The Top 10 Financial Advisors in Iowa

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Foster Group, a large advisory firm located in West Des Moines, leads off our list of the top financial advisors in Iowa. Foster Group works with individuals and high-net-worth individuals, as well as charitable organizations, trusts, corporations and business entities. 

As a fee-only advisor, Foster Group and its advisors do not receive third-party compensation for selling financial products and services. Because they're compensated solely by the fees that advisory clients pay, Foster Group and other fee-only firms typically face fewer conflicts compared to fee-based firms. 

Foster Group’s team of advisors maintains the following accreditations:

• Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®)
• Accredited investment fiduciary (AIF)
• Certified kingdom advisor (CKA)
• Certified private wealth advisor (CPWA)
• Certified public accountant (CPA)
• Chartered advisor in philanthropy (CAP)
• Certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA)
• Chartered financial consultant (ChFC)
• Enrolled agent (EA)
• Retirement income certified professional (RICP)

Founded by Jerry Foster, the firm was originally known as Retirement & Investment Advisors, Inc. The firm has been an investment advisory practice since 1991. Foster Group provides financial planning, portfolio management and pension consulting services. While headquartered in Iowa, Foster Group also has a regional office in Omaha, Nebraska. 

Foster Group’s investment strategy is primarily built on fundamental analysis and modern portfolio theory, which is the process of reducing risk through systematic diversification. The firm typically recommends low-cost mutual funds and ETFs and usually avoids investing in individual stocks and bonds, but certain exceptions can be made. Foster Group assumes a long-term approach to its clients’ investments. 

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Based in Dubuque, Steele Capital Management is a fee-only firm that works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pensions and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, as well as corporations and other businesses. Steele Capital Management does not have a minimum required account size. 

Clients are charged an annual advisory fee of up to 1.5% of their assets under management. Unlike fee-based firms, Steele Capital neither Management nor its advisors earn compensation related to the sale of insurance or securities. 

Steele Capital Management’s staff includes advisors who hold the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and certified public accountant (CPA) designations. 

Steele Capital Management has been in business since 1995, when Mike Steele founded the firm. Steele, who's worked in financial services since 1979, is still the majority owner of the company and serves as its CEO. 

Clients may hire the firm for discretionary or non-discretionary portfolio management, as well as financial planning in areas such as retirement, estate planning, education funding, tax planning, cash flow and Social Security optimization.

Steele Capital Management’s investment philosophy emphasizes long-term investing with a primarily passive approach that favors low-cost and tax-efficient vehicles. Portfolios are tailored to client goals, risk tolerance and time horizon, using diversified allocations across mutual funds, ETFs and other securities. The firm periodically rebalances portfolios, monitors investments through a disciplined screening process, and may selectively use actively managed funds or individual securities when opportunities align with client objectives.

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Investment Consulting Group (ICG) is a fee-only firm in Davenport. It works with individuals, including those with high net worths, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, health and welfare plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations and various corporations or business entities.

Typically, ICG sets a minimum account size of $500,000 for retail clients and 401(k) plans, and $1 million for institutional clients, though these minimums can be waived at the firm's discretion.

The firm typically charges an asset-based fee for its services, but also offers fixed-fee arrangements. As a fee-only firm, ICG and its advisors do not sell third-party products and services for commissions. Instead, advisors are compensated solely through a salary and bonus structure.

ICG was founded in 1990, making it the oldest firm on this list. Today, the firm is solely owned and managed by Donald R. Stanforth, a certified investment management analyst (CIMA). 

ICG offers comprehensive asset management services tailored to clients' financial goals, risk tolerance and personal circumstances. These services include investment objective setting, asset allocation, manager selection, performance evaluation and cost containment. ICG provides both non-discretionary and discretionary asset management, with discretion granted via a limited power of attorney.

ICG adopts a personalized approach to investment strategies, aligning them with each client's specific goals, investment objectives, risk tolerance and unique personal and financial situations. The firm emphasizes diversification as a key method to mitigate volatility and fluctuations in portfolio value. Typical investments include equity securities, warrants and rights, mutual funds, ETFs and corporate debt obligations.

When crafting investment plans, the firm considers a variety of client characteristics, including personal financial circumstances, investment objectives, risk tolerance, cash-flow needs, tax and estate planning considerations. The firm also factors in the client’s age, time horizon, investment experience, and any specific investment restrictions or limitations they may have.

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Based in West Des Moines, Gilbert & Cook is next on our list of the top advisors in Iowa. The firm, which requires an account minimum of $1 million, works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations, as well as corporations and businesses. 

Gilbert & Cook charges a hourly or flat fee for financial planning and consulting services. For asset management, the firm has a wrap fee program that bundles the fees associated with portfolio management and trading into a consolidated fee. While it must abide by fiduciary duty, Gilbert & Cook is also considered a fee-based advisor whose employees include insurance agents. As a result they may receive sales commissions for products sold to clients. This is a conflict of interest. 

