Top Financial Advisors in Alpharetta, GA

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Merit Financial Group, a large fee-based advisory firm, is the top-rated practice in Alpharetta. In addition to its headquarters in Alpharetta, Merit has branch locations across the country. Its team holds multiple certifications, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered financial consultant (ChFC), accredited estate planner (AEP) and accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) designations. 

The vast majority of the firm's individual clients do not have a high net worth, although Merit also works with high-net-worth individuals, as well. It also serves pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations and charitable organizations.

The firm says it may impose an account minimum, depending on the type of services a client requires. Merit may also allocate your assets to portfolios offered through LPL Financial, which may require a minimum account size ranging from $1,000 to $100,000, depending on the investment advisory program you're enrolled in.

As a fee-based firm, certain on-staff advisors can earn commissions from insurance or securities sales. Despite this, the firm abides by a fiduciary duty, legally binding it to act in your best interest.

It also offers the services of brokers and insurance agents in the office, plus access to LPL Financial advisory programs. Fees for portfolio management services are a percentage based on the client’s assets under management (AUM), ranging up to 2.50%. The firm also charges an all-inclusive fee for participants in Merit Financial’s wrap fee program. Financial planning services are provided for a flat fee or at an hourly rate.

Merit Financial primarily uses a long-term, diversified investment strategy. Applying mainly fundamental analysis, it generally invests in mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), individual stocks and bonds, as well as variable annuities.

Individual portfolios are designed according to the client's specific needs and goals. This involves reviewing their risk tolerance, time horizon, long- and short-term goals, and income needs. Clients can impose some restrictions on the management of their money. Merit also offers access to LPL Financial model portfolios. 

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Clear Investment Research offers retirement plans and consulting services to a number of companies. These services make up the lion's share of the firm’s business on an AUM basis. However, the firm also works with individual clients, providing both asset management and financial planning services. 

The advisory team at this fee-only firm includes those who hold the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified public accountant (CPA) and accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) designations. The firm does not have a minimum investment, and portfolios can be managed on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis. 

For its individual clients, Clear Investment provides investment advisory services and financial planning. It collects a percentage of AUM as its fee in the first case and an hourly or fixed rate for the latter. Hourly rates for financial planning range from $250 to $350, while fixed fees start at $1,200. The practice also offers a wrap fee program, where service, transactions and other costs are bundled into one all-inclusive fee.

When putting together client portfolios, the firm looks to make long-term purchases, expecting to hold securities for at least a year. It applies fundamental analysis in its securities selection process. This method of analysis looks to find securities that have a higher intrinsic value than their current market value.

Rather than adhere to a specific selection of securities, this firm will invest in anything that falls in line with clients' goals. Although the firm typically doesn't look to do so, it may invest in cash holdings.

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Forthright Wealth Management is a fee-based firm, as some advisors can receive commissions when they sell certain insurance products or securities to clients. While this creates a potential conflict of interest, the firm is legally required to act in clients' best interests at all times.

The firm does not require a minimum amount of investable assets, but it does have a $2,500 minimum annual fee. About 60% of  Forthright Wealth's client base is made up of non-high-net-worth individuals, while high-net-worth individuals comprise the remaining portion. Forthright Wealth also serves corporations, charities, trusts and estates.

Forthright Wealth primarily offers investment advisory services with financial planning included. Clients pay a tiered fee that's calculated as a percentage of assets under management. For example, you'll pay 0.90% on your first $500,000 under management, 0.75% on your next $1.5 million, and so on. 

The firm takes a long-term approach to investing, making purchases with the expectation of holding them for at least a year. It bases its securities selection primarily on fundamental analysis. It constructs portfolios mainly using mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), common stocks and individual bonds. When appropriate, it may also recommend or select separate account managers.

If you have some restrictions that you'd like to place on the management of your assets, the firm will allow you to do so. The firm will need to approve them, though.

