Top Financial Advisor Firms in Kentucky

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Headquartered in Lexington, Keystone Financial Group manages over $1.8 billion, mostly on a discretionary basis. With a $10,000 minimum investment requirement, this fee-based advisory firm primarily serves individuals who are not high-net-worth individuals. It also has retirement plans, corporations and business entities as clients.

Toby Jenkins, Mike Kretz and Tim Jenkins founded Keystone in 2008. Today, their firm has a team comprises Certified Financial Planners™ (CFPs®) and accredited asset management specialists (AAMSs).

The firm offers portfolio management, retirement plan services, financial planning and consulting that may address areas such as budgeting, tax planning, insurance needs, estate planning and education savings. Its services are tailored to individual circumstances, and clients may place restrictions on investment selections. Some Keystone representatives are also licensed to earn commissions through a broker-dealer, making the firm fee-based.

In addition to Lexington, the firm has offices throughout Kentucky in Ashland, Leitchfield, Mt. Sterling, Somerset and Louisville. 

The practice uses charting, fundamental and technical methods of analysis. It states that “it is not our typical investment strategy to attempt to time the market, but we may increase cash holdings modestly as deemed appropriate based on your risk tolerance and our expectations of market behavior.”

It also notes that it does not primarily recommend one type of security. Instead, Keystone can provide investment advice on mutual funds, ETFs, individual equity securities, corporate debt securities, certificates of deposit, U.S. government securities, futures contracts, options and other assets. 

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MCF Advisors is a large wealth management and institutional financial advisor firm that leads off our list of the top advisors in Kentucky. While the institutional side of its business serves retirement plans, endowments and more, its wealth management offerings are intended for individuals and their families, as well as business owners. 

There is no minimum investment or account size requirement at this fee-based firm.

MCF employs a number of advisors who hold advisory certifications, including Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA), Certified Financial Planners™ (CFP®), chartered retirement planning counselors (CRPC), certified public accountants (CPA), chartered life underwriters (CLU) and more. However, some advisors on staff are licensed insurance agents who can earn commissions for selling policies. While this is a conflict of interest, the firm is legally required to act in clients' best interest as a fiduciary. 

David Harris Jr. and Robert Sathe founded the firm together in 2003. Today, their business provides offers a range of services, including financial planning, investment management, retirement plan consulting, portfolio monitoring and the selection of independent managers. Clients may also engage the firm for tax preparation, accounting, business advisory and estate consulting support.

Since clients can engage MCF Advisors with any amount of investable assets, investment strategies vary depending on the type of services that the firm determines are best for the client. Advisors use a tactical asset allocation approach when it comes to investing, but they still look to mold their strategies to the particular financial needs of the client. Clients are also permitted to impose some restrictions on how their assets are managed. 

Portfolios are typically built using a mix of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, individual equities, and fixed income securities. Qualified clients may also access private funds and other alternative investments.

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KPP Advisory Services, known as Kentucky Planning Partners, is a fee-based firm located in Louisville. KPP works with thousands of clients, all of whom are individuals and high-net-worth individuals. KPP offers investment advisory services via programs that are sponsored by LPL Financial. Clients enrolled in those programs are subject to the following account minimums:

• Optimum Market Portfolios Program (OMP): $1,000
• Personal Wealth Portfolios Program (PWP): $250,000
• Model Wealth Portfolios Program (MWP): $25,000
• Manager Access Select Program: $50,000
• Strategic Wealth Management (SWM): No minimum account requirement
• Separate Account Network (SAN): Depends on portfolio manager

The KPP team includes advisors with various professional credentials, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC) and chartered retirement plans specialist (CRPS) designations. However, advisors may earn sale commissions for selling insurance or securities, in addition to client-paid fees. Despite KPP being a fiduciary, this form of compensation is a conflict of interest. Sales commissions may incentivize advisors to make certain recommendations over others to generate this additional compensation.  

