Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Setting yourself up for a steady financial future is hard when you don’t know where to start. That’s where financial advisors come in. These firms can help you save for retirement, plan your children’s college funds and invest your savings. But deciding which firm to work with can also be a tough decision. To help, we combed through the top choices in Albuquerque, New Mexico and detailed our findings below. You can also try SmartAsset's free financial advisor matching tool, which will connect you with up to three vetted advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Find a Fiduciary Financial Advisor
We match more than 50,000 people with financial advisors per month. Get connected to an advisor that serves your area today.Rank | Financial Advisor | Assets Managed | Minimum Assets | Financial Services | More Information |
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1 | Ulrich Investment Consultants Find an Advisor | $2,748,530,621 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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2 | REDW Wealth, LLC Find an Advisor | $896,400,602 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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3 | John Moore & Associates, Inc. Find an Advisor | $722,571,918 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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4 | Portfolio Wealth Advisors Find an Advisor | $258,187,630 | $1.5 million |
| Minimum Assets$1.5 millionFinancial Services
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5 | MGM, LLC Find an Advisor | $144,698,132 | $1,000 minimum annual fee |
| Minimum Assets$1,000 minimum annual feeFinancial Services
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6 | Hanseatic Management Services, Inc. Find an Advisor | $106,000,000 | $100,000 |
| Minimum Assets$100,000Financial Services
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7 | Sandia Wealth Management Find an Advisor | $140,894,100 | $100,000 |
| Minimum Assets$100,000Financial Services
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8 | Sklar Capital Advisors, LLC Find an Advisor | $97,924,279 | $50,000 |
| Minimum Assets$50,000Financial Services
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What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in Albuquerque, we first identified all firms registered with the SEC in the city. Next, we filtered out firms that don't offer financial planning services, those that don't serve primarily individual clients and those that have disclosures on their record. The qualifying firms were then ranked according to the following criteria:
- AUMFirms with more total assets under management are ranked higher.
- Individual Client CountFirms who serve more individual clients (as opposed to institutional clients) are ranked higher.
- Clients Per AdvisorFirms with a lower ratio of clients per financial advisor are ranked higher.
- Age of FirmFirms that have been in business longer are ranked higher.
All information is obtained through public records and is updated annually after the firms’ form ADV filing. This list may include firms that have a business relationship with SmartAsset, in which SmartAsset is compensated for lead referrals. Such relationships have no impact on our rankings, and firms are included and ranked based strictly on the above criteria. SmartAsset is not a client of the aforementioned firms, and did not receive compensation for including any of the firms on the aforementioned list.
Ulrich Investment Consultants
Ulrich Investment Consultants (UIC) has more than $2 billion in assets under management (AUM) and specializes in software-backed financial planning strategies and investment portfolio management.
The fee-based firm works with high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, businesses and sovereign governments. There are no set account minimums with Ulrich.
The advisory team at Ulrich Investment Consultants holds mutiple certifications, including designations as:
- certified financial planner (CFP)
- chartered financial analyst (CFA)
- certified wealth strategist (CWS)
As a fee-based firm, some of the on-staff advisors at Ulrich can earn commissions from insurance sales. Despite the potential conflict of interest this creates, the firm is bound by fiduciary duty to act in your best interest.
Ulrich Investment Consultants Background
Ulrich Investment Consultants was formed in 2007 under the name Ulrich Consulting Group. The name was changed to Ulrich Investment Consultants in 2017. President and CEO John P. Ulrich is the principal owner of the firm, and vice president Molly Ritz is a minority owner.
The firm provides investment management, financial planning and consulting services. Investment management services are provided on a discretionary and non-discretionary basis. Financial planning services can cover retirement planning, income tax planning, estate planning or other matters specific to individual clients.
Ulrich Investment Consultants Investment Philosophy
When analyzing potential investments, Ulrich Investment Consultants performs research both quantitatively and qualitatively. The quantitative research involves consulting data from Callan Associates, Morningstar and other sources. The qualitative research includes interviews with managers and reviewing investment documentation.
Ulrich typically selects third-party investment managers to manage client assets. This can be through mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), alternative investments and separate accounts.
REDW Wealth
The majority of the clients of REDW Wealth, a fee-only firm, is comprised of individuals above and below the high-net-worth threshold. The firm also maintains advisory relationships with pension and profit-sharing plans, charities and corporations.
As a fee-only firm all of its compensation comes from client-paid fees and not third-party sales commissions.
In addition to its investment advisory services, REDW Wealth markets itself as one of the Southwest’s largest accounting and business consulting firms. The firm has offices in Albuquerque, NM, and Phoenix, AZ.
