Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in Baltimore, Maryland
The hunt to find a financial advisor that meets your needs can be challenging and lengthy. That’s why SmartAsset researched all Baltimore-based financial advisors registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and pored through each company’s paperwork. Based on this research, we've provided information on the top financial advisor firms serving Baltimore.
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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 | 1919 Investment Counsel, LLC Find an Advisor | $21,255,587,588 | Varies based on account size |
| Minimum AssetsVaries based on account sizeFinancial Services
|
2 | Facet Find an Advisor | $2,544,660,518 | $500 |
| Minimum Assets$500Financial Services
|
3 | WBH Advisory, Inc. Find an Advisor | $1,294,477,358 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
4 | Brightside Partners Find an Advisor | $853,105,653 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
5 | GGM Wealth Advisors Find an Advisor | $443,078,249 | $250,000 |
| Minimum Assets$250,000Financial Services
|
6 | A.G. Campbell Advisory, LLC Find an Advisor | $411,291,828 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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7 | &Wealth Partners Find an Advisor | $399,089,764 | $10,000 minimum annual fee |
| Minimum Assets$10,000 minimum annual feeFinancial Services
|
8 | Buttonwood Financial Advisors, Inc. Find an Advisor | $308,069,530 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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9 | Armstrong Dixon Find an Advisor | $312,066,617 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
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10 | WPG Advisers, LLC Find an Advisor | $301,238,656 | No set account minimum |
| Minimum AssetsNo set account minimumFinancial Services
|
What We Use in Our Methodology
To find the top financial advisors in Baltimore, 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.
1919 Investment Counsel
1919 Investment Counsel is a fee-only firm that serves both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as investment companies, pensions and profit-sharing plans, charities, local governments and corporations.
The firm has a number of accredited professionals, including chartered financial analysts (CFAs) and Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®).
The minimum account size varies based on the program you participate but can be as low as $10,000.
1919 Investment Counsel Background
1919 Investment Counsel can trace its roots back to, as you might expect, 1919, when it was known as Scudder, Stevens & Clark. In 2014, the firm was renamed 1919 Investment Counsel and was acquired by the Stifel Financial Corporation. Stifel is a full-service brokerage and investment banking firm headquartered in St. Louis and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SF.
Harry O’Mealia serves as the CEO and president of 1919 Investment Counsel. He’s worked in the financial services industry since 1985 and previously worked at JP Morgan and other prominent companies. O’Mealia has an MBA from Columbia University and a law degree from Boston College.
1919 Investment Counsel Specialty Investment Departments
You’ll find some unique investing options at this large firm, including socially responsible investing, global total return investing and multi-cap core equity investing. 1919 Investment Counsel has over 40 years’ of experience in socially responsible investing. Investments include environmentally-focused securities and social and corporate governance.
The global total return option incorporates fundamental analysis to identify global companies in which to invest. These companies have to meet a number of criteria, including well-established and experienced management, the potential for sustained growth, and market cap usually above $500 million.
Multi-cap core equity investing is a strategy that’s focused on U.S. small-cap and mid-cap stocks. This strategy invests in stocks for the long term, using bottom-up fundamental research.
Facet
Facet has a $500 minimum initial account size for its clients, all of whom are individuals, with just a few of a high-net-worth nature. The firm does not advise any institutional clients. Facet has many on-staff financial advisors and planners. Among this group are a large quantity of Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®)
While many firms charge a fee based on assets under management, Facet charges a flat annual fee generally ranging from $2,000 and up per year. This is a fee-only firm, as all of its compensation comes from the fees clients pay and not third-party commissions.
Facet Background
Facet was founded in 2016. The firm has raised money from companies like Warburg Pincus and Slow Ventures, and the current CEO is co-founder Anders Jones. Executive chairman Patrick McKenna, Jones and Warburg Pincus combine to own the firm.
Services offered by the company include comprehensive financial planning, cash flow and income planning, retirement planning, estate planning, debt management, education planning, income tax planning, employee benefit planning and charitable planning.
Facet Investment Strategy
Facet advisors use fundamental, technical and cyclical analysis to pick securities for purchase. The firm uses both long-term and short-term purchases to maximize returns. Potential investments include open-end mutual funds, closed-end mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), individual equities and individual bonds.
WBH Advisory
At WBH Advisory has no minimum account size and it serves many clients without a high net worth. The firm also works with high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans and local governments.
The advisory team at WBH holds multiple certifications, including:
- chartered financial analysts (CFAs)
- Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®)
- certified public accountants (CPAs)
WBH is a fee-only firm, meaning it only makes money from advisory fees. The fees are based on a percentage of assets under management or can be charged as a flat fee.
WBH Advisory Background
WBH Advisory was founded in 1986, and it was formerly known as Wagner Bowman Management Corp. In 2017, it changed its name when ownership of the firm was transferred from founder Daniel E. Wagner to long-time investment professional and chief compliance officer (CCO) Marc J. Hertzberg.