The firm has a number of credentialed professionals on staff, including advisors who hold the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA), certified public accountant (CPA), chartered retirement plans specialist (CRPS) and certified exit planning advisor (CEPA) designations, among others. 

Founded in 1994, Gilbert & Cook offers comprehensive financial planning, retirement plan consulting and investment advisory services. Their financial planning services encompass areas such as retirement and cash flow analysis, risk management, estate planning strategies, education planning and business transition planning, among others.

Investment advisory services are personalized to clients' financial goals, risk tolerance and liquidity needs, often integrated with financial planning to create cohesive strategies. The firm manages its clients’ accounts using both active and passive strategies and bases individual investment decisions on the client’s investment objectives, risk tolerance and time horizon. The firm builds portfolios using individual stocks and bonds, mutual funds and ETFs, real estate investment trusts and business development companies, long-term assets, short-term assets and options, among others.

To select investments, Gilbert & Cook Advisors use a variety of analyses, including macroeconomic, client household global allocation, asset class correlation, cyclical and fundamental. 

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Northwest Wealth Management (NWM) in Spencer is a fee-based financial advisory firm that primarily works with individuals below the high-net-worth threshold. The firm also serves high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations and other business entities.

Founded in 2010, NWM offers comprehensive advisory services tailored to client needs, including wealth management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services. 

While there is no minimum account size requirement, the firm charges a $250 minimum quarterly fee for wealth management. In addition to the fees that advisory clients pay, advisors can receive third-party compensation for selling insurance products in their separate capacities as insurance agents. This is a conflict of interest, because advisors have a financial incentive to recommend insurance products to advisory clients. Yet, the firm has a fiduciary duty to always act in its clients’ best interests.

Advisors at NWM hold a variety of professional credentials, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) and chartered advisor in philanthropy (CAP) designations.

NWM representatives assess each client’s financial objectives, risk tolerance and goals to recommend suitable services and investment strategies. Wealth management includes portfolio management with discretionary trading authority, performance monitoring, as well as the potential use of third-party managers. Financial planning encompasses goal setting, strategy development and implementation across areas like retirement, estate and insurance planning, with periodic reviews as needed.

NWM relies on a long-term buy-and-hold strategy as part of its investment approach. The firm invests in a variety of assets, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds and ETFs. Additionally, advisors may consider private placements and convertible securities as part of their investment approach. As the portfolio matures and market conditions evolve, the firm may choose to adjust asset allocations or revamp the portfolio to better align with the client's needs.

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Syverson Strege is a fee-only financial advisor based in West Des Moines, meaning its compensation comes from the fees that clients pay, not commissions for selling third-party products and services. 

Its services cover a wide range of planning needs including retirement, estate, tax and cash flow, investment, risk management, charitable giving, and education funding. Clients may also engage the firm for asset management, retirement account management and hourly consulting.

Management fees and account minimums vary depending on the type of account a client has with the firm. Syverson Strege clients include individuals, pensions and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations and businesses. However, the majority of assets the firm manages comes from high-net-worth individuals.

Advisors maintain the following accreditations:

• Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®)
• Accredited estate planner (AEP)
• Chartered advisor in philanthropy (CAP)
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
• Certified kingdom advisor (CKA)
• Certified exit planning advisor (CEPA)
• Chartered advisor for senior living (CASL)

Johnne Syverson and David Strege founded the firm in 1997 after first working together as financial planners in 1989. Today, the firm's financial planning process helps clients clarify goals, address wealth gaps and implement integrated strategies while offering ongoing management and advocacy. Asset management services include portfolio analysis, tailored recommendations, quarterly reviews and rebalancing, supported by detailed reporting and personalized investment policy statements.

The firm also offers an automated investment program through Schwab's Institutional Intelligent Portfolios® platform, providing customized portfolios with automated rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting. Additionally, Syverson Strege selects and monitors third-party managers based on performance, cost and investment philosophy.

Syverson Strege tailors its personalized investment strategies to a client’s income needs, liquidity requirements, time horizon, tax considerations, need for inflation protection, legal requirements and other factors. The firm can use computerized portfolio modeling to aid in the asset selection for some clients. An advisor may additionally use historical quantitative data to assess the probable risk of an asset or portfolio. 

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Legacy Financial Group is a fee-based firm in Des Moines that currently works with individuals and high-net-worth individuals, and has no institutional clients on its books. 

In addition to an asset management fee of up to 1.5% of assets under management, Legacy Financial Group advisors can collect commissions on the sale of certain products or services, creating a potential conflict of interest. However, Legacy Financial Group notes that it is a fiduciary advisor and must act solely in the client’s best interest. 

The firm’s team includes advisors who hold the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) designation, as well as the accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) and certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA) credentials, among others. 

Founded in 2010, Legacy Financial Group came under the sole ownership of William Elson and Brian Hood in 2017. Longtime friends and colleagues, Elson and Hood started their careers in the financial industry on the same day in 1988 at the same firm. In January 2020, Rachel Wood became a partner at Legacy Financial Group. Wood, whose career in the industry began in 2002, joined the firm in 2005.