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Wealth Science Advisors works exclusively with individuals and families. The team at Wealth Science Advisors holds a number of financial certifications, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and chartered life underwriter (CLU) designations.  

The firm does not impose a minimum account size. Wealth Science Advisors may charge fees that are based on a percentage of assets under management, flat fees and hourly charges. Some advisors on staff are licensed insurance agents who receive continued compensation from insurance products they previously sold. However, they no longer sell these products on a commission basis, so you won't have to worry about navigating potential conflicts of interest when receiving insurance-related recommendations.

In addition to standard portfolio management and financial planning, Wealth Science Advisors touts its proprietary Money Happiness service, a personalized system tailored to your specific money personality and financial goals. 

Wealth Science Advisors manages client portfolios on a discretionary basis, meaning they assume full control over accounts and the transactions made within them. The firm has developed its own client assessment system that it uses to determine how to construct individual portfolios. Advisors rely on modern portfolio theory to design diversified portfolios for clients, allocating their assets to mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), individual stocks and bonds. 

MPWM Advisory Solutions is a fee-based advisory firm that works with individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, charitable organizations and retirement plans.

MPWM sponsors a wrap fee program, where a single fee covers both investment advisory services and transaction costs. Additionally, clients may be placed in advisory programs offered by LPL Financial, such as Model Wealth Portfolios, Manager Access Select, Guided Wealth Portfolios and Optimum Market Portfolios. Account minimums vary by program, ranging from $5,000 to $50,000.

As a fee-based firm, certain advisors are also licensed as registered representatives of LPL Financial and as insurance professionals. This means they may earn commissions from securities or insurance sales, in addition to the advisory fees charged by MPWM. Even so, the firm is bound by fiduciary duty, requiring it to act in clients’ best interests.

Portfolio management fees are typically charged quarterly and can be up to 2.25% of assets under management, depending on account complexity and size. When independent money managers are used, total blended fees may reach as high as 2.60%. Financial planning is available on a flat-fee or hourly basis, while retirement plan advisory services are charged between 0.25% and 0.75% annually.

The firm’s advisors may operate under different DBA names and serve clients through both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management. MPWM generally employs a long-term, diversified investment strategy, relying on fundamental analysis and modern portfolio theory. Investment options may include individual stocks and bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options, fee-based variable annuities and structured products.

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Power Wealth Management provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management services. Its team holds multiple professional credentials, including the chartered financial analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) designations.

The majority of Power Wealth Management’s clients are individuals, including those with and without a high net worth. The firm also works with estates, trusts and retirement plans, offering both discretionary portfolio management and non-discretionary retirement plan consulting services.

Unlike many larger firms, Power Wealth Management does not impose a strict account minimum. However, it reserves the right to terminate accounts it deems too small to manage effectively. For qualified clients, the firm may also recommend private fund investments, such as private equity or real estate funds.

Power Wealth Management operates as a fee-based firm. In addition to charging asset-based fees for wealth management and portfolio management services (which can range up to 0.90% annually), some affiliated advisors are also licensed insurance agents. Through an affiliated insurance agency, they may earn commissions on the sale of insurance products. Despite these potential conflicts, Power Wealth Management affirms its fiduciary duty to act in clients’ best interests.

The firm’s investment strategies are tailored to each client’s risk tolerance, goals and time horizon. Its investment committee relies on fundamental and technical analysis when allocating client assets, generally using mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), individual equities, fixed income and, in some cases, private funds. 

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TandemGrowth Financial Advisors is a fee-only firm that works with individual clients above and below the high-net-worth threshold. The advisory team at TandemGrowth, which primarily manages assets on a discretionary basis, includes those who hold the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) designations, among other certifications. 

While the firm doesn't impose a minimum account size, it doesn't charge a minimum quarterly fee of $1,500. As a result, if you have less than $600,000 under management, your annual fee will exceed 1% of your assets under management. 

The boutique firm offers wealth management services, which include financial planning and portfolio management services. It also offers these services as a courtesy to adult children of its clients. 