Services offered by the firm include investment management, retirement planning, income tax planning, education fund planning, insurance planning and estate planning.
WBH Advisory Investment Strategy
WBH tailors its investing strategy to the goals and wishes of the client. Potential investments include individual equities, exchange-traded funds, individual bonds, certificates of deposit, mutual funds and publicly traded partnerships. The firm has clients with all-equity portfolios, all-fixed-income portfolios and portfolios made up of a combination of the two. The asset allocation in each portfolio is up to the client.
Brightside Partners
Brightside Partners works almost exclusively with individual clients, the vast majority of whom have a high net worth. The firm does not list a specific minimum account size requirement.
Brightside is a fee-only firm. This means that neither the firm nor any of its advisors receive third-party commissions from the sale of financial products to clients. A fee-based firm, on the other hand, can receive such commissions and is therefore subject to a potential conflict of interest.
Brightside Partners Background
Founded in 2019, Brightside Partners is one of the youngest firms on our Baltimore list. While it's website provides almost no information, the firm is owned by Pace R. Kessenich, Abigail C. Holmes, Ryan D. Pollard, Gregory D. Danseglio, Nicolas R. Daly and Jeffrey R. Cooke. Kessenich is the firm's CEO. There is at least one chartered financial analyst (CFA) on staff.
Brightside describes itself as a "multi-family office and investment advisor catering to families with a shared interest in private market investing." It manages all of its assets on a discretionary basis, providing clients with financial planning, consulting, wealth management and alternative investment management services.
Brightside Partners Investment Strategy
Like many other financial advisory firms, Brightside Partners tailors its investment strategy to the individual needs and wants of its clients. Especially with such a small client base, the firm looks to make sure that each client is treated as an individual, with their financial situation being addressed directly. Advisors at the firm meet on a regular basis with clients to determine and stay up to date with their financial profiles.
Brightside primarily uses pooled privately placed securities (such as hedge funds and private equity funds), private placements and alternative investments. Brightside also invests client assets among mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and third-party money managers. Advisors look to invest across a wide range of risk and liquidity to make profiles as successful and protected as possible.
GGM Wealth Advisors
GGM Wealth Advisors, a fee-only firm, has a $250,000 minimum investment requirement for new clients. In some cases, the firm may decide to waive or reduce this minimum, though. The firm's client base is comprised of mostly high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, as well as businesses, charitable organizations and retirement plans.
This firm has a wide range of certifications on staff. These include Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered financial analysts (CFAs), accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs), certified public accountants (CPAs) and more. The firm was also featured by CNBC as one of its Top 100 Fee-Only Wealth Management Firms.
GGM Wealth Advisors Background
GGM Wealth Advisors has been around for longer than two decades, as it was established in 2000. The firm is owned by Gross Mendelsohn & Associates and Grant Capital Management, LLC.
Custom investment management and financial planning are the two pillars of services at GGM.
GGM Wealth Advisors Investing Strategy
GGM Wealth Advisors works with clients personally before investing their assets. This involves looking into your risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs and long- and short-term goals. These factors will inform what types of securities your assets are invested in, what your asset allocation will look like and how often your investments will be bought on sold.
As your portfolio ages, the firm will review the performance of your investments. If your returns affect your asset allocation's makeup, the firm may rebalance your assets according to your original asset allocation and goals.
A.G. Campbell Advisory
A.G. Campbell Advisory does not have a minimum account size. Its clients are split fairly evenly between non-high-net-worth individual investors and high-net-worth individuals. It also advises a small number of corporations and retirement plans.
The management fee charged by the company is based on assets under management. The firm is fee-only, so advisors do not make additional money selling clients commissionable securities or insurance products.
A.G. Campbell Advisory Background
A.G. Campbell Advisory was founded in 2012 by Alexander G. Campbell and Mark Scott. Campbell currently owns 65% of the firm and serves as managing member. Scott owns 25% of the firm and is the director of operations and chief compliance officer (CCO). And Elizabeth B. Brennan, the firm's principal and member, owns 10%.
The firm offers the following services:
- Financial planning
- Investment management
- Non-discretionary and discretionary portfolio management
A.G. Campbell Advisory Investment Strategy
One of the hallmarks of the firm’s investment strategy is that the advisors invest in the same securities as their clients. Potential investments include mutual funds, variable annuities, stocks, bonds and additional securities.
The firm makes investment choices based on the potential of the company, and it invests across asset classes. It does not consider market capitalization or geography when making investment choices.
&Wealth Partners
&Wealth Partners is a Baltimore-based financial advisor firm focused on providing financial services "for women who are recreating their lives," according to its website. The firm was founded in 2009 and has one of the smallest advisory teams on our list.
