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These top financial advisory firms in Chicago can help you focus your search on trusted advisors in your specific area. The winning selections are based on a thorough compilation of financial firm data in the Chicago, IL neighborhoods based on firms with the most client accounts and best reviews.
This list of top financial advisors in Chicago, IL can help you narrow your search and give you peace of mind that you’re hiring a capable, reputable financial professional.
Reviews that the firm
has received
Firms manage at least
$100 million in assets
Firms provide financial planning and investment services
Firms are fee-only
| Financial Advisor | Assets Managed |
|---|---|
| 1. Edelman Financial Engines | $181,300,000,000 |
| 2. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. | $15,800,000,000 |
| 3. Buckingham Strategic Wealth | $14,000,000,000 |
| 4. Brownson, Rehmus & Foxworth, Inc. | $11,241,411,000 |
| 5. RMB Capital Management | $9,200,000,000 |
| 6. Altair Advisers | $4,400,000,000 |
| 7. JMG Financial Group Ltd | $3,788,219,000 |
| 8. Strategic Wealth Partners | $2,600,000,000 |
| 9. Andersen Tax LLC | $2,116,921,000 |
The help of an expert financial advisor can help you not only get organized, but also get prepared for your future. Read each firms description below to discern whether their advisors might be the right fit. Once you narrow your list, here are top questions to ask a financial advisor before hiring.
2700 Patriot Blvd Suite 120
Glenview, IL 60026
Edelman Financial Engines is a financial advisory firm that has $205.60 Billion in assets under management. The firm has helped many people manage their monetary assets, from everyday Americans to hundreds of Fortune 500 companies. The financial giant has 180 branches across the country and offers a myriad of financial services focused on financial planning, investment management, retirement planning, and money management.
Edelman Financial Engines provides objective, fee-based advice and asset management with an aim to help you build a better financial future. They also offer fiduciary services, and are legally and ethically required to put client interests before their own. The financial advisory firm is seen as a leader in the financial space and is known for catering financial portfolios and plans based on their clients’ unique financial goals and needs.
Edelman Financial Engines was officially formed in 2018 when Edelman Financial Services, LLC merged with Financial Engines Advisors, L.L.C. Both of these two firms were in the advisory business for some time before merging. Edelman was established in 1986 by Ric and Jean Edelman, and Financial Engines was created in 1997. Today the firm is the largest independent registered investment advisor in the nation, serving over 1 million people with over $150 Billion assets under management.
939
Founded in 1996
Yes
Retirement Planning, Portfolio Management, Investment Advisory
Requires a $50,000 minimum investment and charges a blended rate between 1.50% and 0.90% for ongoing portfolio management services, depending on the size of the portfolio.
475 North Martingale Road, Suite 300
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Mercer Global Advisors federally registered in 2008 and is a registered investment advisor across the United States. Their founder, Kendrick Mercer started the firm as a law practice in 1985 to work with clients to give them the best service possible and deliver economic freedom so “they don’t have to worry about money.”
The firm follows the fiduciary standard to put clients’ needs and interests first, and they have been successful for over 30 years helping families navigate their financial needs from starting out in life and building financial portfolios to enjoying retirement. Mercer Global Advisors uses a transparent, fee-only model and a trusted custodian. The annual management fee for ongoing portfolio portfolio management services is negotiable.
According to their website, the Chicago team is “committed to ensuring their clients get the right strategy, plan and attention to meet their unique investment needs.” Their wealth management experts include Certified Financial Planners, investment advisors and strategists, estate planners, attorneys and Certified Public Accountants.
238
Founded in 1985
Yes
Investment Management, Financial Planning, Estate Planning, Tax Planning & Preparation, Corporate Trustee
Requires a $250,000 minimum investment.
500 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015
Buckingham Strategic Wealth focuses on “collaborating with clients to find meaning, simplicity and innovative solutions to life’s financial questions” according to their website. They federally registered in 2007 and provides investment advisory services for 7,315 clients. They offer an Investment Policy Committee, which is a full-time team made up of advisors, researchers and financial specialists who continuously study, evaluate and apply the latest peer-reviewed financial research to ensure their firm recommendations live up to their fiduciary standards.
They diligently help clients find ideal ways to balance risk while providing protection against inflation with the right balance to fit unique needs. The firm uses a transparent fee-only model with their clients as well as a trusted custodian. Buckingham Strategic Wealth’s Chicago office is located on the North Shore of Chicago.
The annual asset-based fee at Buckingham Strategic Wealth is between 0.40% and 1.25% per year of assets under management.
290
Founded in 2007
Yes
Financial Planning, Investment Management, Portfolio Management, Wealth Management, Tax Planning
$500,00 minimum investment required to initiate services as a new client.
200 S Wacker Dr Suite 2300
Chicago, IL 60606
Brownson, Rehmus & Foxworth has been an independent investment advice and financial counseling firm for clients since 1969. The firm federally registered in 2014, is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) in 21 states with a licensed staff of 47 advisors. The firm manages $11 Billion and provides investment advisory services for 947 clients.
They pride themselves on “advising clients on all aspects of their lives that have financial implications.” They customize their advice and services based on each client’s individual goals, needs and circumstances, and they boast that their “objectivity, expertise, comprehensiveness and close-working relationships” give them client trust.
Brownson, Rehmus & Foxworth use a transparent fee-only model, a trusted custodian and have a good client-to-advisor ratio with one licensed advisor for every 21 clients (in an industry where the average is 1 advisor to 50 clients). Management fees typically vary from 0.15% to 1.00% of assets under management.