TandemGrowth can help with: risk management, college savings plans, estate planning, retirement planning and tax planning. 

TandemGrowth's approach combines “purpose-built planning and evidence-based investing.” It builds customized portfolios, using fundamental, technical and cyclical methods of securities analysis.

Generally, it allocates client assets among mutual funds and exchange-traded (ETFs), and to a much lesser extent, independent managers. 

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Ridge Capital Management is a fee-based advisory firm that primarily serves individuals above and below the high-net-worth threshold. There is no minimum account size to become a client, but your advisor may earn commissions when selling securities to you. While this creates a potential conflict of interest, the firm and its advisors must act in your best interests. 

Advisors on staff hold a number of certifications, including the following designations: Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified private wealth advisor (CPWA), accredited wealth management advisor (AWMA), chartered financial consultant (ChFC), chartered life underwriter (CLU) and chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC).

Ridge Capital Management's services are focused on financial planning, portfolio management, retirement planning, risk management, tax planning and estate planning. The firm can manage assets on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis, meaning you can choose to give Ridge Capital Management full discretion to make transactions within your account.

Ridge Capital Management builds portfolios using a wide range of securities, including U.S. and international stocks, exchange-traded funds, mutual funds and alternative investments. When appropriate, the firm will enlist the services of a third-party manager to serve as a sub-advisor on your account. 

As for management strategies, the firm relies on asset allocation and diversification. It will also engage in periodic rebalancing to bring your mix of assets back within your target asset allocation.

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Wealth With No Regrets® is an Alpharetta-based financial advisory firm that provides integrated wealth management and planning services that include portfolio management, retirement income strategies, tax and charitable planning, insurance and risk management, and estate or legacy planning.

The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth individuals, small businesses and charitable organizations. 

While the firm does not impose a formal minimum account size for its investment advisory services, it does charge planning fees that range from $1,900 to $25,000 or more depending on complexity, as well as quarterly portfolio management fees of up to 1.40% annually. In addition to fee-based management, some advisors are licensed insurance agents and may receive commissions from the sale of insurance or annuity products. Despite this, the firm is bound by fiduciary duty to act in clients’ best interests.

Clients work with the firm to create personalized financial profiles and investment plans, which reflect their specific risk tolerance, time horizon and goals. Portfolios are managed on a discretionary basis and reviewed at least annually, with strategies generally focusing on equities, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds and fee-based annuity products. The firm emphasizes long-term investing, risk management and strategic thinking in its investment philosophy.

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Elm3 Financial Group is a fee-based practice that works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals and businesses, and does not impose a an investment minimum or account size requirement.

Keep in mind that your advisor may receive commissions when you purchase certain insurance products through them. While this creates a potential conflict of interest – your advisor has a financial incentive to make certain recommendations – your advisor is required to act in your best interest. 

Elm3 Financial Group, a woman-owned firm, was founded in 2006 by Stacey Nickens. The firm split into two businesses in 2022: Elm3 Financial Group and Elm3 CPA Tax and Accounting. Nickens, a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), remains the principal owner of the firm. Nickens also holds the certified public accountant/personal financial specialist (CPA/PFS) designation. 

Elm3 Financial Group offers the following services: investment management, retirement planning, personal insurance advice, Social Security planning, financial planning, estate planning and real estate investment advice. 

While Elm3 Financial Group provides advice on all types of securities, the firm focuses on building portfolios using individual stocks and bonds. This tactic, the firm says, provides for maximum tax efficiency and avoids the layering of fees that other securities may have.  

The firm says it strives to provide active asset management instead of a buy-and-hold strategy. It looks to blend both short- and long-term investing strategies to help clients meet their financial goals. As a result, the firm may trade or use short positions to hedge portfolio risk and enhance returns during times of heightened market volatility. The firm also believes its important to maintain adequate exposure to alternative investments that are less sensitive to market volatility.