KPP Advisory Services was founded in 2005 by CEO Robert Davenport and president Ken O'Neil. Davenport and O'Neil remain 50/50 ownership partners. In addition to its headquarters in Louisville, KPP operates branch offices in Somerset, Bowling Green, Lexington and Clarksville, Tennessee.

KPP offers investment management, financial planning, wealth management and retirement plan consultation services. Financial planning may encompass tax and cash flow planning, insurance needs, retirement planning, estate planning, business planning and other areas of a client's financial lives. 

KPP’s investment strategy focuses on achieving long-term objectives through a combination of fundamental analysis, mutual fund/ETF analysis and long-term purchases. Fundamental analysis evaluates economic factors without attempting to predict market movements, which poses the risk of market volatility affecting security prices.

KPP also employs asset allocation, balancing securities, fixed income, and cash to align with client goals, though this may limit exposure to rapid market gains. Mutual fund and ETF analysis assesses fund managers and underlying assets to avoid portfolio overlap, while long-term purchases target undervalued securities or desired asset classes, though these may miss short-term gains or experience value declines.

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Reliant Wealth Planning, another Louisville-based advisor, works primarily with non-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals. While this fee-based firm has one charitable organization as a client, its business is mainly geared toward individuals. 

Reliant's advisors do not sell insurance or securities for commissions or other third-party compensation. However, firm earns an asset-based fee from an affiliated broker-dealer who sells financial products. Reliant does not require a minimum account balance to engage in services.

The advisor team holds multiple credentials, which include the certified estate planner (CEP), Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), retirement income certified professional (RICP), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC), chartered financial consultant (ChFC) and accredited estate planner (AEP) designations, among others. 

Headquartered in Louisville, Reliant was founded as a limited liability company in 2017 by Shaun Chelf and Laura Clark. Today, the firm offers financial planning and discretionary wealth management through a wrap fee program. Their financial planning services encompass cash flow analysis, insurance consulting, investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, education funding and charitable giving. Meanwhile, the firm's discretionary wealth management combines investment management and transaction fees into a single fee, with portfolios customized using multiple strategy layers based on client objectives. They also provide ongoing portfolio rebalancing and adjustments as needed.

Additionally, Reliant assists clients with estate planning, acting as a liaison with attorneys to ensure estate plans align with client goals, all at no extra cost.

Reliant structures its client portfolios using multiple layers tailored to the client's investment plan. These layers include: 1) A core, with options ranging from conservative to aggressive strategies; 2) A tactical allocation of portfolio assets (TAPA) that dynamically selects asset classes; 3. A liquidity reserve. The number and combination of layers vary for each client, and portfolios are reviewed with the client before implementation and regularly thereafter.

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Legacy Financial Advisors was founded in 2006 and has been operating as an independent registered investment advisor since 2011. The firm provides advisory and financial planning services to a client base primarily composed of individuals, high-net-worth individuals and charitable organizations. 

The firm offers tailored financial planning that covers investment, retirement, and estate planning needs. Services may be delivered on a stand-alone basis or integrated into ongoing investment management, with clients typically required to maintain a $500,000 minimum account, or $200,000 for those in its Protected Outcome Portfolios (POPS).

Several advisors and representatives of the firm hold professional credentials, including the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified exit planning advisor (CEPA) and registered financial consultant (RFC) designations.

The firm is fee-based, as its advisors may receive commissions through an affiliated insurance company when clients purchase insurance products through them (when they are acting in their capacity as insurance agents). While this creates a potential conflict of interest, the firm has a fiduciary duty to act in your best interests. 

Legacy’s investment philosophy emphasizes diversification, tax management and a balance between preserving capital and pursuing growth. Portfolios are designed around each client’s objectives and risk tolerance, using a mix of capital preservation assets (cash and fixed income), growth equity (domestic and international stocks) and alternatives (REITs, commodities, long/short strategies, MLPs and funds of funds).