58
Founded in 1969
Yes
Financial Planning, Investment Management, Retirement Planning, Portfolio Management, Income & Estate Taxes, Insurance Planning
Minimum investment of $1,500,000.
115 S LaSalle Street 34th floor
Chicago, IL 60603
RMB Capital Management has been servicing clients in Chicago since 2005 and provides holistic financial planning services in addition to asset allocation recommendations and investment implementation. The independent, employee-owned firm focuses on helping clients find solutions to their unique financial needs through wealth management in addition to helping clients manage investments through asset management and retirement planning strategies.
RMB Capital Management was recently named by Barron’s magazine as one of the “Top 40 Independent Advisory Firms” in the nation. Their investment strategy is centered around “taking a long-term view, conducting fundamental analysis, being opportunistic yet disciplined and avoiding unnecessary risk,” its website explains. RMB Capital Management offers an “open architecture” model, which means their clients’ assets are managed both internally and externally.
RMB Capital Management charges a blended rate between 375 percent and 0.5 percent for ongoing portfolio management services, depending on the size of the portfolio.
205
Founded in 2005
Yes
Wealth Management, Asset Management, Retirement Plan Solutions
Minimum investment of $1,000,000.
With our trusted network of advisors, we’ll connect you with up to three established planners in your area.
303 W. Madison, Suite 600
Chicago, IL 60606
Altair Advisers is a financial advisory firm that serves clients nationwide and is completely employee-owned. The firm’s current principals previously served under the Investment Advisory Services practice of Arthur Andersen’s Chicago office. The Chicago office has been helping clients with their financial needs since 2002. The firm serves mainly high-net-worth clients as they require a minimum initial investment of $5 million.
Altair Advisers begins their relationship with clients with an in-depth analysis of clients’ financial situation. Common topics include capital sufficiency, income tax planning, cash flow and retirement planning. This information helps establish an investment plan for portfolio asset allocation that matches clients’ unique needs and goals.
Altair Adviser’s Investment Committee currently features four members, including three CFAs. They share eighteen years of investment experience, on average. The firm charges an annual fee for their services based on a percentage of assets under management.
49
Founded in 2002
Yes
Investment Management, Financial Planning, Client Education
Minimum investment of $5 Million.
2001 Butterfield Road
Downers Grove, IL 60515
JMG Financial Group is an employee-owned wealth management firm that serves clients in over 35 states. They offer a fee-only approach which allows them to make objective and independent decisions based on each client’s financial objectives.
JMG offers over 30 years of experience with a tenured team of more than 50 professionals and they offer in-depth financial services in wealth management, investment management and tax planning. On their website, they say they help their clients “grow, manage and sustain their wealth seamlessley and transparently with comprehensive, customized strategies.”
JMG Financial Group manages $2.7 Billion and provides investment advisory services for over 800 clients. They are headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois but also have offices in Chicago and Lake Bluff.
52
Founded in 1985
Yes
Wealth Management, Investment Management, Tax Planning
Required minimum investment of $1,000,000.
520 Lake Cook Rd Suite 270
Deerfield, IL 60015
Strategic Wealth Partners is an independent wealth management firm founded in 2008. The fee-only financial advisory firm consists of a team of professionals that offer personalized financial planning and investment advisory services. The firm’s objective, according to their website, is “to provide clients with successful wealth strategies and independent, objective advice and personalized service.”
The core of their business is the fiduciary duty or putting the clients’ best interest first. They joined the Focus Financial Partners in 2014, which is a leading partnership of independent, fiduciary wealth management firms. They have a number of financial specialists who hold certifications as Certified Financial Planners (CFPs), Chartered Financial Analysts (CFAs), Certified Investment Management Analysts (CIMA) and Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). They also encourage their team members to contribute their time and effort to causes they are passionate about through paid volunteer time in the community as well as a matching gift program.
35
Founded in 2008
Yes
Financial Planning, Investment Advisory, Financial Counseling
Required minimum investment of $1,000,000.
71 South Wacker Suite 2600
Chicago, IL 60606
Andersen tax is one of the largest and most respected national independent financial firms offering tax, investment advisory and valuation services. They have been serving the Dallas area for over a decade and offer fiduciary services, meaning they are legally and ethically required to put their client interests before their own.
Andersen Tax is the founding member of Andersen Global, an international association of legally separate, independent member firms with nearly 4,000 financial professionals worldwide and a presence in over 129 locations. Each location has an operating model structured to allow Managing Directors to “roll up their sleeves” to work directly with clients. The Dallas location requires a $0 minimum investment and charges a blended rate between 1.00 percent and 0.40 percent for ongoing portfolio management services, depending on the size of the portfolio.
850
Founded in 2003
Yes
Financial Planning, Investment Management, Tax Planning
No advisor minimum, but there is fee of $1,000 on every $100,000.
Smart money-management and taking measures to prepare for your future is one of the best investments you can make. That’s why choosing a financial advisor you can trust is one of the most important things you can do for a a successful financial future.
Advisors should be able to directly answer your questions with detailed, documented proof of their fee structure, standards, code of ethics and policies. This list of top financial advisor firms in the Chicago area can help you find an advisor who not only meets your unique needs, but also helps you set your financial goals in motion.
*Criteria: Compiled FINRA data and public advisory firm data for financial advisory firms who:
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