cash-flow analysis, death and disability financial planning and education funding.  

Cassaday & Co. Investing Strategy

Cassaday & Co.’s investment strategy generally focuses on long-term planning driven by modern portfolio theory. So it focuses heavily on building an asset allocation strategy that reflects your risk tolerance and long-term investment goals. 

The firm generally constructs client portfolios with broadly traded, open-end mutual funds or conservative fixed-income securities.

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Andersen is a fee-only firm that provides financial planning, portfolio management, tax management and other advisory services.

This firm serves mostly high-net-worth individuals. But it also extends services to non-high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations and endowments.

Andersen Background 

Formerly known as WTAS, Andersen went into business with its new name in 2002.

This firm typically offers financial planning and investment services within the same offering. These wealth management services can cover investment planning, tax management, estate planning, retirement planning and more.

Andersen Investment Strategy

Andersen examines the client’s financial situation and goals in order to construct a strategic investment plan and target asset allocation that reflects their risk tolerance. It focuses on the long term by taking into account projected future income and spending habits as well as inflation and tax policy changes.

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Bogart Wealth is a fee-only, SEC-registered financial advisor firm that doesn’t impose any account minimums.

Its advisors work almost entirely with high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as charitable organizations.

Bogart Wealth hold multiple financial certifications, including designations as certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial analyst (CFA) and chartered financial consultant (ChFC).

Bogart Wealth Background 

Bogart Wealth was created in 2016 and is owned by James Bogart.

The firm provides investment advice along with other financial planning services through its wrap-fee program. It specializes in the following areas: 

• Business planning
• Tax and cash-flow management
• Trust and estate planning
• Retirement planning
• Education planning

Bogart Wealth Investment Strategy

Bogart Wealth builds portfolios while emphasizing asset allocation. To diversify your portfolio, the firm may utilize a wide range of securities including stocks from small- to large-cap companies, international equity, bonds and cash or cash equivalents.

The firm focuses on long-term investing and generally steers away from active management strategies. “We believe in long-term investing and do not suggest trying to time the markets,” Bogart Wealth states in its Form ADV. “Although we periodically reduce exposure to hot sectors and rotate funds to out-of-favor sectors, we try not to let emotional decisions replace rational judgment. We believe sticking to the plan can provide superior returns.”

The practice may make appropriate changes and contact you to discuss options during certain conditions such as heightened volatility in the stock market.

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West Financial Services (WFS) is a fee-only firm that engages in financial planning, retirement plan consulting and investment management services, as well as executive and business consulting.

The firm has a minimum investment requirement of $1 million, though it may be willing to waive this at its discretion.

The team holds multiple certifications, including certified financial planners (CFPs), chartered financial analyst (CFAs), certified employee benefits specialist (CEBS), certified investment management analyst (CIMA) and certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA), among others.

West Financial Services Background

West Financial Services was founded in 1982. Today, it’s owned by Sandy Spring Bank, which is, in turn, a subsidiary of Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.

The firm mostly works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, businesses, retirement plans and charitable organizations. 

West Financial Services Investment Strategy

West Financial Services aims to build investment portfolios based on their clients’ financial circumstances, risk tolerance and goals. Accounts are both discretionary and non-discretionary. This means the firm either does trades without running them by the client first or it allows the client to have control of asset allocation and other aspects of their portfolios.

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OFS, or Octagon Financial Services, is a fee-based financial advisor firm that serves professional athletes and entertainers.

The team at OFC holds multiple certifications, including designations as certified financial planners (CFPs) and certified public accountants (CPAs).

This firm works with non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as businesses.

OFS doesn’t require a minimum account balance for new clients. However, it does impose a minimum annual fee and a minimum fee for specific services.

As a fee-based firm, some of the advisors OFS employs can earn commissions from the sale of insurance products or securities. However, the firm is legally bound by fiduciary duty to act in clients' best interests at all times.

OFS Background 

OFS has been providing wealth management services since 1983. The firm is owned directly by Octagon, Inc. and indirectly by Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.

The firm focuses on the following services:

• Financial planning
• Portfolio management
• Cash management
• Tax services

OFS Investment Strategy 

OFS deploys both long-term and short-term investment strategies it deems appropriate based on a client’s profile. The firm would focus on long-term purchases if it believes a particular security is undervalued or if it seeks exposure to a specific asset class throughout a period of time. It engages in short-term purchases when it projects that conditions can soon trigger a favorable swing in a security’s price.

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Brown Miller Wealth Management works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individual clients, as well as charities, retirement plans and businesses.

To have an account open with this firm, you'll need at least $500,000 in assets, though this requirement may range up to $1 million per household in some cases.

As a fee-only firm, Brown Miller has no third-party affiliations through which it  or its advisors may be able to receive commissions. A fee-based firm operates differently, receiving third-party commissions and being subject to a potential conflict of interest. 

