Top 10 Financial Advisors in Raleigh, NC

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CAPTRUST is a firm with hundreds of advisors across the country. Several dozen of those advisors are based in Raleigh, where the firm is headquartered.

The advisory team holds multiple certifications, including certified financial planner (CFP), chartered financial analyst (CFA), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), certified public accountant (CPA) and chartered retirement plan specialist (CRPS).

You’ll need at least $50,000 to be a client of this fee-based firm.

CAPTRUST works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as banking institutions, investment companies, retirement plans, charities, government entities, insurance companies and businesses.

CAPTRUST Background

CAPTRUST was first registered with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2003. It’s almost 100% owned by CapFinancial Group, LLC, which is in turn owned by CapFinancial Holdings, Inc. and Halftime Holdings LLC. And, according to the firm's brochure, GTCR Fund XII B owns more than 25% of CAPTRUST indirectly through its ownership of Halftime Holdings, LLC.

The firm offers a wide range of services to institutional clients, primarily retirement plans. For individual clients, the firm provides investment advisory services, financial planning services and estate planning services.

CAPTRUST Investment Strategy

CAPTRUST begins formulating its investment strategies with the goals of its clients, making sure to factor in each client’s investment objectives and risk tolerance.

Then, the firm develops an asset allocation based on equities, fixed income, strategic opportunities, commodities and real estate with a risk profile that’s appropriate to the client. For security analysis, the firm uses fundamental, technical, quantitative and qualitiative analysis.

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Curi Capital is a fee-based firm that works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. Institutional clients include pooled investment vehicles, retirement plans, charities, insurance companies and businesses.

Minimums vary based on account type. For example, the firm requires that each client meet a minimum account size of $250,000 for a Partnership or Limited Partnership account, while the Private Investor program requires a minimum of $100,000. 

The firm’s advisory staff holds multiple certifications, including chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified financial planner (CFP) and certified public accountant (CPA) designations.

As a fee-based firm, some of its advisors may receive a commission from selling insurance products. Despite the potential conflict of interest, Curi Capital is still a fiduciary and is legally obligated to act in the best interest of its clients.

Curi Capital Background

Founded in 2016, Curi Capital bought KDI Capital Partners, LLC in 2021. The firm is owned by Curi Capital, LLC, which in turn is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MMIC Investment Holdings, Inc. MMIC Investment Holdings, Inc. is wholly-owned by Curi Holdings, Inc. 

Curi Capital Investment Strategy 

Curi Capital's investment philosophy is based on targeted asset allocation and risk diversification. The firm offers eight investment strategies to guide its clients' investments:

• Strategic Only: exchange-traded funds (ETFs) only portfolios with no tactical asset allocation, typically for accounts below $50,000. 
• IPS Strategies: diversified asset allocations that include ETFs, mutual funds, and closed-end funds. 
• Custom Portfolios: generally following an IPS strategy based on a client's risk tolerance and investment objectives, but also includes individual stocks and bonds.
• Corporate or Muni Bond and Individual Equity Separately Managed Accounts: sub-advised by third-party managers.
• Private Investments: currently includes allocations to Curi Capital Real Estate Income and Growth Fund I, SharpVue Real Estate Funds (2) and SharpVue private lending fund.
• KDI Core Equities: the principal focus is on U.S. equities, with potential limited investments in equity securities of European and/or Canadian companies. 
• KDI Highly Concentrated: this strategy is employed to target certain foundations, corporations, family offices and endowments. The strategy will hold up to 15 intensely researched large and highly liquid mid-cap stocks and ADR's. KDI Highly Concentrated strategy seeks to identify companies and industries changing due to the impact of technology and to invest in those companies that will benefit from those changes.

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Founders Financial Alliance (FFA) is a fee-based firm that serves many clients, including both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations and business. 

The firm does not impose any minimum account requirements on clients.

FFA has affiliations with a broker-dealer and representatives of the firm may be insurance agents or brokers, and select members of the firm who are registered representatives of these affiliates may receive commissions for the sale of products. This is a conflict of interest, but the firm is still a fiduciary and must legally act in the best interest of the client.

Founders Financial Alliance Background

Founders Financial Alliance, is a registered investment advisor (RIA). Tom W. Porter, Jr. is the firm's founding member and formed the company in August 2014. He is full owner of the firm.