While there isn’t a required minimum account size, the $10,000 minimum annual fee makes the most sense if you have at least $1 million in assets under management. Most of the firm's clients are high-net-worth individuals, defined by the SEC as a net worth of $1.5 million or more. &Wealth has fewer than 100 total clients.
&Wealth Partners Background
Dorie Fain founded &Wealth Partners in 2009 after spending 12 years as a financial advisor at Smith Barney, now known as Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. She’s a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and third-generation investment advisor.
The fee-only firm has offices in Baltimore, as well as New York City.
&Wealth Partners Unique Services
There's no account minimum to work with &Wealth, and you can engage the firm for standalone financial planning, a significant practice at the firm. As &Wealth puts it, “This allows us to work with people who may not have liquid assets, may not be ready to invest or may not want to leave their current broker, but still recognize the value of planning beyond picking stocks and bonds.” Financial planning at &Wealth covers net worth sheet preparation, lifestyle analysis, budget preparation and ongoing support, retirement plan analysis, insurance review and investment review.
Another facet of &Wealth is its divorce financial services. The company will work with you and your attorney to help you plan your finances and avoid costly mistakes. This service includes what the firm calls Historical Lifestyle Analysis™, a process that helps you understand your past income and expenses and what you’ll need going forward after a divorce.
Buttonwood Financial Advisors
Buttonwood Financial Advisors works mostly with high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals. The firm's institutional clients include charitable organizations and businesses. There is no specific account minimum here.
The team of advisors at Buttonwood holds multiple certifications, including Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and chartered financial analysts (CFAs).
As a fee-only firm, all of Buttonwood's compensation comes from the fees that clients pay.
Buttonwood Financial Advisors Background
Founded in 2008, Buttonwood Financial Advisors is based in central Baltimore. The firm's owners are Damian J. Gallina and Jeffrey A. Malcolm. Gallina is Buttonwood's president and chief compliance officer (CCO), and Malcolm acts as vice president.
Individual portfolio management is customized to clients' needs at Buttonwood. Financial planning includes estate planning, educational fund planning, insurance planning, retirement planning and more.
Buttonwood Financial Advisors Investing Strategy
Buttonwood Financial Advisors has a wide range of securities that it may invest clients' assets in. More specifically, the firm may put your money in individual stocks and bonds, mutual funds, ETFs and certificates of deposit (CDs). If you feel that you don't want to invest your money in certain things, the firm will allow you to impose reasonable restrictions on your portfolio.
Armstrong Dixon
Armstrong Dixon is a fee-based financial advisor. This means that certain members of its advisory staff can receive commissions from the sale of insurance products or securities to clients. While this is a potential conflict of interest, the firm's fiduciary duty requires it to act in your best interest no matter what.
Founded in 2013, the firm offers financial planning and advisory services, risk management and investment management. There is no set minimum asset requirement to become a client. Armstrong Dixon has a well-qualified team of advisors, including several certified financial planners (CFPs).
Armstrong Dixon serves both high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charities and corporations.
Armstrong Dixon Background
Roy Dixon and Gregory Armstrong founded the company in 2013. In 2015, they merged with Celestial Wealth Management and became Ade LLC, doing business as both Armstrong Dixon and Celestial Wealth Management. Hugh J. Breslin IV and Armstrong own Ade LLC.
Dixon has been a financial advisor since 1986, but has now retired. Armstrong has nearly two decades of investment experience, having worked at three different firms before founding Armstrong Dixon.
Armstrong Dixon Investment Strategy
The firm generally uses fundamental, technical and cyclical security analysis. The firm explains that “these types of analysis in isolation have flaws. However, by including all three types of analysis, the strengths outweigh the weaknesses.” In addition to conducting research on specific securities, the firm will also analyze mutual funds, ETFs and separately managed accounts.
Managers are evaluated in both an up and a down market cycle. Armstrong Dixon advisors will look at the rate of return, Sharpe ratio, Sortino ratio, beta, alpha correlation, capture ration, manager turner and more. Lastly, long-term purchases, short-term purchases and options are investment strategies that the firm may use when managing your portfolio.
WPG Advisers, LLC
WPG Advisors is a fee-based firm where some advisors earn commissions for selling insurance products This is a conflict of interest, but all advisors still must act ine the best interest of the client when serving as an advisor. Advisory fees, meanwhile, are based on a percentage of assets under management.
WPG works almost exclusively with individuals, most of whom are not high-net-worth. There are some institutional clients including pension/profit-sharing plans and charitable organizations.
A number of Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) work at the firm.
WPG Advisors Background
WPG was founded in 2017 and is owned by Todd Paradise and Steven Gessner. Services offered include financial planning, consulting and investment advisory services.
WPG Advisors Investment Strategy
Most of the money at WPG is invested in either stocks or funds. Bonds, cash and structured notes are also used. The investment strategy largely depends on the needs of each individual client.