The firm also offers its proprietary POPS strategies, which incorporate structured products such as structured notes and market-linked certificates of deposit to help manage downside risk while pursuing long-term returns.

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Fee-based firm Journey Advisory Group has a client base of individuals, high-net-worth individuals, charities, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans. All clients must meet a minimum account size requirement of $50,000, and the firm charges asset-based fees, hourly fees and fixed fees.

The firm has advisors on staff who hold a range of professional credentials, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), certified trust and financial advisor (CTFA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and certified public accountant (CPA) designations. 

Founded in 2014, Journey offers a wide selection of advisory services, including individual portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting and educational seminars. However, the firm owns an insurance company called Journey Risk Solutions (JRS), so Journey Advisory Group has a financial incentive to recommend that advisory clients buy insurance from JRS, which is a conflict of interest. 

While based in Covington, the firm also has officies in Blue Ash, Ohio, and Dayton, Ohio.  

Journey generally takes a long-term approach to investing, and designs portfolios with clients' income needs, financial goals and tax situations in mind. 

Portfolios may include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, government securities, corporate debt, options and alternative assets such as real estate and commodities. Strategic asset allocation, diversification and periodic rebalancing are emphasized to manage risk and pursue growth.

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Walker Financial Services, which conducts business as Tony Walker Financial, is a registered investment advisor based in Bowling Green. Founded in 2010, the firm provides investment management and financial planning services, including the creation of investment strategies, asset allocation, portfolio monitoring and guidance on insurance and retirement income planning.

The firm works primarily with individuals, high-net-worth individuals and businesses. It generally requires a $50,000 minimum to open and maintain an advisory account, though this minimum may be waived in certain cases. However, the firm has a fee-based compensation model, meaning its revenue comes both from advisory fees and commissions on the sale of insurance products such as annuities, life insurance and long-term care insurance. This structure presents conflicts of interest, which are disclosed to clients. 

In addition to its office in Bowling Green, the firm has locations in Louisville and Lexington. 

In managing investments, the firm uses fundamental, which looks at financial and economic data to assess the value of investments, and charting analysis, which studies past price and volume patterns to identify trends. Tony Walker Financial also focuses on making long-term purchases and diversifying across asset types. 

Portfolios may include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, real estate investment trusts, annuities and insurance products. Its philosophy emphasizes aligning portfolios with client goals while balancing growth opportunities and risk management.

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Meridian Wealth Management, LLC is a fee-based financial advisor firm headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. The firm works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, plan participants, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations and other business entities. Meridian does not require a minimum account size.

The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning and consulting, retirement planning and management, charitable gifting strategies, risk analysis, insurance analysis and estate planning. It also provides services for pension, profit-sharing, 403(b) and 401(k) plans, including 3(21) co-fiduciary and 3(38) fiduciary arrangements.

Client portfolios may include equities, ETFs, mutual funds, corporate securities, municipal securities and U.S. government securities. Where appropriate, portfolios may also use alternative investments, options and futures contracts.

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Strategic Wealth Investment Group, LLC, located in Louisville, is a fee-based advisory firm that works with individuals, high-net-worth individuals, corporations and other business entities. The firm also does business as Strategic Wealth Designers and works with families and individuals who are planning for or living in retirement.

Strategic Wealth Investment Group was formed in 2002 and began providing investment advisory services in 2012. In addition to its Louisville headquarters, the firm has offices in several states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

The firm provides investment supervisory services, financial planning, retirement planning, tax planning, insurance and Medicare guidance, Social Security planning, legacy planning, charitable giving guidance and consulting services. It may also provide access to model portfolios and third-party money managers through Envestnet.

Portfolios may include mutual funds, equities, bonds, ETFs, REITs, government securities, structured notes and insurance products. Accredited investors and qualified persons may also access private placement and alternative investment advisory services, including private equity or other private placements where appropriate.