In wealth management, the gravitational pull toward RIAs hasn’t slowed down. Advisors continue to peel away from wirehouses and brokerage firms in favor of the independence, flexibility and client-first reputation that registered investment advisors offer.
Over the past several years, the number of professionals choosing the RIA-only route has climbed dramatically — a shift showing no signs of slowing down in the coming years. In its latest U.S. financial advisor study, Cerulli Associates projected that independent RIAs will grow at a 4% compound annual rate through 2028, far exceeding alternative channels.
But while “RIA” has become for some a kind of gold-standard label, not every firm operating under it offers the same employee experience. Workplaces vary widely in culture, benefits, leadership style, communication, advancement opportunities and even something as simple as where the office is located.
And unless you’ve spent time inside a firm, it can be tough to tell which RIA truly offers the better workplace. That’s what makes this project useful for advisors: Financial Planning partnered with Best Companies Group to create a nationwide ranking of the best RIAs to work for.
This year’s list was compiled through a two-part review of firms across the country. First, financial professionals working inside these organizations were surveyed about leadership, compensation and benefits, communication, training, workplace environment, engagement and overall satisfaction. Separately, researchers examined each firm’s policies, practices, benefit structures, systems and demographics to build a fuller picture of how each workplace operates.
To be eligible, firms had to be registered with the SEC, have at least 10 U.S.-based employees, maintain a physical U.S. location and have been in business for at least one year. Scores from the employee survey and the independent evaluation were combined to create each firm’s final ranking.
After tallying the results, 60 RIAs emerged as standouts — firms where employees say they feel supported, valued and excited to show up each day.
Scroll through our list below to see this year’s winners. (And see last year’s list here.)
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