Brown Miller Wealth Management Background

Brown Miller Wealth Management was founded in 2019. Christopher W. Brown and David A. Miller are the firm's two principal owners.

Brown Miller provides its clients with the following services:

• Investment and wealth management
• Selection of independent managers
• Financial planning and consulting
• Fiduciary and non-fiduciary services for retirement plan sponsors

Brown Miller Wealth Management Investment Strategy

Brown Miller Wealth Management's investment strategy is similar to that of many other firms. It looks to develop personalized investment strategies based on the individual profile of each client. Advisors at the firm work with clients to determine their tolerance for risk and investment objectives at the start of each new relationship. They look to provide comprehensive wealth management solutions to help client achieve their financial goals.

The firm and its advisors primarily invest client assets in equity and debt securities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and mutual funds, depending on the specific goals and needs of the client. The firm also recommends that clietn invest a portion of their assets with independent managers.

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Centurion Wealth Management is a fee-based advisory firm that works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. Institutional clients also include retirement plans and businesses.

Centurion imposes a minimum account size of $1 million for investment management. Those engaging in these services will get charged a tiered rate up to 1.35% of assets under management.

As a fee-based firm, certain advisors at Centurion can sell financial products on a commission basis. While this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm’s fiduciary duty requires them to act in the clients’ best interests.

Centurion Wealth Management Background

Headquartered in McLean, Centurion is an investment advisor registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission since 2022.

The firm is structured as a limited liability company and is owned by three shareholders who each control at least 25% of the firm.

The owners are Sterling D. Neblett, Wendy A. Payne and Mark C. McKaig.

Centurion Wealth Management Investment Strategy

As with other firms, Centurion says that it makes financial recommendations based on a client’s specific investment goals, financial situation, liquidity needs, time horizon, risk tolerance and tax sensitivity.

Centurion offers clients a variety of services, including investment management, financial planning and retirement plan consulting.

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OLIO Financial Planning's website says that it will "provide clear guidance for your entire financial life to help you live well."  

The firm works with both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as charities and retirement plans.

There is no set account minimum at this fee-only firm.

OLIO's advisory team holds multiple certifications, including designations as certified financial planner (CFP).

OLIO Financial Planning Background

OLIO Financial Planning is still a young firm, as it was independently founded in 2015 by Andrew J. Miller. Miller still works at OLIO, serving as its CEO, chief compliance officer (CCO), managing member and principal owner.

OLIO primarily offers financial planning and investment management, but its services can also help clients with student loans, tax returns, divorce decrees, employment and business arrangements, mortgages and more.

OLIO Financial Planning Investing Strategy

As its name states, OLIO Financial Planning is primarily focused on helping clients build out their short- and long-term financial plans. However, investing is a part of this equation, as the firm provides investment planning and consultation services as well. In fact, advisors can help with customized asset allocation planning, investment analysis, rebalances, asset selection and more.

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Alexander Randolph Advisory is a fee-only firm that works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as charitable organizations.

The firm does not impose a minimum account balance to engage in services. However, it will generally charge new clients an annual fee of $5,000 for investment portfolio management.

Alexander Randolph Advisory Background

Headquartered in McLean, Alexander Randolph Advisory has been in business since 1991.

The current principal owner is the firm’s chief compliance officer Gary W. Schlaffer.

Alexander Randolph Advisory Investment Strategy

As with other firms, Alexander Randolph Advisory says that it makes financial recommendations based on a client’s specific objectives, financial needs and risk tolerance.

Alexander Randolph Advisory primarily offers investment and wealth management services. The firm also provides retirement planning, income and estate tax planning, among other financial services for individuals.

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SageVest Wealth Management is a fee-only firm that earns its compensation from client-paid fees rather than third-party financial product sales commissions.

The firm's entire client base is made up of individuals, with most of them coming in above the high-net-worth threshold.

SageVest's account minimum is $1 million, though it may be willing to accept clients with less than that.

SageVest advisory team holds multiple certifications, including the certified financial planner (CFP) designation.

SageVest Wealth Management Background

SageVest Wealth Management was first established in 2007 by the current firm president Jennifer Myers, who is also the firm's sole owner.

Investment management and financial planning services are both available through SageVest. The latter can cover topics like estate planning, asset protection planning, cash flow planning, retirement planning, philanthropic gift planning and more.

SageVest Wealth Management Investing Strategy

When working with a new client, advisors at SageVest Wealth Management will work with you to figure out what type of investment profile best fits your current situation, goals and needs. This will involve coming up with a specific risk tolerance, time horizon and income requirements that your advisor can abide by when formulating your portfolio's asset allocation plan.

Based on the above information, the firm will divide your assets between multiple investment securities. At SageVest, these can include stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, real estate, commodities and alternative investments.