Headquartered in Raleigh, the firm has other locations under various "doing business as" (DBA) names in several cities, some of which include Cary and Greenville in North Carolina; St. Petersburg, Florida; and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Founders Financial Alliance Investment Strategy

FFA provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to clients based on various factors such as individual goals, objectives, time horizon, needs and risk tolerance. Investment strategies and recommendations by IARs are tailored to the individual needs of each client.

The firm emphasizes regular account supervision. Portfolios consist of individual stocks or bonds, exchange traded funds (ETFs), options, mutual funds and other public and private securities or investments. It uses hard evidence and resarch to create tailored portfolios. Analysis methods include fundamental analysis, technical analysis and cyclical analysis, as well as modern portfolio theory and third-party manager analysis.

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Financial Symmetry has several certified financial planners (CFPs) on its staff, as well as other certified professionals.

The firm has no strict minimum account size, but it does have a minimum annual fee, which varies by account type. It’s a fee-only firm. 

Financial Symmetry Inc. Background

Financial Symmetry Inc. was founded in 2001 by Bill Ramsay, who remains a partner at the firm. It’s owned by Ramsay, Chad Smith, Allison Berger, Will Holt, Mike Eklund, Heather Gudac, Cameron Hendricks, Grace Kvantas, Grayson Blazek, Haley Modlin, Angela Keeley-White, Darian Billingsley and Colton Tickle. All major strategic and administrative decisions for the firm are made by its executive team, which consists of the 13 owners. 

Alongside financial planning and investment management, Financial Symmetry also offers retirement planning, tax planning, Social Security analysis, college planning and other services.

Financial Symmetry Inc. Investment Strategy

Financial Symmetry Inc. has an investment committee that meets monthly to evaluate the firm’s long-term investment outlook. The investment committee aims in its research to find any broad mispricings that it may be able to use to its clients’ benefit. 

The firm applies a long-term approach to its investment process. The firm primarily recommends mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for its clients, and it says it chooses asset classes according to each client's risk tolerance and risk capacity. 

Financial Symmetry Inc. has a good offering of client resources. Its blog is updated weekly, with posts on company news and financial how-tos. In another section, Client Stories, the firm gives readers a look at how its services have helped clients deal with financial challenges, from getting ready to retirement to starting a family.

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Capital Investment Counsel is a fee-based firm with millions in assets under management. The firm has an account minimum of $100,000, but it retains the right to waive that minimum at its discretion.

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

As a fee-based firm, Capital Investment Counsel advisors may earn a commission from recommending certain investments. Despite this potential conflict of interest, the firm is still a fiduciary and must legally act in the best interests of its clients.

Capital Investment Counsel Background

Capital Investment Counsel was founded in 1984 by Richard K. Bryant and E.O. Edgerton Jr. The firm is owned by R. Bryant Family Partners, Ltd., a partnership controlled by Bryant. The firm is a part of Capital Investment Companies, a group of companies founded by Richard Bryant that provide a wide range of financial services.

Capital Investment Counsel specializes in individually tailored portfolios of equities and fixed-income securities, and it also provides financial planning services.

Capital Investment Counsel Investment Strategy

Capital Investment Counsel relies on a five-part investment philosophy: emphasizing financially strong, cash-rich companies selling at discounts historically; reinvesting dividends and interest; emphasizing additional contribution to the portfolio; striving to minimize tax liability; and “multiplying” positions in companies that have grown significantly beyond their value.

The firm doesn’t focus on creating “model” portfolios. Rather, it builds individually-tailored portfolios made up of individual equities and fixed-income securities. The firm invests in stocks of all market capitalizations.

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Cardinal Capital Management is a fee-based firm that serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as charities and corporations.

The firm charges an annual investment advisory fee based on a percentage of assets under management.

Clients engaging in investment advisory services will get charged a minimum annual fee of $2,500.

Members of Cardinal Capital’s advisory team can receive commissions for the sale of financial products. While this presents a potential conflict of interest, the firm’s fiduciary duty requires them to act in the clients’ best interests.

Cardinal Capital Management Background

Headquartered in Raleigh, Cardinal Capital was established in 1992. The firm is registered as an investment advisor with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Cardinal Capital is principally owned by Glenn C. Andrews, the firm’s president and chief investment officer.

Cardinal Capital Management Investment Strategy

Cardinal Capital offers both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services.

The firm provides investment advisory services based on the specific needs of each client. According to its brochure, an investment advisor “will ascertain each client’s investment objectives” to thereafter “allocate and/or recommend that the client allocate investment assets consistent with the designated investment objectives.”

