Top Financial Advisors in Birmingham, AL

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Waverly Advisors, a fee-only firm, requires a minimum of $1 million to invest. As a fee-only firm, advisors don't receive commissions from the sale of financial products to clients. The firm works with individuals, both with and without a high net worth. It also works with pooled investment vehicles, pensions, profit sharing plans, charities and other businesses.

Waverly Advisors has large team of advisors who hold a range of financial certifications. The firm has Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®) on staff, as well certified public accountants (CPAs). Waverly Advisors also features some chartered financial analysts (CFAs), among other accredited professionals.

The firm provides clients with investment management on both a discretionary and non-discretionary basis, as well as standalone financial planning and consulting services, among other offerings. 

Advisors at Waverly Advisors generally use fundamental and technical analysis when choosing securities. Fundamental analysis is the study of historical and present data to make financial forecasts about a company. Technical analysis looks at price and trade volume to forecast the direction of prices. 

To build your portfolio, you’ll have an initial interview with your advisor where you’ll go over your financial goals and objectives, your potential retirement date, cash-flow requirements and risk tolerance. The firm has portfolio allocation models that are used when your needs fit the situation. 

These models include aggressive allocation, growth allocation, moderate allocation, conservative allocation and ultra-conservative allocation. Each model corresponds with a risk tolerance and growth potential. For example, the firms says its ultra-conservative model “is designed for our most conservative investor whose goal is to preserve capital.”

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Stonegate Investment Group is a fee-only firm that works with a large number of individual clients, both with and without high net worths. The firm also has retirement plans and businesses as clients. Stonegate typically requires a minimum relationship size of $1 million, although this requirement may be reduced. 

As a fee-only firm, Stonegate advisors do not collect commissions for recommending third-party financial products or insurance. The Stonegate team features Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®) and chartered financial analysts (CFA). 

As for services, Stonegate offers both discretionary and non-discretionary investment management to individuals and retirement plans, as well as financial planning and consulting services. 

Stonegate's investment strategies are rooted in the individual needs of clients. The firm's initial goal is to get to know its clients and understand their financial situations, risk profiles, investment objective, tax situations and liquidity constraints. From there, advisors will allocate a client's assets across a combination of equity securities, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, as well as limited partnerships and pooled investment vehicles focusing on alternative asset classes. Stonegate also uses call options, protective put options and long put options in client portfolios.

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Southern Financial Group is a smaller firm in terms of registered advisors on staff. As long as you have at least $50,000 in investable assets, you can become a client of Southern Financial Group. Individuals below the high-net-worth threshold comprise the largest percentage of Southern Financial Group's client base, although the firm also works with a considerable number of high-net-worth individuals, as well. Additionally, the firm serves charitable organizations, corportations and businesses. 

As a fee-based firm, advisors may receive commissions for selling financial products and insurance. This creates a conflict of interest, as your advisor has a financial incentive to recommend certain products and services over others. However, Southern Financial Group is still a fiduciary and is legally obligated to act in the best interests of clients. Despite its advisors earning third-party commissions, the firm itself collects asset-based fees for portfolio management from advisory clients, as well as hourly fees for specific services. 

Some of the firm's advisors hold the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified public accountant (CPA) or personal financial specialist (PFS) designations. 

The firm specializes in investment management, financial planning, consulting, income tax preparation and estate settlement services, as well as IRA rollover recommendations. 

Your financial plan at Southern Financial Group will be holistic. This means your advisor will consider your financial goals, family records, budgeting, tax and cash flow, investments, insurance, retirement strategies, estate and more. You’ll also receive advice, as needed, on business planning and tax and budgetary planning. In total, you’ll get to see your financial picture through the eyes of an expert. 

The firm invests client assets in a combination of exchange-listed securities, securities traded over the counter, foreign issuers, warrants, corporate debt securities, commercial paper, municipal securities, variable life insurance, variable annuities, mutual funds and U.S. government securities. 

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Meld Financial, a fee-only firm, is the longest-tenured practice on our list. The vast majority of Meld clients are regular individuals, although the firm does have a sizable client base of high-net-worth individuals. Retirement plans, government entities and businesses also work with Meld as clients. The firm imposes a minimum account size of $50,000. 

The Meld team features some advisors who hold the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) designation, as well as the chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation. 

Meld provides comprehensive financial planning as a base service, as well as single-issue analysis and advisory services. Meld advisors may work with clients on a variety of topics, including estate planning, college funding, retirement funding, retirement plan distribution, executive employee compensation analysis and insurance needs, among others. 

Meld's investing approach is informed by a combination of charting, technical analysis, fundamental analysis and cyclical analysis. The firm generally provides investment advice on exchange-listed securities, mutual funds, over-the-counter equities, equities of foreign issuers, ETFs, U.S. government securities, options, commercial paper, warrants, corporate debt securities and alternative investments, including hedge funds and real estate. 

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Anderson Growth Partners (AGP) is a Birmingham-based registered investment advisor that offers both fund management and personalized wealth management services through its Anderson Wealth Management (AWM) division.

While there is no strict account minimum to become a wealth management client, most Anderson Entities require a $25,000 minimum investment, and investors must generally meet accredited and qualified investor standards.

The firm’s team includes professionals with extensive experience in fund due diligence, private investments and wealth planning. Though AGP describes itself as a fee-based advisor, and AWM earns commissions for insurance products sold through its affiliate AWM Risk Management, the firm adheres to a fiduciary standard and must act in its clients’ best interests.

Anderson Growth Partners provides discretionary investment management tailored to each client’s financial goals, investment timeline, risk tolerance and liquidity needs. For AWM clients, portfolios are built primarily with low-cost ETFs and mutual funds based on a personalized investment policy statement. 