REDW Wealth Background
The firm was founded in 1997. With every employee holding a stake in the firm, REDW Wealth fits squarely in the "employee-owned" category. This is somewhat uncommon among financial advisor firms, which are frequently owned by one or two individuals. This means the advisors at REDW have equity in the business, which can be beneficial for clients.
REDW's advisory team holds certifications like certified public accountant (CPA), certified financial planner (CFP), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), enrolled agent (EA), chartered life underwriter (CLU), accredited estate planner (AEP), chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and more.
REDW Wealth Services
When you work with REDW for wealth management, you can choose your client service level depending on your financial objectives and situation. The first level is basic wealth building, designed for smaller accounts, IRAs, rollover accounts and anyone who prefers “to be on autopilot.” Your account will primarily consist of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds chosen by REDW advisors. The account is automatically rebalanced to keep on track with your target asset allocation throughout your life. You’ll be charged a fixed fee for this service. REDW’s basic wealth building service is very similar to a robo-advisor, such as Wealthfront or Betterment.
Custom wealth building is the next level, for those with more than $500,000 and less than $5 million in investable assets. With this level, you get a portfolio that’s managed from a tax perspective and can include many more securities besides mutual funds and ETFs, such as stocks, bonds, and accounts held in employer plans or at brokerage firms. Accounts over $3 million can get free tax return preparation.
The last level for individuals or families is specialized wealth building, designed for those with more than $5 million in investable assets. This level includes everything in the prior level plus meeting times at your discretion, research, special investment requests and help managing required minimum distributions (RMDs).
John Moore & Associates
John Moore & Associates (JMA), a fee-based financial advisor firm, employs some advisors who may earn commissions from the sale of securities. This creates a potential conflict of interest, though the firm is legally bound to act in clients' best interests at all times. The firm also has an office in Scottsdale, Arizona.
According to its website, JMA's services are "guided by our faith, accountable to God first, followed by our families and clients. We will model Judeo-Christian ethics." The firm was founded in 1997 by a husband and wife team, though it has grown quite a bit since that time.
There is no minimum account size at JMA. The firm's client base is made up of high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charities and corporations.
John Moore & Associates Background
John and Connie Moore opened JMA in 1997, and they remain the majority owners of the firm today. John Moore has over 30 years of experience in investment management and is a certified investment management analyst (CIMA) and certified kingdom advisor (CKA). The latter certification is granted to advisors who apply biblical principles in their financial advice. Connie Moore serves as the business administrator of the firm.
Beyond John Moore's aforementioned certifications, the firm's staffers hold multiple designations as:
- certified financial planner (CFP)
- accredited asset management specialist (AAMS)
- accredited investment fiduciary (AIF)
- chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC)
John Moore & Associates Investment Strategy
JMA can establish a diversified portfolio that adheres to your individual risk tolerance, investment goals and time horizon.
When evaluating securities, the firm examines the potential of companies it may invest in based on their earnings, debt, competitors and other information. It uses several resources of information including financial newspapers and magazines as well as industry research published by third parties.
Portfolio Wealth Advisors
Portfolio Wealth Advisors is an Albuquerque-based fee-only firm that serves both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals. As a fee-only firm, its income comes from client-paid fees. As a result, neither the firm nor its advisors receive any third-party commissions for things like insurance or securities sales.
This firm charges clients one rate based on assets. Those between $250,000 and $999,999 pay 1.5% of assets under management. Those between $1 million and $4,999,999 pay 1.1%. And those over $5 million pay 0.85%.
The firm says that it currently requires a $1.5 million asset minimum.
For its advisory services, the firm mainly charges asset-based fees and hourly fees.
Portfolio Wealth Advisors Background
Founded in 2008, the firm has a $250,000 minimum asset requirement for new clients. The firm offers investment management, estate planning and insurance services to a client base of high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as a handful of charitable organizations.
Portfolio Wealth Advisors Background
Lee Munson is the founder and sole owner of Portfolio Wealth Advisors. He started his career on Wall Street, working for Charles Schwab. Munson is a chartered financial analyst (CFA), certified financial planner (CFP) and the author of “Rigged Money: Beating Wall Street At Its Own Game.”
Portfolio Wealth Advisors Investment Strategy
Portfolio Wealth Advisors uses a combination of fundamental analysis and technical analysis to evaluate investment risk and opportunity. The former analyzes the factors that determine a company’s value, such as the firm’s financial reports and earnings. Technical analysis is the study of price movements and other market data.
As a client, your assets will be invested in a mix of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), stocks and bonds. Your plan is specific to your financial goals and objectives, time horizon, cash flow needs and risk tolerance, among other factors.