The firm also says that it may periodically rebalance and execute transactions for the account based upon reviews.

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Cook Wealth Management Group is a fee-only firm that works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as retirement plans.

The firm’s advisory team holds multiple certifications, including certified financial planner (CFP) and certified public accountant (CPA), among other designations.

Cook Wealth says that it generally does not impose a minimum account size requirement. However, the firm does charge fees for financial planning services.

Cook Wealth Management Group Background

Based in Raleigh, Cook Wealth was organized as a limited liability company (LLC) in 2004.

According to the firm’s brochure, the “advisory practice was initially formed in 1984 as an independent advisory practice and became a registered investment advisor in 2014.”

Cook Wealth is owned and operated by Brian J. Cook, a managing partner at the firm.

Cook Wealth Management Group Investment Strategy

Cook Wealth says in its brochure that it offers investment management services, financial planning services and retirement plan advisory services.

As with other firms, Cook Wealth works with clients to develop a portfolio strategy that is based on their investment goals and objectives, risk tolerance and financial situation.

The firm builds client portfolios with mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Cook Wealth's advisory team may also include individual stocks and bonds to meet client needs.

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Collegiate Capital Management (CCM) is a fee-based firm that serves university professionals across the nation.

CCM does not have a set an account minimum. But the firm’s brochure points out that portfolio management services likely won’t be beneficial for clients with less than $100,000 in investable assets.

Those engaging in investment management services will get charged an asset-based fee of 0.5% or a minimum fee of $2,500 annually, whichever is the highest.

CCM works with both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. Institutional clients also include retirement plans and corporations.

Members of CCM’s advisory team are investment advisor representatives who can receive commissions for the sale of financial products.

Collegiate Capital Management Background

Collegiate Capital Management was established in 1994. It is headquarters are in Raleigh, but has branch office locations in Decatur, Georgia; Charlottesville, Virginia; and Austin, Texas.

The firm is owned by Tony Sigmon. He is the founder, corporate president, chief compliance officer and investment advisor representative.

Collegiate Capital Management Investment Strategy

CCM says in its brochure that it offers guidance across a wide variety of financial-related areas that include:

• Financial Planning
• Charitable giving
• Estate planning
• Insurance planning
• Investment Risk Management
• Portfolio management
• Retirement Income Planning
• Social Security Analysis
• Tax Planning for investments

The firm invests client assets in mutual funds, exchange-traded stocks (ETFs), U.S. government securities, stocks, U.S. corporate debt, money market funds, municipal securities and certificates of deposit (CDs), among other financial investments.

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Oak Harbor Wealth Partners is a fee-based firm that serves both non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as charities and businesses.

For clients engaging in portfolio management, advisors may impose a flat fee based on a percentage of assets under management that will not exceed 1.50%.

Institutional clients, however, are required to have a minimum account balance of $2 million with a maximum fee of 1%.

As a fee-based firm, certain advisors at Oak Harbor 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.

Oak Harbor Wealth Partners Background

Headquartered in Raleigh, Oak Harbor has been serving clients as a limited liability company in North Carolina since 2021.

The firm also does business as Sporting Wealth Partners. And the principal owners are Paul B. Elam, Chris B. Harrell and William R. Hesmer, Jr.

Oak Harbor Wealth PartnersInvestment Strategy

Oak Harbor provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services, institutional consulting services, and financial planning and consulting services to its clients.

Additionally, according to the firm’s brochure, it also provides advisory services to retirement plans and plan participants.

As with other firms, Oak Harbor generally builds portfolios that align with client objectives and risk tolerance.

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Townsend Asset Management has a staff with various professional certifications, including certified financial planner (CFP), certified public accountant (CPA) and chartered financial analyst (CFA).

Townsend Asset Management does not have a set account minimum.

This fee-only firm primarily serves non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension plans, charitable organizations and corporations. 

Townsend Asset Management Background 

Founded in 1982, Townsend Asset Management is owned by Gerald and Katrina Townsend.

The firm takes into account client goals, needs and financial situations when determining a strategy.

Townsend Asset Management Investment Philosophy

Townsend Asset Management offers clients a variety of services, including investment management, financial planning, tax planning, consulting, wealth management and retirement plan rollovers.

The firm invests client assets in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, certificates of deposit (CDs), options or alternative investments.

Townsend Asset Management normally makes long-term purchases but also does short-term. Its primary analysis methods are fundamental and technical analysis.