Meanwhile, AGP-managed funds employ long-term strategies involving private equity, hedge funds and direct company investments. The firm emphasizes strategic diversification and continuous due diligence to help clients meet their long-term financial objectives.

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OneAscent Financial Services is a fee-based firm that provides advisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations and other business entities. There is no specific minimum account size in order to work with the firm. If a client wishes to access third-party managers, then there may be an enforced minimum. 

As a fee-based firm, some of its advisors may earn a commission for the sale of certain securities. While this could create a potential conflict of interest, advisors are bound by a fiduciary duty that requires them to put the needs of the client first. 

OneAscent focuses on a values-based investment approach to help its clients live life to the fullest and be a part of something bigger than themselves. The firm's onboarding process allows them to tailor a plan to the unique money style and values of each individual investor. Each client is managed individually but portfolios often include a selection of ETFs and mutual funds that meet the needs of each client. 

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Kassouf Wealth Advisors is a fee-only financial advisory practice that serves individuals, retirement plans and charitable organizations. It works with about as many high-net-worth individuals as it does clients who fall below that threshold. To receive investment management services from the firm, you’ll typically need a minimum account balance of about $150,000. 

As a fee-only firm, Kassouf Advisors do not sell insurance or financial products. Instead, advisors are compensated solely by fees that clients pay directly for advisory services. 

The Kassouf team features several accredited financial professionals, including some certified public accountants (CPAs), Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®), accredited estate planners (AEP) and others. 

The firm specializes in comprehensive wealth management and financial planning, as well as retirement plan services.  

Kassouf Wealth Advisers makes investment decisions primarily driven by modern portfolio theory. This school of thought suggests diversification across asset classes is crucial in mitigating risk as one may serve as a buffer when another experiences a downturn. 

The firm aims to devise an investment strategy based on your individual risk tolerance and long-term investing goals. In general, Kassouf recommends passively managed index and mutual funds and typically steers clear from utilizing individual stocks and bonds in its asset allocation framework. Of course, it may divert from these strategies if deemed appropriate based on your circumstances.

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Porter White Investment Advisors is a fee-based firm that provides financial planning and asset management to individuals, corporations, profit-sharing plans and more.

Its wealth management division caters to individuals. According to SEC files, this segment consists mostly of high-net-worth individuals. The firm typically requires a minimum investment of $1 million to open an account.  

As a fee-based firm, some advisors on staff are registered representatives of a securities broker-dealer and can receive commissions for selling certain products. This compensation structure creates a conflict of interest because advisors have a financial incentive to recommend certain services and products over others. However, the firm still must abide by its fiduciary duty to always act the client's best interests. 

The primary services offered at Porter White Investment Advisory include wealth management, financial planning and consulting, as well as fiduciary services for retirement plans.

Porter White Investment Advisors can offer its clients a Financial Planning Review, where it gathers information to come up with a balance sheet and action plan. It also provides retirement analysis and estate planning services. 

But its main efforts steer toward portfolio management. Its investment action plan revolves around the following points: 

• Asset allocation
• Investment selection and monitoring
• Cash management
• Performance reports

The firm primarily offers advice on mutual funds, and when suitable, recommends no-load mutual funds that invest in equity and fixed-income securities. Advisors may also recommend fixed-income securities with maturities that are deemed appropriate for the client. 

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Mayfair Advisory Group is a fee-based registered investment advisory firm that provides financial planning, consulting and investment management services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth individuals, trusts and estates, charitable organizations, retirement plans and business entities.

While Mayfair does not set a published investment minimum, fees for financial planning services range from $500 to $5,000 depending on complexity, and wealth management services are charged annually between 0.50% and 1.00% of assets under management. 

The firm's professionals include experienced advisors and principals who collaborate on client strategies through an internal Investment Committee. Though Mayfair is a fee-based firm, meaning advisors may earn commissions for the sale of insurance products, it operates under a fiduciary standard and is obligated to act in the best interest of its clients at all times.

Mayfair Advisory Group tailors each portfolio to the client’s individual circumstances, including risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs and financial goals. Portfolios are typically built using mutual funds, ETFs and separately managed accounts, with some clients also gaining access to interval funds and independent investment managers. 

The firm combines strategic asset allocation with ongoing portfolio monitoring, including periodic performance reviews, cost and tax-efficiency evaluations and adjustments in response to changes in client needs or market conditions. Mayfair also provides comprehensive planning services across areas such as retirement, tax, insurance, charitable giving, estate planning and education funding.

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Money Management Services, a small, fee-only financial advisor firm, has been in operation since 1992. You don’t need a set account size to become a client, though you'll pay a minimum fee of $750 per quarter or $3,000 per year.  

Services at Money Management include financial planning, tax preparation and wealth and investment management. As a fee-only firm, advisors don't take commissions from the sale of financial products such as insurance.

Unlike firms that use model portfolio templates, Money Management Services prides itself on unique client portfolios. This means your portfolio is individualized and is exclusively built on your needs. Factors that your advisor will consider include your retirement timeline, cash needs, risk tolerance and financial objectives.

Overall, the company’s primary method of security analysis is fundamental. This means advisors look at the financial condition and competitive position of a company to determine whether it’s a worthy investment. Portfolios are built with mutual funds, ETFs, stocks and bonds and alternative investments. The company has no proprietary products so your advisor isn’t beholden to a particular investment or mutual fund. The firm says it manages portfolios “with a long-term, controlled-risk perspective.” This means building lasting wealth and investing with a long horizon in mind.