Legacy Financial Group offers financial planning and portfolio management, as well as pension consulting services, divorce planning services and retirement plan services.

Legacy Financial Group primarily employs a long-term investment strategy with a focus on buying and holding securities for at least one year. “Generally, this strategy is not influenced by short-term market fluctuations because the approach rests upon the assumption that long-term prices will go up because of an expanding economy with profits, dividends and increased stock prices,” the firm states in its Form ADV brochure.

However, portfolios may include short-term purchases, options and structured notes, which seek to reduce risk within a portfolio. Advisors may use fundamental analysis, which measures the intrinsic value of a security by examining economic, financial and other factors. 

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Basepoint Wealth, founded in 2017, is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm that provides customized wealth management services to individuals, high-net-worth individuals, businesses and retirement plans. The firm offers ongoing investment management, financial planning and consulting services, with guidance tailored to client goals, risk tolerance and financial circumstances.

Areas of planning support may include retirement planning, estate and education funding strategies, charitable giving and general savings. Clients are not required to implement recommendations through the firm, and Basepoint may also coordinate with outside tax or legal professionals when needed.

The firm does not set a strict minimum account size but charges based on a tiered percentage of assets under management. Clients without large portfolios may instead pay fixed or hourly planning fees. There is not set account minimum to becomea  client at Basepoint.

While Basepoint primarily earns asset-based advisory fees, its affiliated insurance relationships allow it to receive commissions on certain non-variable insurance and annuity products, which creates potential conflicts of interest. Despite being a fee-based firm, Basepoint has a fiduciary duty to act in its clients best interests and disclose conflicts. 

Advisors at Basepoint hold a range of professional credentials, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), certified public accountant (CPA), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC), chartered financial consultant (ChFC), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF), retirement income certified professional (RICP) and accredited portfolio management advisor (APMA).

The firm’s investment philosophy emphasizes a long-term approach, though it may also adjust allocations more frequently to reflect market conditions or client needs. Portfolios are typically built using mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks, and fixed income securities, with other investments considered as appropriate. Asset allocation, diversification and ongoing monitoring are central to its strategy, and clients may place reasonable restrictions on portfolio holdings.

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DMKC Advisory Services in Des Moines was founded in 1999 and registered with the SEC as an investment advisor in 2007.

This fee-based firm provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth individuals, businesses, corporations and charitable organizations. The firm tailors those services to client goals, time horizons and risk tolerance, offering portfolio management programs such as Atlas, Anchor and other separately managed strategies. In addition to portfolio oversight, it offers planning guidance in areas such as retirement, education funding, tax considerations, estate planning and asset allocation.

As a fee-based practice, its advisors may receive sales commissions in addition to advisory fees, which can create conflicts of interest. Despite this compensation model, the firm must abide by its fiduciary duty to put clients' interests ahead of its own. 

Account minimums vary by program: Atlas requires $500,000 with a $1,000 annual minimum fee; Anchor requires $50,000 with a $200 annual minimum; and separately managed strategies require $150,000 with a $1,000 annual minimum. Financial planning can also be provided for a flat or hourly fee, independent of portfolio minimums.

Certain members of the DMKC team have earned the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and wealth management specialist (WMS) designations. 

DMKC’s investment philosophy emphasizes long-term, fundamentally driven portfolio construction rather than active short-term trading. In fact, the firm looks to stay invested in a position for between five and 20 years. Portfolios typically include mutual funds, ETFs, equities and fixed income securities, with allocations adjusted to each client’s circumstances. The firm may modestly shift cash levels in response to market conditions but generally avoids market timing. Its goal is to create diversified, long-term holdings designed for growth, income or a balance of both.

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Our list of the top financial advisors in Iowa concludes with Iron Horse Wealth Management in Johnson. Founded in 2012, Iron Horse was acquired by Apella Wealth in June 2025. This fee-only firm provides financial planning and investment management services on a fee-only basis. It works with individuals who do not have high net worth, as well as retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations and businesses. 

Iron Horse's services are customized to each client’s goals and include planning in areas such as cash flow, retirement, tax, insurance, education, estate and business succession. Clients may also seek investment consulting, including portfolio reviews, asset allocation modeling and investment analysis. There are no minimum account requirements, although some services may be charged at an hourly rate of $125.

Three of the members of the Iron Horse team hold the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) credential.

The firm’s investment approach emphasizes building and supervising tailored portfolios, with most accounts managed on a discretionary basis. Iron Horse applies fundamental and technical analysis, often incorporating historical and quantitative data, and regularly reviews accounts to align with client objectives and market conditions. 

The firm’s investment strategies may include long- and short-term purchases, margin transactions, and option writing. Portfolios may hold mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, insurance products, exchange-listed and over-the-counter securities, foreign issues, certificates of deposit, real estate investment trusts, and oil and gas interests.