MGM, LLC
MGM is a fee-only firm that serves individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, foundations, charitable organizations and corporations. Client accounts are managed on a discretionary basis.
The firm, which runs offices in Washington state, Oregon and Idaho, has 12 certified financial planners (CFP). Some advisors have other professional designations. As a fee-only firm MGM revenue comes exclusively from client fees, not from third parties like insurance companies for the sale of annuities and other such insurance policies.
Although there is no set account minimum, most clients come to MGM with at least $500,000 in investable assets.
MGM Background
James F. CacGillivray, David C. Grosjean and Mary O. Mahoney founded MGM in 1993. In 2005 in August 2005. The firm is owned by The H Group, and Christopher K. Hicks serves as managing member and chief compliance officer.
Fees range from a high of 1.95% for account less than $100,000 to 0.5% for accounts greater than $5 million.
MGM Investment Philosophy
The firm aims to create broadly diversified portfolios for all clients in the worldwide fixed-income and equity markets, combined with periodic rebalancing.
When developing investment advice the firm engages in "top-down, global macroeconomic analysis" and fundamental analysis.
MGM offers advice on investments primarily including mutual funds. However, we may also utilize other investments such as: exchange-traded funds, equity securities, debt securities, certificates of deposit, municipal securities, U.S. government securities and money market funds when appropriate.
Hanseatic Management Services
Hanseatic Management Services, a fee-only firm, serves high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, other investment advisors and corporations.
It has an account minimum of $100,000 in investable assets. For institutional clients, the minimum investment is much higher at $1 million. And for model portfolio services, the firm imposes a $10 million minimum requirement. Each of these minimums may be waived by the firm, though.
For advisory services, the firm charges a percentage of asset-based fees and fixed fees for other services.
Hanseatic Management Services Background
Hanseatic Management Services was founded in June 1995. The firm’s owners are Russell T. Sanderson and Brian R. Stangel, with Sanderson being the majority owner.
The firm provides investment services in the form of direct, personalized portfolio management, financial planning and model portfolio usage. Services are tailored to each client’s unique circumstances, goals and preferences.
Hanseatic Management Services Investment Philosophy
Hanseatic Management Services uses a proprietary model to evaluate potential equity investments. The model assigns stocks a score that reflects their risk/reward profiles. The firm focuses on individual stocks with the highest scores, and it then constructs portfolios around those stocks according to clients' needs.
In addition to individual stocks, the firm may also invest in fixed-income securities and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This is important, as the inclusion of more than just stocks can help the firm diversify your portfolio.
Sandia Wealth Management
Sandia Wealth Management is a fee-only firm that works with high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans and corporations.
Clients who engage in portfolio management services will have to pay a percentage of assets under management, up to 1%. Financial planning services will generally by charged a minimum of $350 for two hours and $175 for each additional hour.
The firm requires you to maintain a minimum account balance of $100,000. But it may waive this requirement at its discretion.
Sandia Wealth Management Background
Sandia was formed as a limited liability company in 2012 and registered subsequently as an investment advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Peter T. Lehrman is the owner and sole member of the firm.
As a fee-only firm, compensation is earned directly from client fees. It does not collect commissions from any third-parties.
Sandia Wealth Management Investing Strategy
Sandia uses fundamental, technical and quantitative analysis to help manage client investment accounts.
The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning and other tailored services based on the client’s investment needs and goals. And as with other firms, portfolio strategies depend on client risk tolerance and other personal factors.
Sandia invests in mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), government debt instruments, municipal securities, stocks, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and other types of assets.
Sklar Capital Advisors
Sklar Capital Advisors is a fee-based firm that provides services through a wrap-fee program to non-high-net-worth individuals and high-net-worth individuals, corporations and small businesses. Nearly all accounts are managed on a discretionary basis, but there are some that are managed on a non-discretionary basis.
As a fee-based firm advisors can earn third-party sales commissions when selling insurance products, like annuities, to clients. However, as a fiduciary, Sklar is obligated to put its clients' best interests first, at all times.
Among the professional designations held by staffers are certified financial advisor (CFP) and chartered financial analyst (CFA).
Sklar Capital Advisors Background
The firm was founded by Ron Sklar, who retired in 2021. Saxon Knight and Nicholas Gordon are the firm's principal shareholders.
Fees range from 1.35% for accounts with a balance less than $1.5 million to 1.5% for accounts with a balance of $10 million or higher.
Sklar Capital Advisors Investment Philosophy
Sklar's process begins by assessing each client's goals, timeline and risk profile, among other variables. The firm then assesses opportunities for each client by using various analytical techniques, including technical, fundamental, cyclical and qualitative.
The firm uses both long- and short-term investments to help meet client objectives and maintain appropriate asset allocations.